Dr. Sabah Islam

Finding the right therapist can be a daunting process. I am so glad you are here!

My clinical expertise includes trauma (i.e., relational, racial, religious, sexual, generational, narcissistic abuse), identity development, relationship issues, anxiety/depression, internalized oppression, chronic self abandonment, and family of origin concerns.

I have nearly a decade of experience supporting Muslim women, South Asian, SWANA, and BIPoC communities, first generation/children of immigrants, as well as a passion for men's mental health. I balance evidence based practices with cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care & a somatic lens. My expertise is strongly informed by my own identities as a brown, Bangladeshi-American, daughter of refugees/immigrants.

I completed my doctoral degree in clinical psychology through the University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology. My predoctoral internship was completed at Emory University's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). I also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University's CAPS, with a focus on social justice and outreach programming. Following licensure, I served as a staff psychologist at Yale University's Mental Health & Counseling department.

I integrate multicultural, trauma informed, systems relational-cultural, decolonial & liberatory frameworks to appreciate clients of various intersecting identities within the contexts of their environments. Specifically, I work to acknowledge and unpack the impact of systemic oppression on mental health through the safety of the therapeutic relationship.

Clients, colleagues, and former supervisors have described me as culturally responsive, challenging, justice-oriented, curious, deeply empathic, and intuitive. In the therapy room, I see myself as a guide who walks alongside clients, empowering them to show up as exactly who they are- for all the pain, hurt, and trauma they may have experienced, and be held safely in this. I believe true, sustainable change comes from the consistent experience of being attuned to, seen, and deeply understood.

Many clients enter therapy with some level of awareness about their struggles and where they might originate from, but cannot access long term resolution or change. Since healing occurs in the context of relationships, I see my role in helping to facilitate and guide this deeper, sustainable change. Through our work together, clients have often reported finding greater self trust, understanding, and transformed relationships to others, but most importantly, themselves.

First sessions are a bit more structured than traditional therapy sessions. I'll begin with a brief introduction and then review logistical considerations (informed consent/limits to confidentiality, telehealth considerations, cancellation policy, etc), leaving space for questions as they arise. I like to get a sense of any previous experiences in therapy and discuss what clients have found helpful/unhelpful, followed by sharing a bit about my own approach. If all feels okay, we will then transition into the intake where I'll ask you questions about various areas of your life/history, taking things at your pace. By the end of session, if we feel like a good fit, we can discuss next steps/scheduling. If for any reason we don't feel like a good fit, I am happy to provide referrals.