Licensed to practice in Virginia and accepts 11 insurances. Specializes in ADHD, LGBTQ, Peer Relationships and 5 more.
(he/him)
I'm a queer, trans, and neurodivergent Egyptian therapist experienced in working with LGBTQIA+ adults and adolescents. Although I take immense pride in these labels and in my communities, my therapeutic approach does not expect you to fit yourself neatly into any boxes. Instead, my role is to help you learn how to live in alignment with your specific values and priorities, particularly when it comes to figuring out the gray areas in life. It's tricky answering questions like, How do you reconnect with your heritage after experiencing it in hurtful ways? How do you heal from childhood trauma while preserving familial relationships that are still important to you? How do you build meaningful friendships and romantic relationships when self-love still feels like an enigma? These are the types of questions I particularly enjoy exploring with my clients. We will always take the time we need to figure out the concrete skills necessary for navigating daily life (e.g. emotional regulation, communication strategies, adaptive reframes for unhelpful thoughts, etc.), but the next level of growth lives in these nebulous existential questions. By compounding established skills with acceptance, psychological flexibility, and letting go of control where it is not adaptive, we can help you foster the kind of inner peace that adds both serenity and deeper meaning to daily life.
Our first session might feel like you're a guest on a talk show. The spotlight is on you, and it plays out like an interview that covers different areas of your life: what brings you in to counseling, your goals, strengths, family history (usually a big hit), among other topics. The hope is to learn more about you as a whole person so we can create a treatment plan that fits your needs and sets you on the path to your goals. If, at any point, you are asked a question that you are not yet comfortable speaking to, no worries at all -- just let me know, and we'll revisit that topic in a future session when you're ready.
In true libra fashion, our sessions will balance holding space with gentle challenging. You can absolutely trust that you will have space to share your emotions and thoughts without judgment. You can also trust that if something appears to go against your best interest, then I'm going to do my due diligence and point that out to you as well. My role is not to judge any of this information, but to present it to you so you can make an informed decision on how you would like to proceed. I also really enjoy helping folks find missing puzzle pieces and fitting them in ways that we didn't suspect could fit together. Emotions, thoughts, and reactions that once seemed inexplicable start to make more sense in their new context, which in turn helps build self-compassion and knowledge of how to navigate them.
Most of the folks I work with are young(-ish) adults working on stepping into their fully authentic selves. For many, this often means learning more about their gender identity, neurodivergence, affectional orientation, relational needs, and vocational goals. We work on finding a healthy middle between knowing who you are and accepting yourself as you grow and change; unapologetically advocating for yourself and giving others grace as they learn to meet your needs; pursuing your passion while preserving enjoyment in your interests (without surrendering them to capitalism). Lots of gray areas that we learn to befriend and collaborate with rather than wait for them to deliver definitive answers. Couples counseling brings in all of the aforementioned topics and interweaves them with relational joys and challenges. We get to practice creative problem-solving to find ways for everyone to get their needs met, even when those needs seem like they're in direct conflict. This happens on a foundation of some of the best evidence-based practices we have, namely the interventions created by the Gottmans' extensive research. Where beneficial, we introduce psychoeducation about how to navigate conflict constructively, navigate perpetual problems, foster connection and affection, and ultimately feel like you're on the same awesome team.
Cultural humility is an indispensable facet of my therapeutic approach. The influence of one's culture(s) can be wide-reaching, affecting early life experiences, perspectives, values, and ultimately how the therapeutic journey unfolds. I particularly enjoy working with folks who identify with more than one culture, applying a more nuanced and fluid approach to authenticity that allows for a harmonious integration of what might have once felt irreconcilable.
Existential-Humanistic therapy frames our collaboration as one between 'fellow travelers'. As much as is helpful, we take the emphasis off the roles of 'expert' and 'client' and instead ideas like uncertainty, purpose, and meaning, My favorite facet to draw on is the idea that freedom and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. It can be incredibly empowering to shift our focus from what is beyond our control to where our sense of choice lies, allowing a greater sense of agency and authenticity to flourish.
Have you ever spoken with someone whose only form of ‘conversation’ is unsolicited advice? Motivational Interviewing is the antithesis to that. Rather than push you in an arbitrary direction, we take a collaborative approach that uses your values to fuel the change that you decide is best for you. This process may entail gentle challenging and feelings of dissonance, all as part of the normal and uncomfortable process of growth, but there remains a fundamental understanding that all decisions are yours to make at the end of it all.
This is a framework created by John and Julie Gottman after decades of incredibly detailed research on couple dynamics. This evidence-based approach includes a wealth of substantiated guidelines about how couples can create positive long-term connection, resolve conflict more effectively, and ultimately create a closer, more fulfilling relationship. I find this approach most helpful when working with romantic couples, but I also borrow from it when working with individuals seeking greater connection, as many ideas within this framework overlap with healthy relationships of any nature.
Gender-affirming therapy has been a central part of my practice since my earliest days in the field. I have enjoyed working with folks through various points of their ~gender journey~, from just starting to notice new gender dysphoric/euphoric thoughts to being years into their social and/or medical transition(s). As a trans person myself, I draw on my personal and professional experience to create a non-judgmental, exploratory space that remains grounded in WPATH guidelines.