What it’s like to be in therapy with me
Are you ready to try something different? I imagine you might be, and that’s why you’re here. In my experience as a therapist, folks reach out when they’re feeling stuck and can’t move forward, or they can’t figure out why they keep engaging in the same unhelpful patterns over and over again. I want to help you determine what isn’t working, and to support you in taking your next steps with clarity and intention.
My hope is that through our work together, where we will explore how your past experiences and relationships have influenced the person you are today, you will come to a new understanding of yourself and the ways you engage in the world. I also hope to help you have more compassion for yourself and to accept all the different parts of you as they are. With these new insights, you’ll be able to move forward and live the life you imagine for yourself.
How I approach therapy
I strive to create a space that is non-judgmental and supportive, and I approach each client with curiosity. I believe that you’re the only expert on your own experience, so in the beginning of our work together, I want to learn what it’s like to see things through your eyes. By doing so, I hope that we can develop a relationship that allows us to get to the stuff that’s really difficult for you. While we are doing the hard work, I will offer you support. When it’s appropriate, I will also challenge you to be honest with yourself about what you want and what’s getting in the way. I often use humor in my work with clients, because I know that it is work, and my hope is to make it doable and human. I tell clients that coming to therapy on a weekly basis and confronting things they may have been avoiding for years isn’t easy, but the goal is for them to leave each session intact and “with their skin on.”
My foundation is both client-centered and psychodynamic, which means that I approach each client with unconditional positive regard, and that I believe that examining our experiences is valuable, because they shape who we are. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy with my clients to assist them in identifying unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with thoughts that are more helpful. I also use solution-focused therapy to assist my clients in conceptualizing and reaching their goals. In a nutshell, I use all of the approaches listed above (and some that I didn’t list) to tailor therapy to each individual client, so that the work we are doing is focused on what might best benefit them.
Educational and Background and Other Things That Could Be Considered Noteworthy
- B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Gender Studies from UC Berkeley
- Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, specializing in Art Therapy, from Loyola Marymount University
- President of the Southern California Art Therapy Association
- Faculty for Loyola Marymount University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program, specializing in Art Therapy
Clinical Training and Experience
At the start of my career as a therapist, I worked with children and families and was trained in Parent Child Interaction Therapy. This work was intense and rewarding, and I am glad I had the chance to experience it, as it has shed a different light on my experience working with adults. I then spent two years working with adults and transitional aged youth in a non-profit mental health setting, where I was often responding to crisis situations and working with clients that had been struggling with their mental illnesses for years. It was an honor to work with these clients, and they deeply affected my development as a therapist. In my years practicing, I have also worked in Intensive Outpatient settings and residential settings, conducting both individual therapy and group therapy. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to work with these different populations.
I began developing my own private practice in 2013. I later developed my practice into a group practice because I wanted to make sure that all the folks that reached out to me would be in good hands. This led to the founding of Take Root Therapy.
A bit more about me
I chose to be a therapist for a number of reasons, some of which were my own personal experiences in therapy as a teenager and as an adult. Growing up as a first generation Iranian American and bisexual woman came with its own challenges, which required a lot of self-reflection and processing. I know what it’s like to experience being an outsider, to straddle two cultures, and to believe I’m not enough. I am honored to help folks come to a place where they are better able to honor their own wants, needs, and feelings, and recognize they are enough!
My specialties
- Clients with Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
- LGBTQ+ Clients
- First Generation Challenges