SAHAR AKHTAR

LPCC, LPC, MSEd, INHC, RYT

I provide psychotherapy for Trauma, Anxiety and Adhd. My specialties include 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, Relationship challenges, Spirituality, Body Image, Stress management, Identity, Life Things, Grief & Adjustment to changes. I work well with people who are trying to "figure it out". I am well versed in the South Asian, Pan Asian, Arab and Muslim minority cultures. I also have expertise in working with entrepreneurs, helping professionals and immigrant populations.

I offer coaching for clients who do not need therapy but want to work on their health & wellness goals, improve their relationship with food, or achieve other aspirations in the areas overall wellness be it career, finances, relationships or life.

I take an eastern-western approach to therapy facilitating a connection between intuitions, inner wisdom, and knowledge. I work from strengths based, somatic, exposure, narrative, existential & cognitive behavioral framework. 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 care and will offer psycho or neuroeducation to my clients to help empower them. I am good at helping people find and strengthen their voice.

Other Languages: Urdu, Hindi
Understands: Punjabi & Hindko

LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, CA #LPCC9818
Licensed Professional Counselor, PA
Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, AADP

Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Registered Yoga Teacher by Yoga Alliance

Licensed Behavior Specialist in PA (2016-2020) (inactive)
K-12 Certified School Counselor in PA (2015 - 2023) (Inactive)

Education

I have a Masters of Science in School and Mental Health Counseling from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science honors in Psychology from London Metropolitan University.

I also completed a year long certification program for Integrative Health Coaching from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition; and a year long in studio 250 hr Yoga teacher training program where I studied Classical Yoga mentored by Dr. Bob Butera at The YogaLife Institute. I also earned a certification in Yin and Restorative Yoga.

Psychology was still in its infancy where I grew up. I didn’t really understand what this field was about but I knew I wanted to make my life useful to others. Helping people was a healing feeling for me because I remembered what it felt like to need help and not be able to get it. I also knew that I never wanted anyone to feel this way.

Becoming a therapist was not a linear process for me. I was very lost, had little career support and no representation. Challenges evolved at every stage but my calling was in this work so I circled back to this even when I was steered in other directions.

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.

What brought me to this profession

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.

Publications

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. This chapter was a collaborative chapter with two other colleagues.

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 for 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 like exercising, being in nature, long walks around the city, and a good yoga class.

I also enjoy seeing the world through my little ones eyes and spending time with the people I love.
I am an avid learner and love to be creative.

I was born in San Francisco, raised in Pakistan. I lived and worked in London then moved to Philadelphia where I spent 12 years before circling back to San Francisco in the summer of 2022.