Clinician Spotlight: Sahar Sabet, M.S.

December 6, 2021

Where did you go to undergrad?

University of Georgia

Did you always know you wanted to work in a medical setting or have any previous medical setting work exposure before graduate school?

My clinical internship during my Master’s program at Boston College was at McLean Hospital’s OCD Institute. This was my first exposure to working on an interdisciplinary team and I absolutely loved the experience—it completely shaped my path moving forward. As this was around the time that I began considering doctoral level programs, it played a large role in helping me narrow down programs that had a health psychology focus. 

Why did you choose to join the Primary Care Psychology Training Collaborative run by Drs. Rybarczyk and Jones? Did you hear anything in particular from other students that made you want to work in primary care?

Given my behavioral medicine concentration and strong interest in health psychology, I was very drawn to this unique training opportunity from the start. I was excited to have the chance to merge my interests in integrative care, behavioral health, and serving underserved communities with a range of presenting concerns. Hearing so much about the positive experiences many students were having was a major plus.

What primary care clinic(s) do currently you work in? 

I’m currently working at Ambulatory Care Center and Crossover Clinic.

What clinical populations are you interested in working with?

I am primarily interested in working with adults. I have a wide range of clinical interests, including anxiety, the promotion of sleep health, coping with medical conditions, and incorporating mindfulness-based approaches. I am very passionate about working with diverse, at-risk communities and reaching individuals who otherwise would likely not be receiving mental health treatment due to a number of different barriers.

What have you liked about your primary care rotation? 

I have enjoyed working in a fast-paced environment that is team-focused and multidisciplinary. Each rotation is vastly different from the other, and I’m super grateful for all my experiences. At Crossover, for example, I am working with many Afghani refugees who are dealing with significant trauma, and our sessions are in Farsi/Dari—this has been incredibly rewarding and personally meaningful.

What are your big takeaways from your work in primary care so far? How do you think this opportunity will prepare you for the workforce when you graduate?

One of my biggest takeaways has been in understanding and seeing first-hand how critical and unique our role is in medical settings. We bring so much to the table and I have grown to become more confident and trusting in my skills and abilities. In general, I feel strongly that I am a much more effective and efficient clinician through this training model. Learning how to adapt interventions on the fly and think on my feet has sharpened my skills and made me more creative and efficient. I have also learned that collaboration is key—working on an interdisciplinary team really strengthens the scope of care we provide and improves a variety of outcomes. These are all skills that I will carry with me and harness as a future psychologist.