(she/her)
Hi, my name is Shahnoor! I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master’s degree from USC and a background in Sociology and Gender Studies from UCLA. I currently offer short term, focused therapy (approximately 10–15 sessions) for individuals seeking intentional, specialized care around a specific concern. My approach is rooted in decolonized, trauma informed care that recognizes the intersections of identity, culture, and lived experience. I work collaboratively with clients to clarify goals, build insight, and develop practical tools within a structured timeframe. Together, we’ll work intentionally toward practical change and sustainable tools that support your wellbeing beyond our time together.
In our first session, we’ll take time to get to know one another and establish a foundation of trust and clarity. I’ll invite you to share what’s bringing you to therapy now, along with relevant aspects of your history and current challenges. Because my work is short term and goal focused, we’ll also begin identifying the specific areas you’d like support with and discuss whether this brief therapy model feels like a good fit. You’ll have space to ask questions, understand my approach, and collaboratively outline what you hope to gain from our work together.
My greatest strengths as a therapist include a solution focused, structured approach that emphasizes practical strategies and meaningful forward movement. I specialize in helping clients translate insight into action within a time limited therapeutic container. I practice from a decolonized, trauma informed, and intersectional feminist lens, honoring cultural, historical, and systemic contexts while remaining grounded in evidence based care. I hold clients accountable with compassion and often incorporate between session practices or homework to support integration and progress. I am committed to ongoing training and learning to ensure my work remains thoughtful, ethical, and effective.
I work best with clients who are navigating periods of transition, emotional overwhelm, or questions around identity, meaning, and wellbeing. My approach is trauma informed, culturally responsive, and holistic, grounded in an understanding of how personal experience is shaped by broader social and systemic contexts. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, build insight, and develop tools for growth, while honoring their resilience, strengths, and autonomy in the therapeutic process.
Integrative
I practice integrative therapy, meaning I don’t rely on a single approach or formula. Instead, I thoughtfully weave together evidence based methods to meet you where you are and respond to what you need in the moment. This allows our work to be flexible, personalized, and deeply attuned without losing structure or direction. Within a short term framework, integrative therapy creates momentum. We combine insight, practical tools, and values based action to help you move through challenges efficiently and intentionally, using the approaches that will be most effective for you and not a one-size-fits-all model.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients break free from unhelpful patterns of overthinking, avoidance, and self criticism, and move toward a life that feels meaningful and aligned. ACT focuses on building psychological flexibility and learning how to make room for difficult thoughts and emotions without letting them run the show. In our work together, ACT becomes a practical, empowering framework for clarifying what truly matters to you and taking intentional action, even when things feel uncomfortable. This approach is especially powerful in short term therapy, helping clients create momentum, confidence, and real life change that continues well beyond our sessions.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I take a structured yet flexible approach to Solution Focused Brief Therapy, helping clients identify clear, actionable goals from the start. We work together to break challenges into manageable steps, and I track progress using spreadsheets to keep everything organized and measurable. I also assign practical homework, whether it’s trying a new coping skill, having a tough conversation, or engaging in self reflection so clients can apply what we discuss in real life. My goal is to keep therapy forward focused and empowering, helping clients build on their strengths and see real changes.
Mind-body approach
I take a mind body approach to therapy, recognizing how deeply our emotions and physical experiences are connected. I help clients tune into their bodies through practices like breathwork, mindfulness, and somatic techniques, allowing them to process emotions in a way that feels natural and grounding. I also encourage real world integration by assigning activities that promote mind body awareness, such as movement exercises, journaling, or sensory based relaxation techniques. By blending psychological insight with bodily awareness, I help clients develop a deeper sense of balance, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.
Strength-Based
I use a strengths based approach to help clients recognize and build on the skills, resilience, and wisdom they already carry, often beneath layers of stress, self doubt, or burnout. Rather than focusing solely on what’s “wrong,” this approach highlights what’s working, what has helped you survive and adapt, and how those strengths can be intentionally applied to your current goals. In short term therapy, a strengths based lens allows us to move efficiently and meaningfully, essentially, amplifying your existing capacities, fostering self trust, and creating momentum toward change that feels both empowering and sustainable.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 20, 2025
Shahnoor is the absolute best person to have on your team if you're ready to grow and challenge yourself. She provides a safe, affirming, and empowering space for you to be both vulnerable and courageous to help you face/own your truths and is fiercely compassionate as she challenges you to be at your growth edges. She is a creative genius in how she listens/supports clients to meet them where they are at and tailors techniques/approaches that resonate with their healing and growth journeys.
May 14, 2025
Shahnoor is the type of therapist that I have been looking for over 2 years for. She is organized, so empathetic, well-prepared but also always willing to skillfully pivot and reshape a session on the spot when needed! Truly I have felt so much more understood and understand myself better in 4 sessions with her than 2 years with multiple therapists.