Sairah Abbasi, MSW, LCSW

Salaam and hello! I am grateful for your presence and interest in starting therapy with me. My name is Sairah Abbasi and I practice within the state of California- working with clients from adolescence through adulthood, and couples, and I also use EMDR as well.

Seeking support for your current hardships or past experiences takes courage and strength. Therapy is a rich and meaningful way to process life’s challenges through establishing personalized tools for change and empowerment of the self. My objective is to support you within your healing journey through a safe, comfortable and open space. All the while honoring and respecting the faith that contributes to your life experiences and personal identity. I use a collaborative approach to establish goals for change and personal growth. Whether that’s improving your self-worth, managing life stress, regulating tough emotions, improving your relationships or finding respite, this is your space. 

At times being part of the Muslim community, in a social-location where you are part of a minority faith, can lead to a recurring feeling of isolation and loneliness. For some who are part of our community, it can even be hard to find a secure space where we feel we're comfortable, safe and understood by those around us. Through my own experience as being part of the Muslim community, I know there are many layers which play a huge role in being Muslim. Some of which are woven together through practice, pillars, traditions, and cultural dynamics, thus it is so meaningful to explore within the therapeutic environment!

As a therapist, I have experience working with clients experiencing Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, BPD, Bipolar Disorder, family/relationship conflict, intergenerational trauma, gender expectations and biases, childhood trauma, and reduced self-worth. I provide individual, family and couple’s therapy and use an individualized approach to fit each client’s needs. Much of which draws from therapeutic treatments such as ACT, DBT, CBT Emotion-Focused Therapy, EMDR, and Strength-Based Therapy. Alongside the treatments above, I am trained in providing ESA Letters for those who may benefit from incorporating their animal as a part of treatment!

My educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Montclair State University with a concentration in Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies. I also have experience working with survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and individuals who have caused harm, and also supporting clients within a shelter setting and a community mental health center.

A fun fact about me is that I truly admire poetry! Some of my favorite poets include Rupi Kaur, Yung Pueblo, Madisen Kuhn and r.h. Sin. When I’m not at work, you can generally find me with a warm cup of coffee reading one of their poems.