Anxiety, mood, and self-criticism
You may feel caught in worry or overthinking, disconnected or depressed, or driven by standards that leave little room to feel at ease.
Psychotherapy · Atlanta, Georgia
A thoughtful place to understand what feels difficult—and begin to respond differently.
Alireza Ehteshami, Ph.D. · Pre-Licensed Professional in Clinical Psychology
I offer collaborative psychotherapy for adolescents and adults, including young adults, navigating anxiety, self-criticism, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, grief, and periods of change.
Where therapy can begin
You may understand what is not working and still find it difficult to respond differently in the moment.
Knowing why something happens does not always make it easier to change. In moments of stress, familiar ways of coping can feel automatic—especially when they developed to manage uncertainty, protect a relationship, or keep difficult feelings at a distance.
Therapy offers a place to slow these moments down with curiosity and care. Together, we can pay attention to emotions, relationships, self-criticism, and familiar coping strategies while staying grounded in the concerns that bring you in now.
About
My training and clinical work.
I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Emory University and completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship through Emory University School of Medicine’s Child, Adolescent & Young Adult Psychiatry program. I am completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Perimeter Mood & Anxiety Program.
My research examines how mental health conditions are organized and classified, with the broader goal of improving diagnosis and treatment. My training and research inform how I listen, ask questions, and understand the concerns people bring to therapy.
My clinical work includes adolescents and adults, with particular interest in personality development, young adulthood, and mood-related concerns. I also work with parents of children with ADHD and behavioral difficulties, helping them develop practical strategies to strengthen positive behavior, improve communication, and reduce conflict at home. I draw from evidence-based treatments including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), selecting methods according to each person's needs.
My aim is not only to reduce distress, but also to understand the relationships, beliefs, emotional experiences, and recurring patterns that shape how a person moves through life.
Therapy
What might bring you here
People seek therapy for many reasons. You do not need a diagnosis or a perfectly formulated problem before reaching out. The work can begin with a persistent feeling, a recurring conflict, a painful experience or loss, or a question you want to understand more fully.
Relationships, identity, and change
Therapy can help when familiar conflicts keep repeating, a relationship or transition unsettles your sense of self, or emotions feel difficult to name and communicate.
Trauma, grief, and difficult experiences
We can attend to the effects of painful experiences or loss that continue to shape your emotions, relationships, choices, or sense of safety.
Support for parents
I work with parents of children with ADHD and behavioral difficulties. This work focuses on practical, evidence-based strategies for strengthening positive behavior, setting clear and consistent expectations, improving communication, and reducing conflict at home.
This work draws from behavioral parent training approaches.
My Approach
Thoughtful. Collaborative. Active.
Understanding the pattern, then creating room for choice.
My approach is active and collaborative. We will look at what is happening now, how it may have developed, and what could help you respond with greater flexibility. I may ask direct questions, offer an observation, or suggest a concrete strategy; you can tell me when something does or does not fit.
Grounded in evidence
I draw from CBT, ACT, and DBT as flexible frameworks. The work may include practical skills, making room for difficult emotions, examining recurring relationship patterns, and trying new ways of responding between sessions.
Context matters
Symptoms deserve attention, but they do not occur in isolation. We consider your history, relationships, environment, and characteristic ways of understanding yourself.
Insight should become usable
Understanding is most valuable when it increases emotional freedom and makes different choices possible—not when it remains an elegant explanation of why you feel stuck.
Curiosity, not judgment
You do not need to arrive with the right words or a polished account of what is happening. We can speak honestly about thoughts, feelings, or behavior that may be difficult to say aloud, with care and respect.
Methods should fit the person
Therapy is not a formula. We can draw from established approaches, adjust the pace and focus to your needs, and pay attention to what is actually helping.
What Sessions May Be Like
A conversation with direction, but not a script.
Sessions generally involve open conversation, careful attention to recurring patterns, and practical clarification of what you want from the work. At times we may focus on an immediate situation; at others, we may slow down to understand what sits underneath it. We will revisit goals and periodically reflect together on whether therapy is helping.
Credentials & Supervision
Alireza Ehteshami, Ph.D.
Pre-Licensed Professional in Clinical Psychology
I provide clinical services under the supervision of Craig Kerley, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist in Georgia, license number PSY002840.
Education and training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Perimeter Mood & Anxiety Program
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Emory University
- Clinical Internship, Emory University School of Medicine
- MSc in Psychology of Individual Differences, The University of Edinburgh
- Postbaccalaureate in Psychology, Columbia University
- B.A. in Philosophy, New York University
Frequently Asked Questions
Before getting in touch
Common questions.
If your question is not covered here, you are welcome to ask by email or phone.
What happens during the initial consultation?
The initial consultation is a brief conversation about what is bringing you to therapy, what you hope might change, and any practical questions you have. It also gives us an opportunity to consider whether my experience and way of working are suited to what you are looking for. A consultation is not a commitment to begin therapy.
Do you offer in-person or telehealth sessions?
I offer in-person sessions in Atlanta and telehealth sessions for clients who are physically located in Georgia at the time of the appointment. We can discuss which format is appropriate for you during the initial consultation.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance. Fee and payment details can be discussed during the initial consultation.
What does parent-focused work involve?
I work with parents of children with ADHD and behavioral difficulties. Sessions focus on practical, evidence-based strategies for strengthening positive behavior, setting clear and consistent expectations, improving communication, and reducing conflict at home. This work draws from behavioral parent training approaches.
What does “pre-licensed” mean?
I have completed a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and am completing the supervised postdoctoral experience and licensure process required in Georgia. My clinical work is supervised by Craig Kerley, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist in Georgia (license number PSY002840). Supervision provides ongoing professional consultation and oversight while I complete the requirements for independent licensure.
How long does therapy last?
The length of therapy varies with your goals, circumstances, and the kinds of patterns you want to address. Some people come with a focused concern; others find that longer work is useful. We will clarify goals early and periodically discuss whether the work feels helpful and appropriately focused.
Contact
Request a Consultation
If you are considering therapy, please email or call to request an initial conversation.