Hello, I’m Sian Townsend
Who am I?
I’ve spent my career understanding people
I spent 20+ years as a Researcher understanding how people think, feel, and make sense of complexity. My research also involved pattern recognition, insight generation, and spotting opportunities. All of these skills are relevant to the therapeutic process.
I’m an immigrant
Born and raised in the UK, I’ve lived and worked in multiple countries. This experience of acculturation has made me adaptable and equips me with a fresh perspective. I have a deep appreciation of the ways our cultural roots shape us, and I love to explore cultural identity with clients.
I bring relevant training
In my training at a large medical hospital, I had the privilege of supporting hundreds of people from all walks of life who were at a moment of crisis or facing a major life change. This training equipped me with a flexible toolkit, enabling me to meet you where you’re at in a given moment and tailor support to your individual needs.
I spent 10+ years in high pressure leadership roles
I spent many years leading teams at top tech companies. I understand first-hand the unique challenges that high pressure roles exert and the impact this can have mentally and physically. I enjoy channeling this experience into support for others as they navigate similar pressures.
I bring rich life experience
I’m a therapist, and I’m also human. My work is shaped by both professional training and diverse lived experiences, grounding my approach in empathy, care, and a deep respect for the complexity of people’s lives.
I believe in the power of therapy
My own life has been enhanced by therapy. As a curious, reflective person, I’ve experienced many styles of therapy and therapist over the years. I channel all this into my own work.
What’s it like to work with me:
Therapy modalities
My approach to therapy is integrative, meaning I draw from multiple modalities of therapy. This includes psychodynamic, relational, and existential approaches to psychotherapy with practical tools from CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based approaches to facilitate insight, emotional regulation, deeper self-understanding and meaningful change.
Some styles of therapy focus predominantly on the past, and some focus more on the present or the future. My style integrates all three. We have to look back in order to understand ourselves, but we also have to live life looking forwards.
My approach/how I show up
I approach my work with curiosity, steadiness, and deep respect for each person’s pace. I bring a calm, compassionate presence and active engagement with your lived experience. I’m not a blank slate that simply nods—therapy with me is collaborative, thoughtful, and feels like a real, human conversation.
Credentials
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #158830)
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #20882)
Supervised by Caroline McDowell, LMFT #47351, Bay Area MFT
Education
MA, Counseling Psychology, The Wright Institute, Berkeley
MS, Human-Computer Interaction, University College, London, UK
BS, Politics, University of Bristol, UK
Training
Integrative Therapy Program, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco (2024-2025)
Associateship, San Francisco Unified School District (2025 - present)
Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) training, 2024
Affiliations
Member of CAMFT
Member of SFCAMFT
Member of AAMFT
Member of the AI in Therapy Working Group, SF CAMFT