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Shahzad Chaudhry

Shahzad Chaudhry

(he/him)

LMFT
22 years of experience
Virtual

Hi! I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed in California and have been providing therapy services for more than 20 years. I enjoy working with patients of all ages, especially with anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder diagnoses. This is because not only do I have specialized training using evidence-based treatments for these issues, but I also have been diagnosed with anxiety and OCD myself, so I have a personal understanding of the distress and impairement they can cause.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session together, we'll get to know each other, and complete an initial assessment to better understand your functioning, and goals for treatment. However, we will also set aside time to make sure you get answers to any questions you may have, address your preferences for therapy, and to begin the use of initial assessment scales to help us gather baseline data of your specific presentation (anxiety, depression, OCD, etc.) and to use for ongoing measurement of improvement.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

The mix of academics and professional training, along with personal lived experience with mental health has allowed me to better understand patients and treat them with an integrative therapy approach that is evidence-based and allows for successful outcomes.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I love working with children to young adults who are trying to overcome anxiety and OCD issues so that they can better participate in school, social interactions, and other areas including work, and general day-to-day functioning. I greatly enjoy actively working with patients who are motivated for treatment and are open to active work during and in between sessions.

About Shahzad Chaudhry

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

CBT is a highly effective and evidence-based approach to treatment and I use it collaboratively with patients to identify and challenge distorted thoughts and beliefs, to ultimately change behavior and improve emotional regulation.

Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)

ERP is a highly effective treatment for anxiety disorders, particularly Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have personally benefited from ERP to manage my own OCD symptoms and find it beneficial for helping patients gradually confront their fears or triggers while avoiding their usual compulsive responses. This process helps patients learn that their feared outcomes are unlikely and reduces the anxiety associated with those triggers over time.

Integrative

While my training and preferred approaches are CBT and ERP, I combine them with client-centered therapies to tailor treatment to each patient's needs. I collaborate with patients to identify and challenge negative thought patterns (CBT), gradually expose them to feared stimuli (ERP), and provide a supportive, empathetic environment (client-centered) to facilitate personal growth and change. This approach aims to empower patients to manage their symptoms, develop effective coping strategies, and achieve meaningful improvements in their mental health and well-being.

Multicultural

I enjoy working with patients from diverse backgrounds and believe that learning directly from them about their cultural issues is the most effective approach. I strive to embrace diversity and understand the impact of culture on patients' thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. By integrating various cultural perspectives, I aim to create a respectful and inclusive environment to meet the unique needs of each patient.