More on Zoha

The story.

Consider this your permission and gentle reminder to take a pause on work, errands, life and give yourself what you need. 

This is a lesson I learned after growing up alongside so many professionals and go-getters in Sugar Land, TX, the most diverse county in the state. No one talked about mental health, especially as a first-generation South Asian Muslim American. People of my cultural and religious backgrounds were told to pray the problem away often, or at least, that was the dominating sentiment one was left with. This led to that struggle being isolated and kept internal. The silence of managing big emotions is excruciating, and there was an undeniable cloud of stigma around mental health around me for my developmental years of finding myself and understanding how to navigate the realities of the human experience. 

Even at a young age, I knew that limiting mental health support to only the avenue of my cultural religious background and to behind-the-door whispers of one’s home  could not be the only way. Most likely, because it did not feel like enough to achieve the respite I needed and was searching for. When searching for my own therapist in college, I knew that finding someone who could really see me and understand my world felt critical. I could only find a few mental health professionals who were South Asian and even fewer Muslim therapists. I realized quickly that not only is there a huge gap here, but a true need for relatability in culture and experience for those taking the brave step of asking for help. 

I took it upon myself to aid in bridging this gap, and today I am lit up inside every day by the chance to show people what it feels like to be seen for every part. We all have those parts we hide away, the parts we feel ashamed to show, the parts we’ve been taught to bury, and the parts we fear exposing because someone may not understand. This is my why, and my purpose for being a therapist. The validation and truly hearing my clients is what drives me to continue representing my voice in the therapy space and learning so much from every voice I have the privilege of encountering along the way.

We’re in this together, two humans, doing the dang thing y’all!

My training.

I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders from University of Houston. I took that learning to McLean OCD Institute of Houston for three years as a residential counselor. Here I learnt cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention to address OCD and anxiety disorders. I worked with individuals struggling with severe OCD and anxiety disorders to help them learn to better manage their symptoms, and reduce or mitigate compulsions.

I attended Our Lady of the Lake University and received my masters of science in psychology with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. My program trains its therapists to be post-modern with a focus on Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Collaborative Dialogic Practices.

My commitment.

Your trust is the heartbeat of our connection, and my promise to you is steadfast. I am not just a listener; I am here to learn about you, to understand your story, and to navigate the world through your eyes. My dedication to each and every one of you is more than professional—it's personal. I am committed to being your ally, your advocate, and your partner on this journey. Your goals are my goals, and your triumphs are my triumphs.