“These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.”
— NAJWA ZEBIAN
My life changed when I became liberated with the realization that the human experience includes both joy and pain. I had spent many years running from my suffering. It wasn’t until I stopped, became close to this experience, that I began to heal. All experiences – pleasant and unpleasant – are part of the human condition, so avoiding or fighting with pain is like rejecting an important part of yourself. It is with this understanding that I can celebrate both the highs and lows of this life. My goal is to help you make sense of your experiences and know how to do what makes your life work, even alongside inevitable challenges and pain.
It’s like you’re climbing up a big mountain that has lots of boulders, narrow paths, and steep terrain. My job is to help you decide where to go and how to best deal with the bumpy spots and the twists and turns. But I’m not able to do this because I’m standing at the top of your mountain, looking down at you. It’s because I’m on my own mountain, just across a valley. I will walk alongside you and help you use the strength and resiliency you already possess to make the climb.
I consider it a great honor and privilege to do this with you. I hope to serve as a resourceful ally and cheerleader as you move towards healing and growth.
Education & Training
I am Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington State (#LW 60706394). I obtained my masters from the University of Washington School of Social Work. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers. My experience as a social worker includes working for Children’s Administration in various positions such as case management and investigator. From there, I transitioned to Emergency Department Social Work with both Swedish Medical Center and Catholic Health Initiatives conducting mental health evaluations and crisis intervention.
I now work with individuals. I endorse a client centered and collaborative approach to therapy and focus on the individual needs of each client. I see psychotherapy as a joint collaboration between therapist and client and strive to empower each client in their journey of inner exploration, mental, spiritual and physical healing. I strive to create a safe and trusting environment that is conducive to insightful awareness and positive change. Throughout therapy I will help you find your inner strength in order to formulate goals and help you make the positive changes that you would like to see. I utilize a variety of therapeutic modalities such as (but not limited to) solution focused, cognitive behavioral, strengths based, and psychodynamic.
Associations
Professional Contributions:
- How to Help Someone Having a Panic Attack Healthline article
- State of Mind videos
- The Money Sessions podcast