I started my own therapeutic journey when I was 35 years old. I was unable to find a therapist who shared some of my intersectional identities and ended up working with therapists to whom I had to explain my values, identities, and culture. I wanted to be a therapist to fill the void of therapists who “looked like me” and shared my identities and the oppressive systems I had/have to navigate.
I offer therapy in Bangla. Some of my identities are: Bengali/Bangladeshi, feminist, queer, Muslim, immigrant, womyn, survivor, and artist. I am open to disclosing more about these identities while in relationship with you if it’s helpful to you. As a relational therapist I offer a place for you to use the therapeutic relationship as an anchor, a safe space, as well as a container to process the unexpressed and unprocessed trauma you may be holding in your body. I welcome anger, rage, sadness, disappointment and all of the spectrum of feelings and emotions into the therapeutic relationship. Because trauma happens in a relationship, I believe trauma can also be processed in a therapeutic relationship. My intuition, empathy, intelligence and ability to hold your unique experience are the most important qualities I offer in my practice.
I hold a trauma informed, identity affirming, anti oppressive, power/privilege/oppression and systems lens to every person and idea. I believe that we are not just individuals, but are interwebbed into multilayers of systems that are unique to each person. I hold these beliefs because our collective liberation is tied to every person’s liberation.
As an artist and Expressive Arts therapist, I believe that our creativity is central to our healing process and resilience. I believe that we are all creative and are artists by our birthright. I believe in intergenerational trauma, as well as intergenerational resilience. I believe that healing happens on many levels including the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.