Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Shah.
Hi Sarah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I can’t begin my story without talking about my parents and their story. I am the eldest child/daughter to two Pakistani immigrant parents. My father immigrated to the United States in 1989 to get a master’s in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and my mom joined him in 1993 after they got married. Their decision to settle in Texas changed the trajectory of their life and shaped the lives of my two siblings and I.
I was raised in a tight-knit Muslim community in Garland, Texas and at an early age recognized the number of unhappy but committed marriages and the cultural and generational disconnect between parents and their first-gen children. My own experiences of trying to create a sense of belonging both at home and at school didn’t always foster the best relationship between me and my parents, as we didn’t see eye to eye (sometimes still don’t) on topics around religion and culture. However, the thing that remained consistent was their ability to openly discuss all topics with me and my siblings. This helped me feel comfortable sharing my struggles with them and also challenging their ways of thinking.
I actually didn’t even know psychotherapy existed until my senior year of high school when a teacher brought it up while talking to us about psychology. This sparked my interest in majoring in psychology during undergrad at UT (yes, I went to my dad’s alma mater; it was a full circle moment 🥹). I went to a career counselor and really solidified that I wanted to be a psychotherapist, especially for the Muslim community. At that time, there really weren’t many – if any – Muslim psychotherapists in Texas. Telling my parents I was switching from pre-med to pursue counseling wasn’t the easiest conversation, but over time they learned more about it and recognized the value of it, especially for the Muslim community. From there, I did research in both positive psychology and a relationships lab, worked as an ABA therapist, and landed in grad school at the University of North Texas.
I don’t think I 100% knew what psychotherapy entailed before grad school. I was challenged to introspect in ways that I never had to previously – about my childhood, my values, my relationships, especially the one with my now husband. My diversity felt celebrated instead of judged for the first time in my life. I had the opportunity to intern at the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, where I worked with survivors of abuse, as well as at a private practice in downtown Dallas. Between juggling two internship sites, classes, a long-distance relationship with my now husband, and planning our wedding – I felt quite burned out by the time I graduated.
I had the privilege of taking a break for a few months before starting my first job out of grad school at a community mental health center. Although this work experience taught me a lot, I found myself leaving work each day feeling hopeless due to a lack of resources to truly help clients long-term. Many clients fell through the cracks, as there were just too many clients to support amongst the five case managers. I started to notice symptoms of burnout rising again, so I made the decision to transition to a local group private practice. I recognized that making this transition was definitely a privilege and that staying in a role where I wasn’t performing at my best was a disservice to my clients. Working at Austin Family Counseling (AFC) helped me reimagine being a therapist. The culture at AFC made me feel equal to the senior clinicians even as an associate, giving me a sense of confidence and safety to really explore the type of therapist I wanted to be. It was also during this time that I got certified as a Positive Discipline Parent Educator to be able to support parents in connecting with their young kiddos and teens by turning challenging moments into teachable moments.
A few months after I started at AFC, the pandemic hit. It took me longer than expected to finish my associate hours (after grad school, therapists have to complete 3,000 clinical hours under a supervisor that they pay). Once I finished in January of this year, I thought I would jump into private practice immediately like I had always dreamed, but found myself crossing paths with burnout once again (are y’all noticing a pattern here?). I gave myself time to figure out what I needed and at the time, it was the safety and consistency of staying at AFC. After I felt that I had created a net of safety outside of AFC as well, I finally felt ready to start my own practice. As of May 27, 2022, I am the proud owner of Sarah Shah, LPC PLLC.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As y’all read above, it definitely has not been a smooth road, both personally and professionally. Grad school was the first time the concept of self-care was brought up to me. However, how to actually practice it was not fully defined. I have spent the first four years of my career still not fully understanding what type of self-care works for me – hence the frequent meets with burnout. It also didn’t help to have a worldwide pandemic and mental health crisis occur simultaneously.
Where I’m currently at with my self-care journey is recognizing that I can’t do everything (something I lovingly refer to as “overfunctioning”) – especially take care of everyone while neglecting myself. I’m still doing a lot of unlearning that as the eldest daughter, a woman, and a wife/sister/business owner/friend/psychotherapist/daughter-in-law, I don’t need to have everything figured out, and I don’t need to be ashamed to admit that.
In this season of my life that looks like creating space to be supported by asking for help instead of trying to lead and control everything myself. This definitely isn’t easy for me to practice as someone who is anxiety-prone and likes to have things done “my way”. I try to make intentional mental lists about what I have control over and what I don’t to keep the anxious thoughts at bay.
I’m learning that even though I grew up thinking being needed meant I was worthy and connected to my loved ones, I’m allowed to respectfully say no and that doesn’t mean I’m being selfish. If I take care of myself, I can actually show up for my loved ones in a healthy way. I’m learning that takers have no limits, so as a giver it’s my job to directly communicate mine.
Just like my clients, I am still learning and trying to implement tools into my day-to-day life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who provides teletherapy to first-generation adults and couples in Texas. Working completely remote gives me the flexibility to work with clients who live in any part of Texas, and it gives clients the comfort of doing sessions in a space of their choosing.
Based on my answers above, I’m sure it’s no surprise that I specialize in helping adults and couples heal from over-functioning, codependency, anxiety, intergenerational trauma and learn to create healthy boundaries in relationships with both themselves and their loved ones. As a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, I also support parents in connecting with their young kiddos and teens. I particularly enjoy working with Muslim and South Asian women, as I know there is a great comfort as a client meeting with a therapist that shares identities with you! I work with clients of all identities and abilities, both of faith and non-faith backgrounds. I am a culturally affirming, trauma-informed therapist – meaning it’s important to me to see my clients as an intersection of all their identities, not dismissing any part of them.
I truly believe that the best therapist for you is the one you just vibe with. I think that’s what sets all therapists apart from each other – we all have unique backgrounds and stories that shape the way we are in the therapy room.
If you’re interested in working with me, please feel free to reach out to me by email at connect@sarahshahlpc.com to schedule a free 15 min phone consultation where you can ask any questions you have for me and I can share more about my approach to make sure we’re a good fit!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I think there is a misconception that just because I’m a therapist, my relationships and life must be perfect, or at least pretty close to it. As I said above, the truth is, I’m still learning and growing – I really don’t have it all figured out. I’m a therapist that goes to therapy. I’m a therapist that gets angry and sad and feels guilty and even ashamed sometimes. I’m human, just like everyone else. I even noticed some fear and anxiety coming up for me with this interview due to how vulnerable I’m being. I’m a therapist who still gets uncomfortable being vulnerable sometimes! But, hey, I’ve seen just how beautiful and deeper my relationships become when I pick the scarier choice of being vulnerable.
I tell clients I’m not the expert – they are the expert on their lives. I’m just here to provide a safe space where they can really explore who they are and what they want and need without feeling judged while providing some helpful tools along the way when needed.
Thank you for taking the time to read this interview! Wishing y’all rest and care in your journeys.
Pricing:
- 15 min phone consultation – FREE
- 50 min individual adult teletherapy session – $145
- 50 min couples/parents teletherapy session – $165
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahshahlpc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahshahlpc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahshahlpc
Me in my home office the day I started my practice!
My parents and I at my masters graduation from UNT
Me on the steps of a mosque in Lahore, Pakistan
My parents, my sister, and I at my dad’s MBA graduation from UT
(he came back to UT and got a second master’s degree)
Image Credits
For my professional headshot – Nidi Nizam
