Throughout my own upbringing as the eldest daughter of immigrant parents from the Middle East, I have learned to appreciate the difficulty in assimilating two cultural dynamics together. I have experience working with immigrants from various regions as well as other underrepresented groups ranging in age from adolescents to adults. I believe that the client is the expert in their own lives, and when working with disadvantaged communities, it is necessary to recognize the systemic issues they may face in order to be an advocate and provide fully encompassing care, while also allowing clients to maintain a sense of autonomy.
My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe, welcoming space for my clients to have the freedom to explore their innermost thoughts, feelings, and experience in a non-judgmental, uplifting way. Creating a healthy and productive therapeutic environment can bring to light overarching patterns of behavior or cognition that would have not been recognized.
My therapeutic orientation incorporates principles from Positive Psychology, Multiculturalism, and Existentialism to find meaning in a complex, culturally diverse society and feel empowered to navigate through it. I work collaboratively with my clients and strive to be the type of counselor that they can rely on and relate to, as well as be inspired by.
More information about my training and clinical interests:
- Counseling intern from Adler University (CMHC Masters – In progress)
- Certification in Sex Therapy (CST – In progress)
- Therapeutic modalities:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy (ET)
- Multicultural Therapy (MT)
- Narrative Therapy (NT)
- Positive Psychotherapy (PPT)
- Speciality Issues:
- Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, C-PTSD, Grief/Loss
- Life Transitions & Adjustment
- Identity Development
- Immigration/Acculturation
- Self-esteem & Self-image
- LGBTQIA+ affirmative and sex positive care and counseling
- I personally identify as a cisgender, queer woman (she/her/hers)
- Experience working with 1st and 2nd generation immigrants and folks of multicultural identities
- Experience working with adolescents, teens, and emerging adults
- Language proficiency in English, Spanish, and Arabic