Sarah Shaheen, PHD, LPC
She/Her/Hers

Specialties: Anxiety/Depression/Parenting/Perinatal/Teens/Adults

Sarah has a BA from the University of Notre Dame, a MEd from DePaul University, and a PhD in Counseling from Oregon State University. She spent the first twelve years of her counseling career in high schools where she honed her skills working with adolescents and families. Her experience as a school counselor provided valuable knowledge of how to advocate for adolescents within the various systems of which they are a part. Over the last several years, Sarah has also worked with adults both individually and in group settings. She specializes in anxiety, depression, suicidality, relationship issues, social skills building, and life transitions.

 More recently, Sarah has been expanding her expertise in supporting parents, with a focus on fostering insight, enhancing self-awareness, and promoting balance in the family system. She is trained in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based treatment program for parents of children and teens with anxiety or OCD. In addition, she is currently pursuing specialized training to become a perinatal mental health provider.

Sarah believes in the transformative power of counseling - the foundation for which is the therapeutic alliance. Sarah believes it is essential for the client and counselor to set realistic goals and work towards them collaboratively. She fosters a climate of trust and collaboration through warmth, empathy, and genuineness. Sarah adheres to a contextual and integrative approach, utilizing a combination of action-based and insight-oriented theories such person-centered, cognitive behavioral (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Additionally, she comes from a multicultural relational perspective which recognizes that culture is complex, all encompassing, and a guidepost for her work with clients.

Sarah lives in Evanston with her husband and two children. She enjoys exploring new parks with her kids, tending to her garden in the summer, and finding delicious coffee shops. Her main passion is her love of learning. Sarah is dedicated to continuous education and absorbing as much knowledge as she can about the many topics that interest her.

sarah.shaheen@sagecounselingco.com