Meet our Psychologists

Sahar Esfahani, Ph.D., PMH-C is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders in adolescents and adults. Her areas of expertise include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body-focused repetitive behaviors (such as hair-pulling and skin-picking), depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dr. Esfahani has advanced training in a range of evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioral Activation, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Mindfulness-Based Interventions, and Motivational Interviewing (MI). She is also certified in the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program through the Yale Child Study Center.

In addition to her clinical focus on anxiety and trauma, Dr. Esfahani holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from  Postpartum Support International and has a specialized interest in maternal mental health. She also has a sub-specialty in the treatment of PTSD and has received extensive training in exposure-based therapies for trauma. Dr. Esfahani has been trained by the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma—a project of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism—on the unique occupational stressors and professional culture of journalists.

Dr. Esfahani earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University (Pacific Graduate School of Psychology) in Palo Alto, California. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Northern California VA Health Care System and her post-doctoral fellowship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Dr. Esfahani’s prior experiences include:

The Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.; Director of Adult Clinical Services

The Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center, Chicago, IL; Staff Psychologist

San Francisco VA Medical Center (Substance Abuse & PTSD), San Francisco, CA; Post Doctoral Fellowship

Northern California VA Medical Center, (Substance Abuse Clinics, PTSD Clinical Team, Behavioral Medicine, Inpatient DOD/ Air Force Base); Predoctoral Internship

Stanford University Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Palo Alto, CA; Clinical Research Associate

The Early Intervention Clinic, Palo Alto, CA; Clinical Research Associate

Bensinger Dupont & Associates, Chicago, IL; Bereavement Support Coordinator

Dr.Esfahani is licensed to provide therapy to residents in Maryland, D.C., Virginia, Illinois and all Psypact approved states.

Memberships

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)