Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Shariati.
Whitney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been fascinated by understanding what makes relationships “work” and what helps people feel truly seen, safe, and connected with one another. That curiosity, and an interest with how our emotions, our bodies, and our everyday experiences all intertwine, led me into relational and somatic-informed therapy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most meaningful work, the road hasn’t been perfectly smooth. One of the ongoing challenges has been learning how to balance being deeply human while also holding the role of helper. This work requires presence, empathy, and attunement, but it also asks for strong boundaries, regulation, and sustainability. Holding both at once is a continual practice.
As a therapist, and especially in relational work, it can be easy to feel the pull to overextend or to hold more than is truly yours. Learning when to lean in and when to step back, when to offer support and when to trust the process, has been an important part of my own growth. Becoming a parent last year has also sharpened this awareness, reinforcing the importance of pacing, rest, and honoring my own nervous system so that I can show up fully and ethically for others.
Working within a collaborative space like Haus of Sovereign has helped tremendously. Being surrounded by other therapists and somatic practitioners who value reflection, embodiment, and sustainability creates a culture where humanity isn’t seen as a liability, but as an asset. The challenge has ultimately become an invitation to practice what I preach, choose curiosity over perfect, and build a way of working that honors both care for others and care for myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Haus of Sovereign?
Haus of Sovereign is a uniquely crafted healing studio designed to support deep, sustainable healing at both the individual and relational level. It’s intentionally built as sort of an “all-inclusive” therapeutic space where clients can access a wide range of modalities under one roof, including traditional psychotherapy, somatic work, monthly workshops, and experiential offerings. This integrative model allows care to feel more embodied, holistic, and deeply responsive to real life, rather than siloed or one-dimensional.
My work at Haus of Sovereign centers on couples therapy, with a strong emphasis on couples intensives. In addition to traditional ongoing sessions, I co-lead immersive couples intensives with my husband, Parsa Shariati, LMFT. Because we are partners ourselves, we understand the lived realities of long-term relationship like navigating misattunements, repairs, compromises, and growth that happen behind the scenes of any meaningful partnership. We don’t just treat relationships; we live in one. That embodied understanding shapes how we hold couples with empathy, realism, and respect, while still offering clear clinical structure and guidance. These intensives create a focused, intentional space for couples who are ready to slow down and really tend to their relationship—often when things feel stuck, urgent, or unclear. By stepping outside the weekly-session model, couples are able to gain clarity, build understanding, and create momentum in a way that feels both contained and deeply relational.
What truly sets Haus of Sovereign apart is the way relational therapy is held within a broader ecosystem of healing. Clients are invited into a community that truly values the nervous system, the body, creativity, and shared experience as essential parts of change. Being surrounded by somatic practitioners and workshop-based offerings enhances the depth of couples work and allows clients to integrate insights in a more embodied and lasting way.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the intentionality behind everything Haus of Sovereign offers. Our founder, Brenna O’Brien, has brought together a team that embodies a rare balance of beauty and brilliance—offering care that is visually intentional, relationally attuned, and clinically sophisticated. Our practitioners are both deeply professional and genuinely cutting-edge, blending warmth, creativity, and evidence-informed practice in a way that feels cohesive and modern. And when you walk into our space for the first time, you’ll literally feel the magic. More than anything, I want readers to know that at Haus of Sovereign, you aren’t just a number or expected to engage in “one-size-fits-all” style therapy. This is a carefully cultivated community for individuals and couples who are ready to engage deeply and be supported in a way that feels integrated, relational, and genuinely transformative.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was thoughtful, observant, and deeply relational. I was often the one paying attention to the dynamics in a room, noticing how people interacted, and feeling curious about what was happening beneath the surface. I cared a lot about connection and fairness, and I was sensitive in a way that made me both intuitive and reflective.
I’ve always had a creative side and was drawn to spaces that felt meaningful and expressive, whether that was through conversation, writing, or simply being with people in a way that felt genuine. I also valued structure and responsibility, which meant I tended to show up as someone others could rely on, even from a young age.
Looking back, it makes sense that I found my way into relational work. My natural curiosity about people, my attunement to emotional nuance, and my desire to create safe, grounded spaces were all there early on. Over time, those qualities have matured into a profession, but at their core, they’re still very much a part of who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://haus-sovereign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyshariati_lmft/
