Sara Abdollahi
Coaching Through the InnerVine
I’m Sara Abdollahi
A Zurich-based certified life and transition coach. I support professionals and expats through life’s transitions, grounded in the belief that even the most uncertain changes hold the potential for clarity, agency, and emotional renewal.
How I Approach Coaching
My coaching style is collaborative, reflective, and grounded in real life.
We work together to uncover what’s true for you — not by fixing, but by listening deeply.
With presence and care, we explore challenges, name what matters, and take steps that align with your values and inner pace.
This is what I call coaching through the inner vine — a quiet return to the strength already growing within you.
Inspired by a line from Hafez: “Do not imagine the journey has ended. A thousand vines lie waiting in the veins of the vine.”
InnerVine is the part of us where quiet strength and untouched insight live — like a thousand unspoken wines resting in the vine.
Coaching gently opens that space — not to harvest, but to listen.
Who I Work With
This space might be right for you if
You’re a thoughtful professional, academic, or healthcare worker navigating a life transition—immigration, burnout, loss, or an inner shift that’s hard to name.
You appreciate when someone can identify the evident, basic needs beneath emotional confusion—and help you see your challenges through calm, thoughtful analysis.
You think deeply, question honestly, and are tired of surface-level advice or motivational noise.
You’re looking for an intellectually grounded coaching approach—not one filled with rose-tinted optimism, but one that honors your inner complexity with clarity and respect.
Mentorship Through Coaching
In addition, I offer mentor coaching for professionals in science, radiation oncology, and medical physics who are seeking guidance in their career development.
These sessions weave together reflective coaching with insights from my 14+ years of clinical experience, offering space for both clarity and practical direction.
My Journey Toward Individuation
Science and Coaching
1
As both a medical physicist and a coach, my journey through science and personal discovery has profoundly shaped my approach to coaching.
Transitions and Healing
2
My experiences in science, self-discovery, migration, and healing have shown me how deeply personal and professional transitions can impact our lives.
Respectful Presence
3
I offer a calm and attentive presence, with a deep respect for your individuality. It’s not about fixing; it’s about gently unfolding what already resides within you.
Coaching with Meaning
4
My coaching is informed by how existential anxiety shows up during change or identity shifts. I provide a reflective, judgment-free space so you can reconnect with meaning.
I am a certified coach, offering sessions in both English and Persian.
The Inner Child Protection Circle
Beneath every form of anxiety — whether it arises quietly in daily life or manifests more intensely — I believe there is one shared root:
a sense of unsafety in the inner child.
When the child within feels threatened, unseen, or unprotected, the adult self absorbs that tension in ways we may not even recognize.
I’ve come to understand that lasting calm doesn't come from controlling fear, but from gently creating safety — beginning with the parts of us that carry the earliest wounds.
The Inner Child Protection Circle is not a method or a diagnosis.
It’s a soft space. A quiet invitation to return, reconnect, and offer the kind of care we may never have received — and still need.
This is where the circle begins.
If you’d like to know more about how I hold coaching — with care, clarity, and ethical boundaries
You can read it here.
What Others Say
The journey of building a coaching practice is never solitary. I’m deeply grateful to those who’ve witnessed my growth, stood beside me, and now share a few words here.
She is one of those rare people that radiate optimism and a strong will to make this world a better place. She combines her scientific skills and competence with a deep sense of purpose and patient-centered commitment — even while working under complex and challenging conditions.
“She is one of those rare people that radiate optimism and a strong will to make this world a better place. She combines her scientific skills and competence with a deep sense of purpose and patient-centered commitment — even while working under complex and challenging conditions. When Sara and I met the first time in 2018, she immediately stood out by her positive enthusiasm and passion. Since that moment our professional paths have crossed many times through collaborations in the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). She brings to her coaching the same clarity, care, and integrity that have shaped her work as a medical physicist. Her path has involved real challenges, which she has met with reflection and courage. Her coaching practice is grounded in lived experience and guided by a thoughtful, ethically rooted approach to supporting others.”
Professor Dirk Verellen
Chief Medical Physicist
What impressed me most was her ability to reflect on the hardships she encountered and to actively guide herself through them. With incredible optimism, an open heart, and patience, she found her place within a new cultural environment while maintaining a strong connection to her roots.
“I vividly remember the first time I met Sara. She entered our office at the University Hospital in Zurich, looking for a desk to work at. It was the beginning of a challenging journey. Having recently immigrated from Iran to Switzerland, she was facing the profound disruptions that such a transition inevitably brings. Despite the loss of family, language, and culture, Sara demonstrated incredible strength and resilience, always taking one step forward. What impressed me most was her ability to reflect on the hardships she encountered and to actively guide herself through them. With incredible optimism, an open heart, and patience, she found her place within a new cultural environment while maintaining a strong connection to her roots. I remain grateful for the personal insights she shared with me into Iranian culture, and I deeply admire the way she turned adversity into personal growth.”
Dr. Luisa Sabrina Stark Schneebeli
Medical Physicist
Sara was always proactive in providing detailed guidance, ensuring that patients fully understood the procedures and what to expect—crucial for successful treatment outcomes.
“During her time working in our radiotherapy ward, Sara consistently demonstrated exceptional coaching abilities, particularly when guiding patients through complex treatments such as IMRT and DIBH. Her approach was marked by a rare combination of patience, clarity, and genuine empathy. Sara's ability to calmly and effectively communicate intricate treatment processes not only reassured patients but also empowered them to engage actively in their care. Her dedication to patient support was evident in the way she handled each individual's concerns with kindness and professionalism, creating a trusting environment that significantly eased patients' anxieties. Sara was always proactive in providing detailed guidance, ensuring that patients fully understood the procedures and what to expect, which is crucial for successful treatment outcomes. In all aspects, Sara's coaching was thoughtful and tailored, reflecting a deep understanding of both the technical and emotional facets of radiotherapy care. Her contributions have been invaluable to our team and the patients we serve.”
Professor Roham Salek
Radiation Oncologist
What stands out is not only her technical expertise but her ability to nurture growth in others—guiding teams, unlocking potential, and creating an environment where people achieve more than they thought possible.
“I have known Sara since 2010, during which we worked closely together in the field of radiation oncology. As the head of medical physics in our hospital, she was not only a highly competent leader but also a driving force behind the continuous improvement of radiotherapy treatments and the assurance of high-quality care. Her leadership went far beyond our institution. Sara played a key role at the national level, introducing advanced treatment techniques, training specialized teams with remarkable precision, and raising the overall standard of radiotherapy across many centers. What stands out here is not only her technical expertise but her ability to nurture growth in others, guiding teams, unlocking potential, and creating an environment where people could achieve more than they thought possible. This is exactly the essence of coaching, and Sara has been practicing it long before formally stepping into the field. I have no doubt she will bring the same gift to every coaching relationship she enters.”
Dr. Yasha Makhdoumi
Vice President of the Iranian Society of Radiation Oncology
Over the years of working and growing together, I have witnessed Sara's excellence both as a professional and as a remarkable human being—authentic, supportive, and trustworthy.
“Over the years of working and growing together, I have witnessed Sara's excellence both as a professional medical physicist and as a remarkable human being. She is highly accountable, deeply knowledgeable, experienced, and creative, qualities that make her an outstanding professional in every sense. At the same time, she shines just as brightly through her personal qualities—authentic, integrative, and trustworthy. Being around her is a joy; she radiates positivity, kindness, and a deep sense of connection. In addition to her achievements in medical physics, she is also a professional international coach. We have shared valuable experiences and knowledge in this field, and I deeply respect her insight, wisdom, and passion for helping others grow. I feel truly fortunate to call Sara both a colleague and a close friend.”
Dr. Soraya Salmanian
Radiation Oncologist • Health, Wellbeing & Medical Coach
Her presence is steady, compassionate, and inspiring. With her natural ability to energize and hold a group, she ensures that the space remains dynamic, safe, and open.
“Sara is a deeply dedicated and tireless professional who brings the same commitment and energy into her coaching as she does into her professional life. She creates an atmosphere that feels both alive and supportive, helping others feel uplifted and encouraged. Her presence is steady, compassionate, and inspiring. With her natural ability to energize and hold a group, she ensures that the space remains dynamic, safe, and open.”
Professor Mohammad Mohammadzadeh
Radiation OncologistWho holds the space for you?
Whether you carry the weight of high-responsibility decisions, navigate a demanding professional path, or simply find yourself at a turning point in life, having a space that is fully yours can change how you move forward.
If you’d like to experience what that space can feel like, I invite you to book a conversation where we can explore it together.
Would you like to know more about fees before we meet?
You can read about pricing and access here.
