Dr. Sabah Islam

I'm so glad you are here!

I have clinical and community expertise working with BIPoC folks, women of color, South Asian & Asian identified persons, Muslims, MENA/SWANA clients, activists, and first generation/children of immigrants. My clinical interests include complex trauma (i.e., racial, religious, intergenerational, sexual, relational, etc.), identity development, immigrant and international student concerns, anxiety/depression, relationship issues, and family-of-origin concerns. My interests are heavily informed by her own identities as a brown, Bangladeshi-American, daughter of refugees.

I completed my doctoral degree in clinical psychology through the University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology. My predoctoral internship was at Emory University's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). I also completed my postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University's CAPS, with a specific 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, and relational-cultural frameworks to appreciate clients within the contexts of their environments, specifically acknowledging the impact of systems of oppression on overall wellness through the safety of the therapeutic relationship. Clients, colleagues, and previous supervisors have described me as culturally responsive, challenging, justice-oriented, curious, 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 seen and deeply understood.

First sessions are a bit more structured than traditional therapy sessions. I'll begin with a brief introduction and then review a few logistical considerations (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.