Meet Sara Stanizai | Business Coach & Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Stanizai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The things we are traditionally taught to hide about ourselves are actually the most powerful tools we have. This is especially true in helping professions such as coaching and therapy, and even beyond. For example, I’m not a doctor – but the reasons I like my own doctor are because of the things I probably am “not supposed to” know about her.

Boundaries are important. The choreography of these types of appointments are important. We don’t want to blur the line between professional and client too much. However, I suspect that most of the methods we are taught to use in order to maintain that distance are not that necessary.

We are told not to have any personal opinions, to be as neutral as possible, to answer personal questions with our own therapy questions. ie, “Why is it important to you if I have children or not?” The truth is, we should be skilled enough to maintain our professional relationship by the quality of our work. It shouldn’t rely on me keeping my identity a secret from my client. If my client learns something about me that is potentially damaging, the whole point of relational therapy is that we can move past it and learn how to repair that damage.

This means we are not off the hook for providing good care – sharing personal stories doesn’t replace good care. But I think it adds much more than it detracts. I think that’s what has made me successful.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I offer business coaching to marginalized entrepreneurs. I specifically work with fellow therapists and practice owners who often come to be saddled with guilt of wanting to support themselves while helping others. There aren’t many other professions that are expected to work for free, to be a bleeding heart, or who are shamed for charging what we need to. But who wants a tired, struggling therapist to show up to their sessions every week? This is especially true for practice owners who employ and mentor newer therapists.

We struggle with holding our power. But as with any powerful tool – it’s much more dangerous if you handle it wrong!

It’s hard to pick a favorite part of my work, but it might be the groups and retreats I offer to Afghan diaspora women. These are some of the most transformative experiences because like many immigrant communities, we have been taught to assimilate, to compete with each other, and we carry lots of baggage when it comes to our extended families. Often, that emotional trauma gets transferred on to women we don’t even know. That’s why these communal experiences can be so reparative, because we re-write the narratives that have been handed to us.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take a visitor to see some of the best drag in town at the Executive Suite. Then we would have a scenic and delicious brunch at Claire’s at the Museum. We would visit the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro so we could get more fresh air and hopefully the ice cream truck would stop by. We would spend an afternoon on 4th Street doing some vintage shopping and see what’s playing at the Art Theatre.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am dedicating my Shout Out to Madina Wardak, @burqasandbeer because she shows our Afghan diaspora community that we can be incredibly intelligent, with nuanced social and political discourse while taking measurable action on the issues facing our community, and still be lighthearted, playful, enjoy the finer things in life, and not be saddled with guilt. She embodies joy, generosity, and determination.

Website: www.sarastanizai.com; www.prospecttherapy.com

Instagram: @prospecttherapy

Image Credits
Kelly Robyn Photography Karissa M Raya Photography Nilab Osmani Photography