Sumi Sarkar

Sumi Sarkar, MA, LAC

Therapist | she/her
Bengali

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. "

-Carl Rogers

Therapy with Sumi is a space where you don’t have to have the right words, the right answers, or even know exactly what you want to work on yet. She believes there is no one “right” way to move through life, and that therapy can be a place to slow down, get curious, and better understand yourself without judgement.

Sumi works with children, teens and adults navigating anxiety, intrusive thoughts, identity, relationships, grief, and life transitions. She is especially interested in the ways our families, cultures, relationships, and lived experiences shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, she works collaboratively with each client to figure out what feels meaningful and helpful to them. In the therapy room, Sumi is warm, curious, and genuine. There is room for the hard stuff, but there is also room for humor, creativity, and the parts of you that exist outside of whatever brought you to therapy. She won’t expect you to become a different version of yourself. Instead, she hopes to help you understand yourself more deeply, build trust in your own voice, and create a life that feels more authentic to you.

Sumi Sarkar

FACTS ABOUT SUMI

Therapy Style

  • Warm
  • Collaborative
  • Curious
  • Creative
  • Affirming

Education

  • BA in Communications from University of Arizona
  • MA in Psychology from Arizona State University
  • MC in Counseling from Arizona State University

Favorite Hobby

Sumi enjoys painting and spending time with her cats.

POPULATIONS

Individuals
Individuals 0+
Couples
Couples
Telehealth
Telehealth
AZ
In Person
In Person

Scope of Practice

In addition to specializing in OCD, Complex Trauma and PTSD, and Identity and Self-Esteem, Sumi also has formal training and experience working with Ancestral and Generational Trauma, Attachment Trauma and Related Needs, Boundary Setting and Assertiveness, Early Childhood Support, Various Forms of Abuse and Neglect, Transition to Adulthood, Suicidality and Self Harm, Parenting Support, Maladaptive Coping Mechanisms, Mood Disorders including Anxiety and Depression, High Achieving and Perfectionistic Challenges, Life Transitions and Adjustment Challenges, and Immigration and Marginalized Community Needs.

Evidence-Based Modalities

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Mindfulness
  • Play Therapy
  • Sand Tray Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
  • Strength-Based Therapy