Sheida Shavalian
I deeply respect the courage it takes to seek therapy. Choosing to turn inward and explore your emotional world is a meaningful investment in yourself. With over a decade of clinical experience, I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, low self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship challenges, including infidelity and decisions around separation or divorce. I offer a thoughtful, grounded, and compassionate space where you can feel genuinely seen and understood. As a bilingual therapist (English and Farsi), I am especially attuned to how culture, identity, and intergenerational experiences shape our inner lives. I am passionate about supporting individuals who feel caught between worlds, emotionally, culturally, or relationally, and helping them find clarity, self-trust, and a stronger sense of belonging.
First session
Your first session is a space to slow down and begin telling your story. I will ask thoughtful questions to understand what brings you to therapy, what you have been struggling with, and what you hope could feel different in your life. There is no pressure to have everything figured out, we simply start where you are. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to begin, therapy can be a place to reconnect with yourself and find a clearer path forward. I would be honored to support you.
Strengths
My greatest strengths lie in combining insight-oriented therapy with practical, results-focused strategies. I help clients understand the root of their challenges while also teaching tools to manage emotions, reduce stress, and improve relationships. Clients often notice progress in self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping skills, which leads to meaningful, lasting change. I am known for creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered to grow at their own pace.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to work with clients who are ready to explore their past experiences and understand how they impact their present emotions, relationships, and behaviors. I support individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or difficulty managing emotions and impulses. My ideal clients are motivated to engage in self-reflection, open to insight-oriented work, and seeking tools to build healthier coping strategies, improve self-awareness, and create lasting change in their lives. I work collaboratively to tailor therapy to each client’s unique goals and pace, ensuring a supportive and empowering environment for growth.
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
I use a psychodynamic approach to help clients explore how past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns influence their current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In my practice, I focus on building a strong therapeutic relationship, providing a safe space for self-exploration, and helping clients gain insight into recurring patterns or conflicts. By understanding the roots of their challenges, clients can develop healthier coping strategies, improve self-awareness, and foster more fulfilling relationships. I integrate this approach with practical tools to support clients in achieving meaningful, lasting change.
EMDR
I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and use it to help clients process and heal from past trauma, distressing memories, and difficult life experiences. In my practice, I guide clients through structured EMDR sessions that target the root of emotional pain, helping them reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and reframe negative beliefs about themselves. I integrate EMDR with a supportive, individualized approach to ensure clients feel safe and empowered throughout the process, ultimately promoting emotional regulation, resilience, and lasting change.
Location
Virtual sessions