.About Elham Shoa, LCSW
II’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing remote therapy for clients across California. I specialize in trauma recovery and relationship therapy specifically for high-functioning adults within the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and ENM/Poly communities.
As a woman of color and child of immigrants, I’ve spent my life navigating the space between who the world expected me to be and who I actually am. That lived experience is why I’ve built a practice specifically for the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and ENM/Poly communities. I understand the unique weight of being the first to break old patterns - whether you’re deconstructing intergenerational family pressure or building a relationship structure that doesn't follow a traditional script.
The Vibe: Real Talk and Zero Filters
I’m not the kind of therapist who sits back and nods mysteriously for fifty minutes. I believe therapy works best when it feels like an engaging human conversation, not a stiff clinical discussion.
No "Therapist Voice": I’m a real person and I talk like one. I provide a space where you don’t have to sanitize your feelings or your vocabulary just to be appropriate. If you need to use colorful language to get your point across, go for it. I probably will too.
Active Partnership: I’m in the weeds with you. I’m direct, honest, and here to help you identify the patterns that might be keeping you stuck.
Humor as Connection: I don’t believe therapy has to be somber to be effective. Humor is a natural part of how I communicate and how we’ll connect, bringing a sense of humanity and ease to even the most complex conversations.
Why I Work the Way I Do
The Values Behind My Focus
I have intentionally built my practice around the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and ENM communities because my professional values are rooted in equity and authentic representation. I believe every individual deserves a therapeutic space where their identity and family history are respected as the baseline, not treated as an exception or an outlier.
The Strategy Behind the Methods
I chose to specialize in EMDR and the Gottman Method because I value evidence-based, pragmatic results.
EMDR: While insight tells us why we feel a certain way, EMDR helps the nervous system catch up to that intellectual understanding. It’s about helping your body feel the safety your mind already knows is there.
The Gottman Method: I believe in providing a roadmap grounded in science rather than vague advice. I’ve adapted these tools specifically for non-traditional and queer dynamics because every relationship deserves a foundation of security and joy.
Background and Clinical Expertise
My practice is built on a foundation of high-level clinical training and academic leadership. I bring a sharp, ethical, and deeply informed perspective to every session.
Academic Leadership: As a former Faculty Member at California State University, Fullerton, I spent years training the next generation of therapists. I believe in therapy that is rooted in both science and humanity.
Education: I earned my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University in 2005.
Clinical Experience: My perspective was forged through years of service in high-intensity environments, including New York City schools and hospitals.
Ready to Get to the Heart of the Matter?
You deserve a therapist who sees the whole you without you having to point it out. You’ve done enough surviving on your own, now let’s work together on helping you thrive.