Today we’d like to introduce you to Sivan Aulov.
Hi Sivan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and partially raised in Austria, where I lived the first few years of my life. When I was 6, I moved with my family to a small suburb in Tucson, Arizona, and later Dallas, Texas. While I quickly fell in love with country music and southern charm, assimilating into a new culture and mastering an unknown language were challenging experiences. I had to take extra time outside of regular school hours to master the English language. The transition was taxing, but I now consider it to be an integral part of my story. Assimilating was made easier through supportive family and loving friends. Learning how to embrace the intricacies of my heritage, ethnicity, and origin through strong interpersonal relationships influenced my desire to learn more about the psychology of people and culture. So, I studied Psychology and Child Learning & Development at the University of Texas in Dallas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Following graduation, I accepted a position working as a mental health technician in a large hospital’s psychiatric care unit. I worked with a diverse group of patients and developed a passion for working with psychiatric illness. Because of my childhood experiences, I particularly loved working with patients from ethnic and social minority populations. Through this work, I cultivated a better understanding of how negative experiences around cultural alienation can lead to psychological issues like anxiety and depression. However, I felt limited in my ability to help this population. I wanted to apply culturally-informed interventions but hadn’t learned the requisite skills in my undergraduate training. Also, I felt I would be more effective with these patients one-on-one, but my degree only certified me to work in a group setting.
These restrictions fueled my desire to pursue an advanced degree in psychology. I continued my education at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. This afforded me the opportunity to work with clients through a variety of practicum and internship settings, focusing on severe mental illness through a culturally sensitive lens. Upon graduating, a familiar feeling struck, and I began applying for doctoral programs…
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a licensed professional counselor in the (other) tri-state area: Texas, Connecticut, and New York, and work with clients through hybrid modalities, both in person and virtually, through my private practice ‘Sivan Aulov Counseling LLC’. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults that are struggling to derive meaning from life, ‘feeling stuck’, or experiencing recurring patterns in their life that generate discomfort. My counseling work is largely informed by holistic, strengths-based approaches that focus on self-discovery and achieving our highest potential (aka “best version of ourselves”) and is infused with warmth, creativity, and openness. My approach is multiculturally-sensitive, affirming, and dedicated to providing a safe space for healing and transformation. I believe people are capable of change, and my approach provides support, guidance, and education to work towards achieving your goals.
Additionally, I am a doctoral student at Fordham University’s Counseling Psychology graduate program in New York City. For my research, I am focused on studying hidden identities (covert parts of a person’s identity that are not readily apparent) in stigmatized and marginalized populations, and more specifically exploring the unique interplay of hidden, concealable identities in emerging adult populations. I’m interested in what we hide and the risks and benefits of disclosing parts of ourselves to others. Ultimately, I want to know how we differ from one another in the things we hide, and most importantly, what makes us the same. My hope is to provide others the support to embrace the intricacies of their own complex heritage.
Contact Info:
- Email: sivan@sivanaulov.com
- Other: https://member.psychologytoday.com/us/login
Image Credits
Skyler Fike Studio
