I do not believe people are broken.
What often gets labeled as a mental health “symptom” is more accurately an understandable response to the environment someone grew up in. Many people are taught, directly or indirectly, that their reactions mean something is wrong with them or that they should be able to handle things better on their own. I do not work from that framework.
My culture and my therapist self are deeply connected. I am Iranian and come from a long line of storytellers. Story matters. Your story matters to me. I want to understand the environment that shaped you, the relationships that influenced how you learned to survive, and the meaning you have made along the way. Context is essential. Without it, therapy risks treating people as problems instead of people with a history.
Understanding that something is not your fault does not mean you are powerless. Change is not about forcing positivity or bypassing pain. It is about developing awareness, compassion, and agency without shame. When experiences are viewed through a different lens, one that honors survival instead of blaming it, meaningful change becomes possible.
My therapist self is also informed by my relationship with the body. I am a certified yoga instructor and Pilates coach, and this shapes how I practice therapy. I believe the body is a language. Early in life, many people learn to disconnect from that language and override what they feel in order to get through. The body often knows before the mind does, and because they are one system, unprocessed experiences are felt long before they are understood.
That heavy, muted feeling, when joy feels just out of reach but sadness does not quite fit, is often where our work begins. Therapy with me includes rebuilding a relationship with the body and examining the lens through which meaning is made. This is not about forcing mindfulness or movement. It is about learning how to listen again.
I believe therapy should be active and collaborative. What you put in matters, not as pressure or perfectionism, but because your life happens outside the therapy room. I do not practice passive therapy. I show up fully, and I expect engagement. Your effort matters because you matter.
My culture also places deep value on community. I am intentional when I say ‘community’ and not ‘family’. I believe in family of choice. Community requires participation. Many people want a village but have never been shown how to be a villager. I do not believe self-care is inherently selfish, but I do believe it has been weaponized in ways that disconnect us from one another. Healing happens in relationships with boundaries, accountability, respect, and care. If that kind of community does not exist yet, it can be built.
If you are ready to do meaningful work and see yourself through a new lens, I may be the right therapist for you. I am direct, honest, and relational. Therapy with me is grounded and human, and at times uncomfortable, as growth often is. I use humor, value authenticity, and believe movement matters, whether you are already connected to it or simply open to exploring it.
My clinical focus includes trauma-focused therapy, wellness-oriented care, disordered eating and food noise, body image concerns, and couples therapy for clients ages 10 and up.
If this resonates, I would be honored to hear your story.
