Dr. Mark Aghakhan

North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

 

Dr. Aghakhan welcomes those who are seeking to create change in their lives. He has extensive experience working with clients from all walks of life. He has special expertise in veterans from his years working at the VA.

 

Many of his clients bring in emotional pain, whether the symptoms of anxiety and depression are taking a daily toll, relationships feel unbalanced and disconnected, or stress and self-criticism are impacting performance at work.

 

Together, he supports clients to pull back the layers of present challenges to release painful past experiences and re-engage with their careers, their loved ones, and themselves in more meaningful ways.

 

Therapy sessions with Dr. Aghakhan integrate both insight-oriented and skills-based approaches. With individuals and couples, he draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as solution-focused, mindfulness-based, psychodynamic and existential approaches.  

 

Dr. Aghakan uses humor in session, and gently challenges clients to explore the root cause of their symptoms, gaining new awareness into their emotional and relationship patterns. Using careful, detailed, and critical analysis, he places great emphasis in fostering a dialogue with others for them to seek, develop, and incorporate creative ways toward positive change and continual growth. He takes a philosophical approach and sees the shades of gray and larger social context of psychological issues. He works best with clients who want to engage on a deeper level.

 

Dr. Aghakhan works with clients facing a range of mental health concerns, including:

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• Depression and mood disorders (e.g., Bipolar Disorder)

• Self-esteem and self-worth issues

• Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, perfectionism, and OCD

• Stress and adjustment disorders 

• Relationship and interpersonal difficulties

• Highly Sensitive People​

• High functioning personality disorders, including Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder

• ADHD, including relationship issues related to ADHD

• Existential issues around life direction, values, and larger purpose

• Career issues

• Midlife and aging issues

• Military and first responder issues

• Trauma, including childhood trauma, past sexual abuse, and PTSD 

• Sexual issues, including libido disparity, disconnection within relationship, performance anxiety, and the impact of abuse history

• Addiction, including sex and porn addiction

• Family issues, including estrangement and low contact

• Adult children of dysfunctional families

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Like all Best Life clinicians, Dr. Aghakhan is an LGBTQ+ ally and is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all clients.

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Outside of his professional life, Dr. Aghakhan is married with children. He enjoys spending his time on the four Rs of his life: reading, writing, running, and reflecting. Specifically, he loves reading and writing fiction, reading current events and philosophy, exercising, daydreaming, traveling, watching live theater, and playing guitar (strictly rhythm guy). Some of his favorite writers include Paul Auster, Roberto Bolano, Rachel Cusk, Fydor Dostoevsky, James Joyce, Zadie Smith, and David Foster Wallace. 

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