Sahar Dorani Bizimungu, PsyD

Many of my clients are dealing with concerns such as depression or anxiety, or working to improve relationships with family, partners, or friends. I especially enjoy working with people from immigrant backgrounds who are navigating multiple intersecting identities, and their impact on their personal and professional lives. My Background and Approach I appreciate more psychodynamic/psychoanalytical case conceptualization; that is, focusing on things like attachment to early caregivers to better understand relationships in adulthood. I also highly value cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help connect one's thoughts to their emotions and behaviors. I also work with couples who are feeling stuck or having difficulty communicating in their relationship, especially if one of the partners is experiencing trauma or PTSD. I enjoy working with couples where there may be tension between merging their families, or cultural differences that make it difficult to have harmony in the relationship. My Personal Beliefs and Interests Being driven to succeed can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, your strong work ethic and drive towards accomplishment have probably gotten you to where you are today—possibly even in the face of major challenges or hardships. On the other hand, when our self-worth is defined by our productivity, it can feel very fragile. Anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, and difficulty prioritizing ourselves and our relationships is often the result. I work with students and professionals who are navigating these challenges to develop healthier, more balanced relationships with themselves, their careers, and the important people in their lives.