LMFT, 6 years of experience
Hi, I’m Leila — a trauma-informed therapist who blends evidence-based tools with deep human understanding. If you’re feeling stuck in self-doubt, overthinking, relationship patterns you can’t shake, or a lingering sense that something is off deep inside — you’re not broken. You’re just carrying more than your nervous system was designed to hold alone. And I’d be honored to help you begin releasing it. My approach goes beyond surface-level talk therapy. I integrate EMDR, somatic techniques, inner child work, and attachment-based healing to help you access what traditional coping tools can’t always reach — the root of your pain. Many of my clients struggle with anxious attachment, chronic self-criticism, or feeling like they have to “perform” for love, worth, or belonging. Therapy with me is a space to shed those roles, meet yourself with compassion, and slowly rebuild a life rooted in clarity, confidence, and real inner peace. I welcome humor, spiritual insight, raw honesty, and the full complexity of who you are. Let’s get to work — not to fix you, but to free you.
Our first session is all about connection and clarity. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, explore what you’re hoping to shift, and begin to map out what healing might look like for you. You don’t need to come in with the perfect words — just come as you are. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, numb, anxious, or unsure, we’ll meet it together with curiosity and care. My goal is for you to leave feeling a little more grounded, understood, and hopeful about what’s ahead.
I know what it’s like to sit on the other side of therapy — to feel nervous, vulnerable, or unsure of where to begin. That lived experience shapes how I show up: with warmth, authenticity, and a deep respect for your pace. Clients often tell me they feel seen, understood, and more at ease than they expected. I’m approachable and down-to-earth, so you’ll never feel like you’re talking to a “therapist persona” — just someone who’s here to genuinely help. I bring a unique blend of grounded presence and clinical skill, combining EMDR, somatic work, and inner child healing to help you move beyond surface-level talk and into meaningful transformation. My background as an immigrant from the U.K. also gives me a broader lens when it comes to understanding identity, transitions, and the many ways we seek belonging. I tailor therapy to you — not just your symptoms, but your story. Whether you need practical tools, a safe space to unravel old wounds, or someone who gets what it’s like to feel a bit “different” in the world, I bring my full self into the room to support your healing.
I work best with people who feel deeply, think a lot, and carry more than they often let others see. Many of my clients are navigating emotional challenges that go beyond surface-level stress — they’re often dealing with chronic depression, anxiety, self-doubt, or the lingering effects of past relational wounds. They may not always have the language for what they’re going through — they just know they feel off, stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed. A lot of the people I work with are navigating life transitions that have stirred up unexpected emotions — starting college or grad school, a new job, a breakup, burnout, or simply realizing they don’t feel aligned with the life they’re living. These clients often struggle with low self-esteem, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or an ongoing sense of “not enough.” Some are high achievers who are exhausted from holding it all together, while others are feeling paralyzed by the weight of uncertainty, loneliness, or emotional numbness. I also specialize in working with individuals who experience attachment trauma — especially anxious attachment — and want to better understand their relationship patterns. Whether it’s difficulty trusting others, fear of abandonment, or constantly questioning their worth in relationships, I support clients in unpacking where these wounds came from and how to begin healing them. You do not have to have a diagnosis or a clearly defined goal to begin. Some of my favorite clients are the ones who simply say, “I don’t know what’s wrong — I just don’t feel like myself anymore.” I work with a diverse range of people, and particularly enjoy working with Millennials and Gen Z adults — those in their 20s and 30s who are trying to figure out how to make sense of their story, their identity, and what they want from life. I also love supporting women of all ages who are ready to build confidence, trust themselves more deeply, and stop abandoning their own needs to take care of everyone else. My ideal clients are curious and open — not necessarily because they feel brave, but because they’re tired of being stuck. They’re looking for a therapist who will listen deeply, challenge gently, offer real tools, and help them get to the root of what’s keeping them from feeling calm, whole, and self-assured. They may be spiritual, philosophical, or simply introspective — drawn to therapy as a space for meaningful reflection and growth.
Many of the clients I work with carry deep relational wounds — whether it’s difficulty trusting others, pulling away when things get close, feeling overly responsible for everyone else’s emotions, or never quite feeling secure in relationships. These patterns often stem from early attachment experiences that shaped how we relate to connection, intimacy, and even ourselves. In our work together, we’ll explore how these early dynamics may be repeating in your current life — sometimes subtly, sometimes loudly — and begin the process of untangling what’s no longer serving you. Attachment-based therapy helps you understand your patterns not as flaws, but as adaptations that once kept you safe. I incorporate inner child work, somatic awareness, and EMDR to go beyond insight alone — helping you regulate your nervous system, develop safer internal relationships, and begin to experience connection without fear or confusion. This work can be powerful in building more authentic relationships, stronger boundaries, and a deeper sense of self-trust.
Sometimes we “know” something logically — that the past is over, that we’re safe now, that we’re doing our best — but our body still reacts as if we’re in danger. That’s where EMDR comes in. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain and nervous system reprocess distressing memories, emotional patterns, or limiting beliefs that keep us stuck. It’s especially helpful for trauma, anxiety, chronic self-doubt, and past experiences that continue to affect how you think, feel, and relate today. In my practice, I use EMDR alongside somatic awareness, inner child work, and nervous system regulation tools to help you safely access and release what’s been stored — without having to relive it in detail. Many clients feel significant shifts in how they react to triggers, see themselves, and relate to the world around them. EMDR can be life-changing for those who feel like they’ve done all the talking and insight work, but still feel stuck in old emotional loops. It’s about healing at the level of the body and brain — not just the mind.
At the core of my work is the belief that healing happens in the presence of safety, empathy, and real human connection. Person-centered therapy is all about creating a space where you feel seen, heard, and accepted exactly as you are — not judged, pathologized, or pushed to fit a mold. I don’t see myself as the expert on your life. Instead, I see you as the expert, and my role is to support your process with compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for your inner wisdom. When therapy is grounded in this kind of relationship, it becomes a space where real transformation can unfold — not through pressure or advice, but through presence and empowerment. While I integrate other modalities like EMDR and somatic work, everything I do is rooted in a person-centered foundation. I show up as a real human being in the room — warm, honest, down-to-earth — and I aim to help you connect more deeply with your own truth, your own voice, and your own sense of self.
When we experience chronic stress or trauma, it doesn’t just live in our thoughts — it gets stored in the body. Somatic therapy helps you reconnect with your body as a source of wisdom, not just symptoms. It’s about learning to listen inward, notice how emotions show up physically, and gently shift the tension, patterns, or stuck energy that talking alone can’t always reach. In sessions, I guide clients through body-based awareness, grounding, and nervous system regulation techniques that support safety, presence, and emotional release. Whether you’re feeling anxious, shut down, or disconnected, somatic work helps you feel more at home in your body and more in control of your emotional experience. It’s a powerful way to process what your mind understands but your body still holds.
EFT, or “tapping,” is a gentle mind-body technique that helps calm the nervous system and shift emotional patterns by tapping on specific acupressure points while focusing on a thought, feeling, or memory. It might sound simple — but it can be surprisingly powerful. I use EFT with clients who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck in looping thoughts, or carrying emotions that feel too big to just “talk through.” It’s especially effective for trauma, fear, stress, shame, and self-critical inner dialogue — the kinds of feelings that live deep in the body and feel hard to access through words alone. What makes EFT unique is that you don’t just process something — you move it. Clients often describe a sense of lightness, clarity, or emotional release after tapping. And one of the best parts? You can learn to use it on your own, between sessions, as a tool to regulate your emotions and reconnect with yourself. EFT blends well with somatic therapy, EMDR, and inner child work — helping you shift how you feel, not just how you think.