Meet our Psychologists

Sahar Esfahani, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety and related disorders in adolescents and adults. She treats the following mood concerns: anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, social phobia, specific phobias, panic disorder), obsessive compulsive disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors (hair-pulling, skin-picking behaviors), depression, and post traumatic stress disorder. She has advanced training in evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatments including: Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), Mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioral Activation, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). She has completed the Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training Program with Postpartum Support International and enjoys working with new parents.

Dr. Esfahani has a sub-specialty in treating post traumatic stress disorder and has received advanced training in exposure-therapies for PTSD. She has received training from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma (a project of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism) on the professional culture and occupational challenges of journalists. In addition to using HIPAA-compliant telehhealth software, she has received training from the Freedom of the Press Foundation on best practices for digital security when using telehealth technology.

Dr. Esfahani received her Ph.D. from Palo Alto University (Pacific Graduate School of Psychology) in Palo Alto, CA. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center/ University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and a pre-doctoral internship at Northern California VA Medical Center.

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)