Sadaf Kazemian, LPC
OCD & Trauma Therapist in Sterling, VA
Gender: Female | Office Location: Sterling, Telehealth | States Licensed In: Virginia
Languages: Farsi, Persian, English
Services Offered: Therapy | Credentials: LPC | Age Group: Ages 15+
About Me
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who works exclusively with adults. Since beginning my clinical career in 2021, I have worked with clients in settings ranging from private practice to residential treatment. I am fluent in English and Persian (Farsi) and enjoy working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Counseling is something I consider a calling, and I am passionate about helping people feel heard, understood, and empowered as they work toward meaningful change.
I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, trauma and PTSD, grief, mood and personality disorders, relationship and family concerns, attachment difficulties, codependency, low self-esteem, body image and eating concerns, substance use, identity concerns, and major life transitions. My experience also includes women’s issues, infertility and postpartum concerns, LGBTQ+ and gender identity concerns, career stress, chronic pain, phobias, compulsive behaviors, and co-occurring mental health concerns.
My Approach to Therapy
My approach is direct, conversational, and collaborative. I want therapy to give you space to understand what you’re experiencing while also helping you identify meaningful goals and make practical changes in your everyday life.
Because every person comes to therapy with different experiences and needs, I use an integrative approach rather than relying on one method. My work may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Solution-Focused Therapy, motivational approaches, attachment and relational work, and person-centered and strengths-based strategies.
I have specialized training in ERP for OCD and EMDR for trauma and PTSD. I also draw from culturally sensitive, multicultural, compassion-focused, and trauma-informed perspectives, recognizing that relationships, culture, identity, spirituality, family experiences, and past events can all influence how we understand ourselves and the challenges we face.
I believe meaningful change extends beyond the therapy room. When appropriate, I incorporate therapeutic homework and encourage you to practice what we’re working on in your everyday life. Our work may explore your past, address what’s happening now, and consider where you want to go next while taking your emotional, mental, physical, cultural, and relational well-being into account.
Who I Work With
Many of my clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain about how to move forward. You may find yourself constantly worrying, struggling with depression or changing moods, caught in the cycle of OCD, having difficulty concentrating, or feeling like old experiences continue to affect your life and relationships.
You may be struggling with boundaries, attachment, codependency, family conflict, grief, body image, eating concerns, or patterns in relationships that seem difficult to change. You may be navigating infertility, postpartum concerns, questions about your identity or sexuality, a career change, or another major transition. Some clients come to me with multiple concerns at once and want help understanding how the different pieces fit together.
I also have experience working with more complex mental health presentations, including bipolar disorder, personality-related concerns, dissociation, self-harm, substance use and dual diagnoses, compulsive behaviors, and behavioral addictions.
Whatever brings you to therapy, you do not need to have a diagnosis or know exactly what’s wrong before we begin. You may simply know, “I don’t want to keep feeling this way, but I don’t know what needs to change.” We can start there.
Relationships, Identity & Life Experiences
Our relationships and identities can have a significant impact on mental health. I work with adults experiencing relationship difficulties, family conflict, attachment concerns, codependency, infidelity, and the effects of unhealthy or abusive relationships.
I also welcome clients exploring gender identity, sexuality, cultural identity, spirituality, and women’s issues. As a Persian-speaking therapist, I understand that cultural and family expectations can be deeply connected to mental health, relationships, and identity. Therapy can provide a place to explore these experiences without assuming that one approach or set of values is right for everyone.
OCD, Anxiety & Related Concerns
Anxiety doesn’t always look like simply feeling worried. It can involve panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, phobias, avoidance, reassurance seeking, or feeling as though your mind never completely shuts off.
I have specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and work with clients experiencing OCD, anxiety, panic, phobias, and related concerns. Treatment is individualized based on your symptoms, needs, and goals.
Trauma & PTSD
Past experiences can continue to affect how you feel, think, respond to stress, and connect with other people long after the experience itself has ended. I work with adults experiencing trauma and PTSD, including sexual trauma, attachment-related concerns, and the effects of difficult or abusive relationships.
I have specialized training in EMDR and integrate trauma-informed, relational, and other evidence-based approaches based on what is most appropriate for you.
What to Expect When Working With Me
Our first appointment is an opportunity to get to know each other and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. We’ll talk about your current concerns, relevant personal history, relationships and experiences, challenges you’re facing, and what you hope to accomplish through our work together.
You don’t need to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out before you begin. Opening up to someone new can feel intimidating, particularly when discussing experiences you may never have shared before. We’ll work collaboratively and move at a pace that allows you to become comfortable with the process.
Finding the Right Therapist
I believe feeling comfortable, understood, and supported is essential to meaningful therapy. At the same time, I won’t simply sit back and listen. My style is open and direct, and I’ll help you recognize patterns, consider different perspectives, build practical skills, and work toward the goals that matter to you.
I may not be the right therapist for everyone, and that’s okay. I encourage you to ask questions, share your concerns, and use our early sessions to determine whether my approach aligns with what you’re looking for.
Taking the first step toward therapy can be challenging, but you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. Together, we can work toward greater understanding, healthier patterns, and meaningful change. I look forward to connecting with you.
Sadaf provides therapy through Dr. Goldberg & Associates’ Sterling, Virginia office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of clients do you work with?
I work exclusively with adults. My experience includes anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, trauma and PTSD, grief, bipolar and other mood concerns, personality-related difficulties, relationships and family conflict, attachment and codependency, body image and eating concerns, substance use, identity concerns, women’s issues, career concerns, and major life transitions.
Do you specialize in OCD treatment?
Yes. I have specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based approach commonly used to treat OCD. I also work with anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, intrusive thoughts, and related concerns. Treatment is individualized based on your symptoms and goals.
Do you provide trauma therapy or EMDR?
Yes. I have training in EMDR and experience helping adults with trauma and PTSD, including sexual trauma and the effects of difficult or abusive relationships. We’ll determine together which approaches are appropriate based on your experiences, comfort level, and treatment goals.
Can we talk about relationships, identity, or cultural concerns in therapy?
Absolutely. I work with relationship and family concerns, attachment, codependency, LGBTQ+ and gender identity concerns, women’s issues, spirituality, and multicultural experiences. These parts of your life don’t exist separately from your mental health, so we can explore them whenever they’re important to what you’re experiencing.
What is therapy with you like?
My style is direct, conversational, and collaborative. We’ll have room to process what you’re experiencing, but I also want therapy to help you make meaningful changes outside of our sessions. I often incorporate practical strategies, goal setting, and therapeutic homework when appropriate.
Do you provide therapy in Persian/Farsi?
Yes. I am fluent in both Persian and English. This allows me to provide therapy in Persian while also understanding cultural and family experiences that may be important to your mental health, relationships, identity, or treatment.
Sadaf provides in-person appointments at our Sterling location, as well as telehealth services for clients who prefer to meet virtually.