Nazneen Bahrassa, Ph.D., PMH-C (she/her)

I’m a licensed psychologist in California with over 10 years of experience. I work with adults (18+ years of age) across the state who are navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, relationship concerns, trauma, phobias, and insomnia. I welcome clients of all gender identities (e.g., non-binary, cis-men, transgender, genderqueer, etc.), and my specialty is in women’s health and trauma. I am certified by Postpartum Support International as a Perinatal Mental Health provider and have a special interest in supporting people through infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy challenges, postpartum anxiety or depression, and parenting concerns. I also volunteer as a therapist with the Women’s Cancer Resource Center, where I work with clients navigating the impact of a cancer diagnosis.

I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and completed my internship at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, where I focused on trauma and health psychology. Afterward, I completed a fellowship in the Women’s Clinic at the San Francisco VA Health Care System focusing on health and trauma. Over the years, I’ve worked extensively in suicide prevention, DBT programs, PTSD research & assessment, and in mental health technology startups aimed at expanding access to evidence-based care.

About therapy with me

I have options for in-person therapy as well as telehealth. In-person availability is possible based on limited slots and telehealth services are provided through HIPAA-complaint technology.

My approach is culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and tailored to your individual needs. Depending on your goals, I draw from a range of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-focused therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure, as well as mindfulness-based approaches. I seek to approach each session in a goal-oriented, collaborative manner while also valuing the unique aspects of your past and lived experiences.

In our first couple of sessions, we’ll explore what brought you to therapy and your background, so I can better understand your unique story. From there, we’ll set goals together and create a treatment plan. Many clients notice meaningful progress within 8–12 sessions and others continue for longer-term treatment.