Sabah Awar, PsyD (Hillcrest)

She/Her/Hers

Postdoctoral Psychological Associate supervised by Dr. Danielle Hanley

Hello, my name is Sabah Awar (she/her/hers) and I am a Postdoctoral Registered Psychological Associate (PSB94029848) supervised by Dr. Danielle Hanley (PSY 33351) in San Diego. My goal in therapy is to ensure my clients feel that their autonomy is respected and that they feel safe to grow and challenge themselves in a supportive environment. I aim to provide a collaborative, warm, and above all, safe space where we can find ways to empower you and make life better.

Some of the topics and issues I work with include depression, anxiety, trauma, executive function, neurodivergence, gender and sexual orientation, sex and relationships (including consensual non-monogamy, kink, and sex therapy), systemic oppression, and Arab and Palestinian identity and oppression. I look at therapeutic issues through a multicultural feminist lens, paying attention to systemic and intersectional issues that contribute to stress and mental health difficulties. I primarily use techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), but I also provide long-term psychodynamic exploration and treatment. If you aren’t sure what these therapies are or what the right fit is for you, don’t worry – we can find the right path together and figure out what works best for you.

I have provided therapy to clients for five years, with most of that time spent in San Diego. I received my doctorate from Alliant International University here in San Diego and completed an APA-accredited internship at the University of California, Santa Cruz. I have worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, college counseling, LGBTQ+ centers, community mental health clinics, and private practice, seeing clients from a diverse array of backgrounds, perspectives, ages, and reasons for coming to therapy.

I welcome anyone and everyone looking for support and personal growth, regardless of background, and I would be happy to walk with you and see if we are a good match. I also have a speciality in working with the LGBTQ+ (and especially trans and non-binary), ADHD, and Autistic communities, which I am also a part of, as I want to provide a safe and understanding space to people who rarely get the chance to work with therapists from a similar background. If you feel ready to give therapy a try, I invite you to reach out as you are, and we can work together to build a space for you to safely grow and heal.

I am an in-network therapist for Cigna, Aetna, Blue Shield, and Anthem Blue Cross.

Education and Training:

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Alliant International University – California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego

APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Internship, University of California, Santa Cruz Counseling and Psychological Services

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Alliant International University – California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego

B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Berkeley