practice philosophy
The healing process looks different for everyone and requires rigor, discipline, and intentionality to create necessary shifts in our lives. It is both an individual and collective effort. I recognize that our experiences are shaped by our work and home environments, as well as our sociocultural, economic, political, and geographic backgrounds. As a systems thinker, I believe our experiences are impacted by systems of oppression—such as white supremacy, capitalism, racism, heteronormativity, and gender-based violence.
Overcoming these systems and their influences requires us to hold complexity. This includes honoring the long-standing cultural beliefs, practices, and conditioning we inherited from past generations as survival strategies, while also learning to let go of what may no longer serve us. In this process of release, we make space to do the radical work of reclaiming the ancestral wisdom and joy that oppressive systems seek to invisibilize. This transformative work is only possible when we cultivate deep, intentional relationships with ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.
As a community-centered provider, it is important for me to offer relevant and affirming services. I aim to explore healing practices beyond traditional Western talk therapy. While I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other conventional modalities, I am also inspired by the rich history of storytelling and art used as instruments of resistance and healing by my Bangladeshi/South Asian ancestors. My training in Expressive Art Therapy enables me to explore healing through art, movement, poetry, writing, and visual arts, fostering deep and creative exploration.
Additionally, my Sex Therapy Training Certification allows me to address the role of sexuality and desire in our lives. Exploring pleasure, intimacy, and sexuality can be profoundly liberating, yet many of us have not been taught to engage with these aspects of our lives openly and healthily. I strive to create a brave and supportive space for you to examine your desires and sexuality and understand how they impact your experiences in the world.
Healing is not linear, and the method is not one-size-fits-all. We can unlearn, relearn, and develop new responses to our experiences by examining the time, places, conditions, and impacts of our ecosystems. I believe in collective liberation and personal healing through interpersonal relationships, community care, and mutual aid. If this resonates with you, I hope to connect and support you in your healing process.
for the bookworm
you may want to dig into these values-aligned books and resources that I often refer to!
fiction:
Siddhartha, Herman Hesse
Hijab Butch Blues, Lamya H.
non-fiction:
All About Love: New Visions, bell hooks
Assata: An Autobiography, Assata Shakur
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Atul Gawande
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, Krista Trippett
Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer
Come As You Are, Emily Nagoski, Ph.D
Freedom is a Constant Struggle, Angela Y. Davis
The How: Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself, Yrsa Daley-Ward
Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frenkel
Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam, A. Helwa