Kasie Shahbaz

What it’s like to be in therapy with me

Would you like to see things more clearly?

Through our work together, I hope to help you better see your worth and what is or isn’t working in your life. My goal is to help you experience yourself in a caring, non-judgmental way. Together, we will establish a groundwork of self-compassion so that you can build healthier thinking, behaviors, and relationships. My job is not to tell you where to go but to help guide you toward where you want to be. Gentle yet honest, I strive to communicate thoughtfully and in alignment with your goals and needs.

How I approach therapy

Attunement, or the process by which we come to resonate with the inner world of another, is at the center of my therapeutic work. My intention is for you to feel heard, seen, and supported – I aim to connect with you as a partner in your healing, not a director of it.

Each person’s needs differ, so for each client I work with, I select the methods best suited to them. We will work together to seek self-acceptance and, at the same time, meet the goals you set for yourself. Since a good relationship with your therapist helps you get the most out of therapy, I use humility, humor, and authenticity to make our work come alive.

My approach is client-centered and intuitive, and my experience is bolstered by my training in different types of therapy. These include but are not limited to: psychodynamic therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic therapy, ecotherapy, religious and spiritual therapies, mindfulness therapy, grief counseling, and more. I approach therapy with a cultural humility lens and consider myself to be an affirming therapist.

I am under the supervision of Saba Harouni Lurie (she/her/hers), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #53353

Educational and Background and Other Things That Could Be Considered Noteworthy

• B.A. in Theology, Minor in Philosophy and Environmental Studies from the University of San Francisco
• Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California
• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training from Prana Yoga Center in La Jolla, CA

Clinical Training and Experience

I worked in a domestic violence shelter for one year, conducting individual therapy with adults and children, as well as families. I followed that up with a residential substance abuse and eating disorder facility for two years, where I worked with adults from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. For two years after that, I worked in intensive outpatient substance abuse recovery for adults, where I also helped develop the adolescent program.

I have a passion for working with adults and children, especially teens. Though most of my experience is with adults, I also connect well with adolescents over humor and artistic passions. I love to work with families, helping them cultivate both boundaries with and affection for each other.

A bit more about me

I chose to be a therapist after my own experiences in treatment, where therapists made me feel seen and hopeful, experiences that were new to me. I wanted to pass this on to others that needed it, and to make others who suffered from isolation, addiction, and/or mental health issues feel less stigmatized and alone.

I am the daughter of a first-generation immigrant, my Lebanese Muslim father, while my mother is white and Catholic. I identify as queer/pansexual, and the intersectionality of these identities has been at once rich, isolating, and challenging to navigate. I was motivated to move to San Francisco to safely explore my sexuality. There, I studied religion and further explored my own religious and cultural identity. I grew up steeped in multiple cultures, and I understand the importance of considering intersectionality while doing any therapeutic work.

I am also a musician and spend a lot of my time writing songs and performing.

My specialties