SAHAR AKHTAR
LPCC, LPC, MSEd, INHC, RYT
i provide psychotherapy for trauma, anxiety & adhd. I also have specialties in helping clients who want to become healthy (or healthier) and understand the intersectionality of trauma on their health, behavior and life. I offer therapy for Depression, Body Image concerns, Relationship with Food, Spirituality, Stress, Identity, Life Transitions, Grief & Adjustment to changes. I work well with people who are trying to "figure it out". I am well versed in the south asian, asian, arab and muslim minority cultures. I also have expertise in working with helping professionals, entrepreneurs and immigrant populations.
I offer Coaching for clients who do not need therapy but want to work on their Health & wellness goals or achieve other aspirations in the areas of career, relationships or life.
i take an eastern-western approach to therapy facilitating a connection between intuitions, inner wisdom, and knowledge. my trainings in holistic health and complementary medicine have helped clients avoid medication as their first course of intervention and manage symptoms naturally. Where medications are warranted, i will encourage, educate and help clients with hesitations if any to become advocates and participants in their care.
my therapeutic style is warm, collaborative and compassion focused. i believe that education is an important part of client care and will offer psycho or neuroeducation to my clients to help them take charge in their care. I am good at helping people find and strengthen their voice.
other Languages:
speaks Urdu; Understands hindi, Punjabi & hindko
What brought me to this profession
People who know me will not believe that I was actually a pretty angry kid. I remember what it felt like to need help and not be able to get it.
Psychology was in it's infancy in islamabad where I grew up. I did not have access to psychology programs in school nor mental health resources to really understand what this field was about. but I knew I wanted to make my life useful to others and that helping people was a healing feeling for me. i remember making the decision to move to the uk to pursue psychology after completing a year of college studying business administration. Naturally, I was a good listener and observer within my circle. A friend jokingly nicknamed me our college’s psychotherapist.
There is a saying that therapists are usually doing this work way before they gain their credentials. I think in my case this was true but I was very lost in the process, had no career support so did not take a straight path to where I am now. Nonetheless, I am grateful for my journey and all that brought me here. what is special is that I get to lead from my heart and call it my job.
LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS
Active & Current
Licensed professional clinical counselor, California #LPCC9818
Licensed professional Counselor, Pennsylvania
Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Registered Yoga Teacher, Classical & Yin & Restorative
Inactive & Previously held
Licensed Behavior Specialist, PA (2016-2020)
K-12 Certified School Counselor, PA (2015 - 2023)
Leadership
Professional & Part time studies Senator for PENN GSE student government
Quarter Finalist for the HULTZ Prize student competition at Penn Wharton- Topic: How to bring preschool education to children in slums
Masters of Science in Education (2015)
School & Mental Health Counseling
University of Pennsylvania
degrees
Bachelors of Science, Honors (2008) Psychology
London Metropolitan University, UK
Professional Trainings
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy from Behavior Tech, A Linehan Institute
applied behavior analysis, functional behavioral assessments & Behavior science
domestic violence, hospice care, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Intellectual Developmental Delay (IDD).
I completed year long certifications in nutrition, integrative health and yoga.
QUALIFICATIONS
I have been working in the mental health field since 2008 and have been a psychotherapist for over 10 years. I have experience of working with various populations with different challenges and mental health disorders across the developmental lifespan (ages 3 to 70) as well as experience of working in different settings such as residential treatment centers, urban and suburban schools, private and public as well as home and community settings.
For five years I facilitated groups for a non-profit organization called SpeakUp where I helped adolescents and the adults in their lives communicate effectively on controversial topics such as: Drugs and Alcohol, Stress and Mental Health, Sex and Relationships, Pressure and Expectations, Race, Diversity and Inclusion.
I used to be licensed as a Behavior Specialist in PA and worked as a Consultant for children and adolescents receiving wraparound services. This license is now inactive as I no longer work as a behaviorist nor live in PA. I have worked with families as a Mental Health Specialist Consultant and with adolescents who received Advanced Clinical Services for School Refusal and Truancy Issues.
I was certified as a PK-12 School Counselor in PA. I trained at Beaumont Elementary School, Tredyffrin/Easttown School District in Berwyn, PA and at Great Valley High School in Malvern, PA. I interned at Devereux's Residential Treatment Center with adolescents and adults with acute mental health disorders, and Kingdom Recovery helping people challenged with addictions.
I volunteered as a Domestic Violence Counselor where I assisted people with options counseling and the process of obtaining Protection From Abuse at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, PA. I also volunteered for The Son-Rise Program working with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder and with inpatient patients who have Dementia or under Hospice Care at a Senior Assistance Facility in Pottstown, PA.
Academia
I was a Graduate Seminar Leader and Practitioner Consultant for UPenn's Counseling Programs at the graduate school of education.
I also assisted with the placement process for practicum and internship as well as managed the schools database and relationships with partnered organizations.
I have been a Clinical Supervisor for pre-licensed professionals pursuing licensure status.
I co-led a professional development workshop with Dr. Marsha Richardson & Presented on the topic "Preventing Stress & Teacher Burnout Workshop" for school teachers in the district of Philadelphia which was organized by Philadelphia Education Fund.
I was invited to author a chapter for Education and Youth Development in Pakistan which was published in the Adolescent Psychology in today's world: global perspectives on risk volume series.
During my undergraduate studies my research for my dissertation project focused on studying Smoking Motivation in Young Adults. Behaviors were studied in relation to Generalized Anxiety, Trait Anxiety and Self-Efficacy.
Publication
in 2018 i authored a chapter published in a book : Adolescent psychology. i wrote about the education system in pakistan and its impact on youth development
Akhtar, S., Sarfaraz, Z. & Suheyl, M. (2018). Understanding the Plight of Pakistan's Education System and its Impact on Youth Development. In Nakkula, M. J., & Schneider-MuñozA, Adolescent psychology in today’s world : global perspectives on risk, relationships, and development. (Vol 3.)
in 2024 i authored a chapter in a book about integrative health & building your care team (pending publishing). i wrote about the process on selecting the right therapist.
Outside of therapy
I enjoy working out at the gym, being in nature, Long walks, a good yoga class & spending time with my family. I also enjoy being a mother- seeing the world through my little ones lens. I love to learn, be creative, read, write, organize from chaos, create systems, try out new recipes & host.
I was born in San Francisco, raised in Pakistan. I lived & worked in London then moved to Philadelphia where I spent 12 years before circling back to San Francisco in 2022.