Sanam Abrishami, PhD

Dr. Sanam Abrishami earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and history at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Alliant International University, an APA accredited school. While obtaining her license, Dr. Abrishami worked closely with a diverse population at settings such as community mental health center, college/university counseling centers, and an inpatient dual diagnosis rehab center. Dr. Abrishami has taken special interest, and has specialized, in working with individuals struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other anxiety-based disorders, as well as, complex trauma, addictive and co-occurring disorders and various mood and personality disorders. In addition to her trainings in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and pain management, Dr. Abrishami has an extensive training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Behavior Therapy Training Institute I and II (an in-depth, intensive CBT training for treatment of OCD). Dr. Abrishami has recently finished a psychoanalytic psychotherapy training program at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and plans on continuing her training in the upcoming year. Lastly, Dr. Abrishami is a Learning Disability Specialist.

Dr. Abrishami sees therapy as a collaborative, goal-oriented, and active process, in which the maladaptive behavioral patterns and irrational thoughts are identified, explored, and replaced, utilizing CBT, ACT and DBT, as well as different psychodynamic techniques. Dr. Abrishami creates a safe and warm environment for her clients where they can break their repeated patterns in order to live healthy and valued lives. Dr. Abrishami is an integral part of PCH’s OCD program and she employs her bilingual abilities (Farsi and English) to provide a greater avenue for communication between her clients and herself.

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