Shahnaz Jafarzadeh (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker with over 15 years of extensive training and experience working with sexual abuse survivors, intimate partner violence survivors, and first responders. Shahnaz is available to meet with teens (16+), adults and couples.
Shahnaz is trained in a variety of therapeutic treatment modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma recovery,
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) among others. Shahnaz is skilled in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) , anxiety, depression, anger management, ADHD, codependency, self-esteem, and family conflict.
In her work with couples, Shahnaz pulls from her training using the Gottman Method, and Emotion Focused Therapy for couples. She is able to support couples struggling with communication difficulties, navigating polyamorous relationships, recovering from infidelity, and couples who find themselves managing cultural and generational expectations.
Shahnaz is passionate about diversity and providing culturally affirming services in all aspects of her work with clients. Her approach is to create motivation to strengthen the vision for a life free of emotional pain, anxiety and depression. Her goal is to encourage her clients to see challenging times as an opportunity to create positive change, creating a space to heal from emotional pain. Shahnaz believes that real change can be made when there is a space to provide trust and support to go through healthy and positive transitions to a healthy lifestyle.
Shahnaz's warm, grounded, and calm demeanour helps clients to feel at ease and safe during their therapy journey.
As a first generation immigrant from Iran, Shahnaz has lived experience of immigration, life transitions, and cultural adaptation.
When she is not supporting her clients, Shahnaz lives her best life with her family and close friends, enjoys dancing, staying active and going for walks, and takes time for reflection and relaxation.
Shahnaz is able to provide therapy in English, Farsi, and Italian.