Dr. Azita Afshar, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Afshar obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with focuses in both Psychology and Chemistry. She earned her Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago. While continuing her clinical career, she completed her predoctoral internship and postdocotral fellowship at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio. As a postdoctoral fellow at BGSU and adjunct faculty member at both BGSU and Heidelberg college, she supervised students and taught courses on Basic Intervention Skills and the Psychology of Gender and Women. She also provided diagnostic assessments and individual, family, child/adolescent, and couples psychotherapeutic services to both the BGSU student and Bowling Green community populations.
As the former director of an adult psychology clinic in Oak Brook, Dr. Afshar specialized in the treatment of anxiety and depression and also lead, supervised, and directed a group of trainees and staff. She also spent time creating and leading workshops and seminars on parenting, developmental disorders, diversity issues, eating disorders, and adolescent/identity concerns. She later went on to develop an interest in the treatment of postpartum depression and is now specialized in its treatment. To learn more about screening for postpartum depression, please click on the following link: /postpartum-depression-screening.html
Currently, Dr. Afshar's expertise rests in the treatment of postpartum depression, anxiety, major depression, self-esteem struggles, childhood abuse/trauma, and relational difficulties. Dr. Afshar's therapeutic approach toward the treatment of these ailments has been reported to be impactful and also longer lasting, given that the individual is actively and consistently engaged in the therapeutic process. These benefits have been described as a "shift" from feeling doubtful, lost, scared, or not good enough to feeling more safe, secure, grounded, and confident on an increasingly consistent basis. The goal is for her patients to continue to feel these benefits throughout their lifespan via the internalization of the skills, insights, and security gained in therapy.
Together, Dr. Afshar and her patients work diligently to build a trusting therapeutic relationship in which healing can manifest and goals can be obtained. It is a treasured and special experience to witness her patients transform, grow and heal. She also feels privileged to learn with and from her patients' unique experiences. This has helped her to know what is truly helpful and what is not, and how to best intervene and respond to her patients' needs. To learn more about Dr. Afshar's therapeutic approach, please click on the following link: /therapeutic-approach.html.