Pronouns
he/him/his
Job Title
Psychology Intern
Education:
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Professional Interests:
- Life transitions, including adjusting to college/university
- Sense of belonging (e.g., racial-ethnic-cultural belonging, college belonging)
- Liberation psychologies & Radical healing from racism and racial traumas
- Middle Eastern & North African identity and mental health
- Depression, stress, and anxiety
- Sense of belonging (e.g., racial-ethnic-cultural belonging, college belonging)
- Liberation psychologies & Radical healing from racism and racial traumas
- Middle Eastern & North African identity and mental health
- Depression, stress, and anxiety
Approach to Therapy:
I approach therapy using a multicultural framework, and within this framework I integrate person-centered and liberation psychologies. I honor the complexity of my clients’ identities, experiences, and backgrounds, and I understand that the systems of power and oppression in which we live have a large impact on our daily lives; I strive to attend to these different layers while working with clients to directly address the pressing concerns that bring them to CAPS. My priorities as a therapist are for clients to feel affirmed in their humanity and dignity, to gain a greater understanding of how to use their existing strengths to address their concerns, and to leave therapy with a greater sense of hope and thriving in their life.
Approach to Wellness:
I consider wellness from a holistic perspective, including dimensions such as physical, social, and collective wellness (among others). I do my best to achieve some balance in how I attend to these various aspects of wellness in my life. For me, this includes working with my hands outside, spending quality time with loved ones, engaging in social activism and advocacy, learning new skills, and immersing myself in music. Maintaining a balance can be challenging, and I have learned that identifying my needs and setting appropriate boundaries (at work, in school, in relationships, etc.) can help support this goal.
Additional Language(s):
Farsi