Dawn Friedland-Perez, LCSW

When you want a solution, ask me.

I have always been the person that runs toward people who are having feelings. Especially the ones that nobody wants to recognize. I am the person that will sit with you and go into the trenches with you while you ‘ugly-cry.’ I am the person that will look at a situation and all its facets and come up with a solution.

My passion for working with seniors began as a teenager listening to the stories of my grandparents and other older adults. I loved their stories, their wisdom, and their hearts.

Education to reach my goal in person centered care

I completed my bachelor’s in psychology at SUNY Stony Brook and continued to receive my Master of Social Work also from SUNY at Stony Brook. I expanded my studies to involve holistic healing approaches and gathered certifications in Hypnosis, Energy Work, and Intuitive Counseling.

The majority of my experience was through numerous roles at skilled nursing facilities until I founded Wisdom of the Aged in 2004. The creation of the company was to provide supportive counseling for those older adults and seniors that needed to feel heard and validated that their lives still truly meant something, that they still had a purpose.

My fantastic team of therapists and myself offered unconditional love and support to those experiencing the loss of loved ones, health, home, dignity, and respect.

Where do caregivers go for answers?

As my company grew, I found a massive gap in the healthcare system for caregivers. Where did they turn when their loved one was getting older and needed more care? When I say ‘care,’ I mean physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Not only was information given often incorrect, but real answers weren’t available. My goal has always been to assist seniors and their families in making the best informed and educated decisions that they could for themselves. I am a firm believer that information is power, and Google is my favorite website!

I began providing consulting services to those that wanted aging life care planning services. By offering them tools for empowerment, hope, and optimism replace feelings of helplessness.

My family opened another avenue of care.

When I became a mother of three highly intelligent and energetic children (they are all ‘fire’ signs for those of you who know what I mean… do you feel me??), I began to recreate my business model to incorporate all stages of life.

That is when Wisdom of the Aged, Counseling & Holistic Therapies, was born (and was able to live in an adorable office in Port Jefferson Station). Our one-stop-shop, vast knowledge, and experience working with various populations, allow you to get your needs met more efficiently.

We combine our knowledge and resources to care for your mind, body, and spirit. Our work is in partnership with you, so you feel understood and loved.

What you see is what you get…

As a therapist, I am the same out of the office as I am in the office. I am direct, honest, loyal, and loving. I can’t wait to learn about your life. There isn’t anything you can’t tell me. I am very open.

Speaking of very open, I am often divinely led in my responses to others and my knowledge about things. My intuitive gifts help me to connect in a unique way to you. Using practical experience, education, a touch of humor, and my intuitive skills, I connect with people heart-to-heart.

My role at the office is that of the Aging Life Specialist.

I’m like a corporate consultant hired to stabilize a struggling company, but in my case, the company is the family. When older adults can no longer care for themselves, it’s usually up to their family members to take over the responsibility. Families are often overwhelmed and ask, ‘What do we do? How do we handle this?’

I am trained to jump into these challenging situations and offer solutions, guidance, and hands-on management. The job typically involves a thorough evaluation of a family’s situation and then creating a plan to get an older adult’s care back on track.

“When I meet with a family, I’m assessing the person’s condition and lifestyle, looking at the available resources, and coming up with recommendations most suitable to that family.”

I act more as a guide and an advocate to help clients reach their maximum potential and improve the overall quality of life. My approach is holistic by focusing on safety, security, cognitive issues, and social support.

Sometimes my role is short-term, limited to developing the care plan, coaching the family on how to implement the plan, and suggesting agencies or services (like private duty care, food services, transportation, or adult daycare facilities) I know are reliable. In other cases, our relationship is long-term, with a family hiring my services to carry out and manage the plan.

My other love is being your intuitive counselor –

Intuitive counseling is usually one session or a few sessions to assist you with receiving guidance for your highest good. We will create a sacred space to receive the messages that the universe has in store for you. And for those that this freaks you out, you quickly will learn that despite being divinely led, I am down to earth.