Sarah Manchanda Ph.D., Postdoctoral Psychologist
Child & Adolescent Specialty Practice Clinician
Supervised by Vicki Chiang, Psy.D. (PSY21136)
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
Welcome! I am delighted to serve as a postdoctoral psychologist in the Institute’s Child and Adolescent Specialty Program. My mission is to help children, adolescents, and adults feel empowered and act as agents of change in their own lives. I am passionate about helping people build and maintain confidence, self-worth, healthy and fulfilling relationships, and the courage to embrace an authentic life. Guided by Dr. Seuss’s words, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – I encourage embracing individuality as a foundation for resilience.
With a background that includes prior roles as a teacher and school psychologist, I have expertise in supporting youth navigating school and life with various disabilities and learning and social challenges. My lived experiences as an Indian American woman navigating multiple marginalized identities informs my therapeutic orientation centered on social justice and cultural humility.
I believe that fostering a strong, positive therapeutic relationship is essential. By focusing on each individual’s inner wisdom and strength, I aim to support clients in achieving both small and large goals through a client-centered and solutions oriented approach.
I am committed to guiding people through the challenges and opportunities present in each season of life. Creating a safe space for exploring identity, analyzing relationships, and understanding personal patterns is vital. I take joy in this journey of self-exploration with my clients, using humor and play to enrich the therapeutic experience.
Specialties:
I provide support for growth in the following areas:
- Navigating peer relationships and building social skills
- Confidence and self-esteem development
- Identity exploration
- Traumatic experiences
- Body image and disordered eating
- Anxiety and depression in children
- Somatic effects of anxiety
- Children coping with chronic illness or medical conditions/hospitalizations
- Parent-infant attachment and bonding
- Neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disorders (ADHD and Autism)
Treatment Modalities:
I utilize the following modalities regularly in my practice:
- Solutions Focused Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing techniques
- Mindfulness and Somatic (Body-based) Practices
- Attachment Focused Therapy
Other Current Professional Affiliations:
- American Psychological Association – Division 16
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Society for Research in Child Development
Education:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education with an emphasis in School Psychology, University of California Berkeley
- Master of Arts in Education, University of California Berkeley
- Master of Education with a focus in Special Education, George Mason University
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication, University of Southern California
Email: SManchanda@IFGD.care
Phone: 626-585-8075, ext. 124