Are you feeling overwhelmed or struggling with your relationships? Does anxiety or stress seem impossible to shake off? Maybe you're at a crossroads with your career or finding it hard to connect with yourself. Or perhaps you've experienced trauma that you cannot navigate alone; you're not alone, and there is help available. I'm Ehsan Shabahang, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) dedicated to helping you overcome life's challenges. Having worked with over 4,000 clients, including individuals, families, couples, students, groups, children, and non-profit organizations, I understand that life can be unpredictable. My military experience and multidisciplinary approach to therapy have taught me resilience and the importance of mental health. As an LPC, I hold a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am currently pursuing a PhD in Social Psychology. I use a unique blend of therapy models in my practice, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the Gottman Method, and sex therapy as a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP). This diverse approach allows me to better address your mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. I also integrate mindfulness, yoga, and art therapy to help you build a stronger, more positive relationship with yourself. My approach is especially supportive for those who have experienced trauma, providing a safe and nurturing environment to process and heal. Whether you're dealing with career stress, relationship issues, trauma, or looking to improve your self-awareness, I'm here to help. I offer a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space where you can find the support you need. Together, we'll use practical tools and scientifically proven methods to help you achieve your goals. Take the first step towards a better life. Let's embark on this journey of growth and self-discovery together.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and I want you to know that our first session is all about creating a space where you feel comfortable, heard, and understood. This is a time for us to get to know each other and begin building a foundation for the work ahead. We’ll start by exploring what brought you to therapy—whether it’s a specific challenge, a feeling that something isn’t quite right, or a desire for personal growth. There’s no pressure to have all the answers or explain everything perfectly. I’ll guide the conversation in a way that helps us uncover what’s most important to you and what you hope to gain from therapy. Therapy with me isn’t just about what happens in our sessions; it’s about making meaningful progress in your everyday life. That’s why I use Blueprint, a platform that allows us to track your progress, gain deeper insights into your emotional patterns, and integrate therapy into your daily routine. Through Blueprint, you’ll be able to check in between sessions, complete assessments, and apply the tools we discuss in real time. I believe that real change happens both inside and outside of our sessions, so I take an active approach to working with clients beyond just our weekly meetings. Whether it’s helping you build coping strategies, offering guidance on how to navigate challenges between sessions, or providing structured tools to deepen our work, I want therapy to feel like something that supports you every day—not just when we’re talking. The first session is an opportunity for us to start shaping your path forward. By the end, we’ll have a clearer idea of what you need, what approaches might work best for you, and how we can collaborate to help you move toward the life you want.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
One of my standout strengths lies in navigating the complex terrain of relationships, be it with a partner, family, or perhaps most critically, with oneself. Having served in the Army and worked in diverse settings like non-profit organizations and educational institutions, I bring a multi-faceted understanding of human resilience and struggle. This diverse background allows me to approach relationship issues with a unique blend of empathy, practicality, and insight. Another area where I excel is in helping clients manage stress and anxiety. Whether it's workplace tension, relationship strain, or self-inflicted stress, my toolkit is robust. Drawing from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I offer specific techniques to help you understand the cognitive patterns that fuel your anxiety and equip you with coping mechanisms to relieve stress. My approach is always customized to you, underpinned by my core belief in collaborative care. Together, we'll find the strategies that work best for you and evolve our approach as you grow and change.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Finding the right therapist is an important step in the journey toward personal growth and healing. If you’re someone who feels stuck in patterns of overthinking, stress, or emotional distress, or if you’re struggling to manage relationships, self-doubt, or past experiences, I provide a space where you can explore these challenges with support and guidance. My approach is tailored to individuals who are ready to gain deeper insight into themselves, even if they feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or hesitant about where to start. Many of my clients are high-functioning individuals—people who may appear to have it all together on the outside but feel a different reality internally. They might be constantly managing stress, experiencing persistent worry or racing thoughts, feeling emotionally drained, or struggling to balance personal and professional responsibilities. If you often find yourself putting others’ needs ahead of your own, feeling the pressure to always be “on,” or struggling with burnout, I can help you navigate those feelings and develop healthier ways to approach your life. For some, therapy is about working through past experiences that continue to impact the present. Trauma, whether from childhood, relationships, or specific life events, has a way of lingering—showing up as difficulty trusting others, emotional numbness, or a sense of disconnection from yourself and the world around you. I work with individuals who want to better understand how their past has shaped their present, helping them process those experiences and develop tools to create a future that feels more fulfilling and secure. Others seek therapy because they’re navigating a life transition, struggling with self-esteem, or looking to deepen their self-awareness. Maybe you feel lost, unsure of your next steps, or disconnected from your own needs and desires. Sometimes, people don’t know exactly what’s wrong—they just know they don’t feel like themselves. If that resonates with you, we can work together to identify what’s missing, clarify your values and goals, and build a life that feels more authentic and aligned with who you truly are. In my practice, I often work with individuals who experience: Anxiety and Overthinking – Feeling like your mind is constantly racing, worrying about worst-case scenarios, or struggling to relax and stay present. Depression and Emotional Fatigue – Feeling stuck, unmotivated, or disconnected, with a sense that even small tasks feel overwhelming.
About Ehsan Adib Shabahang
Specializes in
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) serves as a foundational approach to helping individuals reshape their thoughts, manage emotions, and create meaningful behavioral change. Over the years, I have used CBT to guide clients through challenges such as anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and stress management, equipping them with practical tools to break free from negative thought cycles. My experience with CBT has shown me how powerful it can be in challenging automatic negative thoughts—those ingrained patterns that fuel distress and keep individuals feeling stuck. I integrate CBT techniques in a structured but flexible way, tailoring sessions to meet each client’s unique needs. We start by identifying the thoughts and beliefs that may be driving unwanted emotions or behaviors. From there, we explore how to reframe these thoughts and replace them with healthier, more constructive perspectives. For instance, with clients struggling with anxiety, I often use cognitive restructuring to help them recognize and challenge catastrophic thinking patterns. We also work on exposure techniques and behavioral activation, gradually engaging with situations that may feel overwhelming but are essential for growth. When working with depression, I focus on helping clients recognize patterns of avoidance and inactivity, introducing small, achievable steps to regain motivation and a sense of control over their lives. I find that CBT is most effective when it balances insight with action—understanding why we think and feel the way we do is important, but real change happens when we apply new ways of thinking in everyday life. In our sessions, we don’t just talk about challenges; we develop strategies, set goals, and practice techniques that empower you to move forward with confidence. If you’re looking for a structured yet adaptable approach that provides practical coping skills while fostering deep personal growth, CBT can be a valuable tool. Together, we will transform limiting thought patterns into opportunities for healing and change.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
As a certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) practitioner, I integrate this powerful, evidence-based approach to help clients build emotional resilience, improve interpersonal relationships, and develop skills to manage distress. DBT was originally designed for individuals struggling with intense emotions, self-destructive behaviors, or difficulties with emotional regulation, but I have found it to be highly effective for a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship difficulties. In my practice, I focus on the four core areas of DBT: Mindfulness – Helping clients stay present in the moment rather than becoming overwhelmed by thoughts about the past or future. Distress Tolerance – Developing strategies to manage intense emotions and navigate crises without resorting to harmful coping mechanisms. Emotion Regulation – Learning to identify, understand, and shift difficult emotions before they spiral out of control. Interpersonal Effectiveness – Building skills to communicate assertively, set healthy boundaries, and maintain meaningful relationships. Through a combination of structured skill-building, real-life application, and compassionate guidance, I help clients develop a toolkit they can rely on when navigating life’s challenges. One of the things I appreciate most about DBT is its balance between acceptance and change—acknowledging where you are in your journey while also equipping you with strategies to move forward. I use DBT in an individualized and practical way, whether that means incorporating diary cards to track emotions and behaviors, role-playing communication strategies, or practicing distress tolerance techniques to handle life’s unpredictable moments. My goal is to empower you with tools that not only help in therapy sessions but become second nature in your daily life. If you’re ready to develop greater emotional balance, self-awareness, and control over your reactions, DBT can provide a structured yet flexible path toward meaningful change. I’m here to guide you through that process with skill, compassion, and a deep understanding of what works.
Gottman method
As a Level 2 Certified Gottman Method practitioner, I utilize this research-based approach to help individuals strengthen their relationships, improve communication, and navigate conflicts more effectively. The Gottman Method is rooted in decades of research on what makes relationships work, providing practical strategies to foster understanding, trust, and emotional connection. In my practice, I help clients apply Gottman principles to identify negative interaction patterns, improve emotional attunement, and develop healthier ways of managing disagreements. A key focus is on building the “Sound Relationship House”—a framework that promotes mutual respect, appreciation, and meaningful dialogue. I often integrate: Emotionally Intelligent Communication – Helping individuals recognize and express their needs while also understanding their partner’s perspective. Conflict Management Skills – Teaching techniques to de-escalate tension and approach disagreements in a way that leads to resolution rather than further disconnection. Building a Culture of Appreciation – Encouraging small but meaningful interactions that strengthen emotional bonds and foster long-term connection. Trust and Commitment Work – Addressing underlying fears, insecurities, or past experiences that may be affecting relationship dynamics. My experience using the Gottman Method has shown me how small, intentional changes can lead to profound improvements in connection and understanding. Whether a client is struggling with recurring conflict, emotional distance, or communication barriers, I provide structured guidance based on evidence-backed techniques to create positive and lasting change.
Sex Therapy
As a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP), I provide a compassionate and knowledgeable space for individuals seeking to explore and improve their sexual well-being. My approach to sex therapy is grounded in evidence-based techniques, focusing on education, communication, emotional connection, and addressing barriers to sexual satisfaction. I work with individuals facing a range of concerns, including: Desire and Arousal Issues – Navigating changes in libido, mismatched desires, and emotional or psychological barriers to intimacy. Performance Anxiety – Addressing fears, self-doubt, or pressure that may be interfering with confidence and enjoyment. Understanding Sexual Identity and Expression – Providing a space to explore and embrace one’s sexual identity in a way that aligns with personal values and comfort. Healing from Sexual Trauma or Shame – Guiding individuals through the emotional and psychological effects of past experiences, helping them move toward empowerment and healing. Improving Communication Around Intimacy – Helping individuals express their needs, boundaries, and desires in a healthy and constructive way. In my practice, I integrate cognitive-behavioral strategies, mindfulness techniques, and psychoeducation to help clients reframe limiting beliefs, reduce anxiety, and foster a more fulfilling relationship with their sexuality. I believe that sexual health is a vital part of overall well-being, and I aim to create an open, nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore these topics with confidence and clarity.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Therapy is an integral part of my practice, helping individuals cultivate greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. With years of experience integrating mindfulness techniques, I have seen how this approach empowers clients to shift from reactive patterns to intentional, present-centered living. Mindfulness-Based Therapy is particularly effective for individuals struggling with anxiety, stress, trauma, emotional dysregulation, and self-criticism. Rather than attempting to eliminate distressing thoughts or emotions, this approach teaches clients to observe their experiences with curiosity and nonjudgment—allowing for deeper insight and a sense of control over their responses. In my practice, I guide clients through evidence-based mindfulness techniques, including: Grounding and Breathwork – Using deep breathing and sensory awareness exercises to anchor the mind and body in the present moment. Body Awareness and Somatic Work – Helping clients recognize and release stored tension, particularly in response to stress or trauma. Cognitive Defusion Techniques – Learning to step back from negative thoughts rather than being consumed by them. Mindful Acceptance and Self-Compassion – Encouraging a shift from self-judgment to self-kindness, reducing the impact of harsh inner criticism. Mindful Action and Intentional Living – Helping individuals make values-aligned decisions, rather than being driven by avoidance, fear, or impulse. Through consistent practice, mindfulness allows individuals to reframe distressing experiences, enhance emotional flexibility, and foster a deeper sense of peace and purpose. I integrate these techniques seamlessly into therapy, tailoring exercises to each client’s unique needs and comfort level.