About Sidra

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working in clinical mental health for several years. I have also been working in mental health research, program development, and evaluation for the better part of 20 years. Clients describe me as insightful, empathetic, compassionate, genuine, funny, easy-going, and nonjudgmental.

I am originally from the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York, and lived in South Florida, Chicago, Washington DC, and a few places in between before moving to California in 2002. I am the proud mother of a Freshman at Cal (Berkeley) and currently the guardian of one feisty cat. I have ADHD, am a cancer survivor and trauma survivor, and I identify as a relationship anarchist. I am serious about offering an affirming practice. That means I work to empower a client with respect to their gender identity, sexuality, relationship orientation, neurodiversity, body size / shape / ability, cultural, and any other differences, rather than trying to "repair" or minimize such differences. Although I have been exposed to many religions, I do not affiliate with any. My spirituality most closely resembles Buddhism, the principles of which often show up in therapy sessions. As the daughter of parents and grandparents with traumatic histories and/or mental illness, I have learned to channel negative experiences into resilience. I feel compelled to help others on their journey of healing and happiness. 

Education

Master of Social Work, California State University, Los Angeles

Master of Health Science in Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health

Graduate Studies, Social Ecology, University of California at Irvine

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Chicago


We can not solve our problems with the same thinking that we used when we created them."

--Albert Einstein

Additional Training

Sex Therapy Certificate

Cognitive Processing Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Mindfulness-Based Mental Health Treatment

Motivational Interviewing

Anger Management Intervention and Conflict Resolution

ITTI Certificate of Completion as Clinical Trauma Professional

Beyond Trauma

Seeking Safety

Problem Solving Treatment

Crisis Oriented Recovery Services

UpRisingYoga Certificate of Completion of Teacher Training

Techniques & Approaches

My approach is holistic and integrated in order to best meet your needs, including aspects of the following: Mindfulness, CBT, ACT, CPT, DBT, EFT, Gottman Method, PACT, Attachment Theory, Motivational Interviewing, Psychoeducation, Buddhist Psychology, Positive Psychology, Humanist and Existential models, Feminist and Narrative models, Systems Theory, Health at Every Size, Strength-Based, and Problem Solving Treatment.