About

Hi, I'm Mona Sahar.

I came to this work the same way a lot of people come to mental health work in general, out of necessity.

A chaotic, life-altering event knocked me off my footing at a time when mental health was still something people whispered about and coaching wasn't even on the radar. I did the therapy, I did the work, and it helped, but I kept hitting a wall. I was processing the past, resolving the pain, and still couldn't figure out how to move forward. Life as I knew it had stalled, and nothing I was doing seemed to bridge that gap.

That's when I discovered coaching.

Along the way I also learned I'm neurodivergent, which explained a lot, honestly. It reshaped how I think about growth, about what "progress" looks like, and about why the same path doesn't work for everyone. I carry that into every client relationship.

I've also experienced grief in the way that stops you in your tracks. The kind that isn't just emotional, it's physical, disorienting, and bigger than people expect. Grief isn't only a mental health issue, it's physiological. Your body is involved. And when nobody tells you that, it can feel like something is seriously wrong with you. I want people to know they're not broken.

Outside of this work, I'm probably dancing, reading, watching a comedy I've already seen twice, or fully lost in a video game. Balance is everything.

-- Mona

Training & Background

My work is grounded in formal training and a genuine commitment to staying current in the field. In practice, I draw on evidence-based approaches including motivational interviewing, SMART goal frameworks, strengths-based coaching, solution-focused techniques, and psychoeducation to help clients build real, lasting change.

2025

Headspace Training Institute

Certified mental health coach through Headspace's coach training program.

Since 2023

Mental Health Writing

Freelance writing on mental health topics, translating complex concepts into accessible, meaningful content.

Since 2022

Mental Health Coaching

Practical experience working with clients on goal-setting, self-awareness, and building actionable support systems.

2022

ICF Certified

International Coaching Federation certification (renewal in progress).

Emerging Focus: Neuroscience-Informed Coaching

I'm deepening my practice around neuroscience-informed approaches, understanding how the brain shapes our habits, patterns, and capacity for change, and using that knowledge to make coaching more effective and grounded. This includes an attentiveness to neurodivergent experiences and how different brain wiring affects the way people learn, grow, and build new patterns. No two clients will find the same path forward, and that's by design.

I also bring a holistic lens to this work: mental health doesn't exist in a vacuum. Sleep, relationships, environment, identity, grief, everything feeds into everything else. Where appropriate, we'll do an audit of what's supporting you and what might be getting in the way, so we can build around your whole life, not just one piece of it.

I also have particular experience supporting clients navigating grief and loss, including the kind that doesn't have an obvious name. Grief is physiological as much as it is emotional, and understanding that can change everything about how you move through it.

What I believe in

You already have the answers.

My role isn't to tell you what to do, it's to help you get clear on what you already know, deep down.

Progress over perfection.

We move at your pace. Small, consistent steps forward matter more than big leaps that don't last.

Your past is not your limit.

We honor where you've been, and use it as fuel for where you're going, not a ceiling to stay under.