Hello! I’m Husna (she/her)
Like many who end up in this field, I come with my own healing journey.
My search for professional help often fell short, as therapy didn’t fully address the intersectionality of trauma as a person of color. This gap in mental health support, combined with my passion for social justice, motivated me to pursue social work and, ultimately, psychotherapy.
I have ten years of experience in mental health and social work positions in settings such as community mental health, crisis centers, outpatient psychiatric services, and private practice. In addition to my professional experience, education, and training, it is my own commitment to healing that allows me to be with others in their pursuit of transformation, healing, and growth.
Therapeutic
Approach
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"Embodiment reveals our bodies as central to change and transformation. It awakens our felt sense of choice, and awakens us to our connection to ourselves, each other, and the world around us” - Prentis Hemphill, Founder of The Embodiment Institute
In our sessions, we'll tune into the wisdom and natural healing abilities of your body. Our bodies hold our traumas, but also our strengths and resources and the potential for healing. In sessions, somatic work may look like slowing down enough to notice the emergence of sensations in your body, and inviting mindful attention, breath, movement or nurturing to those areas.
For many of us, building a connection with our own body can feel strange and even frightening, but with your pace and comfort in mind, you can learn to experience the healing power of embodiment.
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“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” - bell hooks
Acknowledging our innate need for relational healing, I bring my full self into our therapeutic relationship. I focus on cultivating a genuine, attuned, connection between us, ensuring you're accompanied and witnessed in both moments of pain and growth.
For those carrying attachment wounds, feeling connected with others can feel daunting. In our sessions, I work sensitively with you at the growing edges of your capacity to tolerate and embrace connection. Our therapeutic relationship acts as a microcosm – a safe space to develop and strengthen your ability to connect, which then ripples outwards fostering deeper, more meaningful relationships with others, and enhancing overall wellbeing.
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“Our parts can sometimes be disruptive or harmful, but once they're unburdened, they return to their essential goodness. When we learn to love all our parts, we can learn to love all people — and that will contribute to healing the world…” Richard Schwartz, Founder of Internal Family Systems
Drawing from ego-state therapy and IFS, often termed as "parts work" or “inner child work”, I recognize the diverse 'parts' or 'states' within all of us. Each part has its origin, some emerging from past wounds, especially those formed in early life. Some parts might be protective or wounded, and some might even be hidden from your conscious awareness. Together, we'll invite curiosity about these parts, understanding and nurturing them, so they can work harmoniously.
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“What if we honestly assessed what we have come to believe about ourselves and each other, and how those beliefs shape our lives? And what if we did it with generosity and forgiveness? What if we did it with mercy?” - Ross Gay
My approach is rooted in a holistic understanding of who you are – mind, body, spirit, and environment. Together, we'll explore the intricate web of experiences that shape you: from your family histories to intergenerational wounds and ancestral wisdom, to the societal systems and structures that have influenced your relationship to yourself and the world around you. Through our exploration, we'll get in touch with your emotions and bodily sensations to gently uncover these narratives, approaching them with honesty, curiosity, grace, and compassion.
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While traditional CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors, third-wave CBT approaches place a greater emphasis on mindfulness, acceptance, and the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Using an integration of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based CBT, we will work together to practice these skills:
mindfulness of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors/urges
be open, connect with what matters to you, and take steps in that direction
develop compassion to help you courageously turn towards difficulties and work with them
to practice discernment and accept what you can’t change and work with what you can change
Therapeutic
Modalities
I'm passionate about using therapeutic modalities that I have not only received intensive training in, but ones that I’ve personally used and found transformative in my own life. While I take an integrative approach to therapy, the primary modalities that I use are:
Relational Psychotherapy
“Third Wave” Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Compassion-Focused, and Mindfulness-Based approach
Parts Work (ego state therapy)
Yet, beyond these modalities, I collaborate and tailor each session to what feels most resonant and healing for you. I prioritize nurturing a space rooted in collaboration, consent, and trust, ensuring you feel safe enough to engage in the courageous work of healing.
Let’s get to know each other.
If my therapeutic approach resonates with you, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation call. This is a chance for us to connect, discuss what brings you to therapy, ask any questions you may have, and explore how we might work together.