Welcome! My name is Tamer, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have worked for nearly 10 years in different capacities such as refugee resettlement, disability rights, substance use recovery, community health, and LGBTQIA+ centered care. I am most excited about creative self-expression, and I believe in person-centered approaches to understand the powerful role that stories play in shaping our everyday lives. I also find tremendous value in working together to deconstruct how these stories show up in the context of anxiety, stress, depression, and trauma. Seeking therapy is one of the most courageous steps you can take for yourself. Whether you want to heal past wounds, resolve conflict in your relationships, or better manage the stressors of life, therapy is the space where your goals and values are prioritized. It is where you can feel safe to be vulnerable and open. Because there is no singular way to engage in treatment, therapy does not conform to strict constructs, norms, or stereotypes. Rather, therapy is meant to reflect your authentic self and promote the innate power you hold. The right therapist should honor the nuances of your life’s journey, while also helping explore the path forward that you want to lead. In the words of Brené Brown, “Story stewardship means honoring the sacred nature of story–the ones we share and the ones we hear–and knowing that we’ve been entrusted with something valuable or that we have something that we should treat with respect and care." I look forward to honoring your journey here, and your journey forward. Thank you so much!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
It is my sincerest intention not to reproduce any prior harm that you may have incurred in prior health settings. Therefore, in our first session (and all subsequent sessions), I normalize feedback-informed treatment so that you feel safe to provide input about the therapeutic process, our working relationship, and your overall wellbeing. From there, we’ll explore the themes that are coming up for you and create a plan for future sessions that is individualized and tailored to your goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Therapy with me is most driven by empathy, direct and honest communication, and intentionality. At the end of each session, I actively seek your feedback on how our time together can be improved or modified to better meet your needs. This open-door policy helps me privilege your needs and support the deep, lasting change you wish to make. Therapy is an investment of your time, energy, and resources, so I genuinely strive to earn your trust and help achieve the possibilities that you desire.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
My therapeutic journey began with the intention of serving folks who I identified with: MENA (Middle Eastern, North African), Muslim, and from California’s Central Valley. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of collaboratively working with others who have been marginalized and oppressed by larger systems of power. As a result, my current therapeutic practice is designed to give those who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ a space that is affirmative and healing. Our time together is unique in that I am solely focused on amplifying your voice and transforming your journey towards liberation. I connect symptoms to broader socio-political systems to help better understand that mental health is not siloed from how we perceive the world, and how the world perceives us. My practice will address the symptoms/emotions that you experience, but will also empower you to show up as the person you are, and want to become.