Speaking & Media

We’re created with the power to conquer our mistakes and change ourselves for the better. At a Glance How to take control of your life and change habits Change often begins with small, consistent actions. The Prophet ﷺ taught that Allah loves deeds that are done regularly, even if they are small. By taking gradual steps, building healthy routines, and relying on Allah for support, positive habits can become easier to maintain over time. What are the steps to create lasting ch

Becoming a new mother can be one the most rewarding experiences a woman can have in life, but it can also be incredibly challenging and overwhelming. New motherhood is typically associated with feeling incredibly blessed, a new sense of fulfillment and family bonding. There is a general expectation that new mothers should be happy and when they are not everyone is left bewildered as to why. What is a new mom supposed to do when there is a piercing angst wedged deep with

Feeling trapped within the confines of the same problem over and over again is both soul-crushing and overwhelming. Whether the issue is never-ending conflict with a family member, recurring feelings of defeat, or something holding you back from living the life you envisioned for yourself, it’s emotionally exhausting to face the same issue day in and out, sometimes year after year. A difficulty that keeps resurfacing, sometimes under different guises, can feel like push

When you hear the word “trauma,” images of a soldier in combat, holding on to dear life while people all around him are being violently killed, may come to your mind. Or maybe you envision a refugee who forcefully left her beloved home to relocate to safety, only to have her entire family drown at sea. Trauma can provoke a wide range of ideas, but if you are like most people the clinical term feels exceptional and uncommon, and like something that doesn’t happen to ave

Recently, during my last psychotherapy session of the week, I listened to a Muslim woman talk about the details of being sexually abused as a child. She talked about how the perpetrator was a family friend and molested her in her own home. She also went on to say that when another family member found out, instead of rescuing her, joined in with the perpetrator. Being a psychotherapist for some time now, I’ve heard countless stories of sexual abuse from men, women and ch

This past year American Muslims have been faced with several community tragedies leaving many youth and adults alike unsure of how to cope. Murders, suicides, political unrest happen all the time around the world, but these events are even more emotionally taxing when they happen to people in our direct communities and when they occur within a short period of time. Repeated exposure to the traumatic events through social media exacerbates grief as people air out their c

Waswâs al-qahri, which means ‘overwhelming whisperings’ in Arabic, is a complex mental health disorder found in Muslim populations. Waswâs al-qahri is a presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that is not included in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for several reasons including lack of research, diagnosis overlap and insufficient recognition of spiritually-based diseases by the American Psychiatric Asso

It is almost 2017 and that means social media and the internet are full of those New Year’s resolution posts, videos, and articles on how you should best prepare for the new year. Some of them are good, but a lot are lacking and offer little more than a short-term boost with no long-term benefits. As a mental health therapist, a big part of my job is helping clients identify their problem areas and assisting them in making long-term changes for a better future. Below are some

October is ADHD Awareness Month and I want to take some time to clarify misconceptions about this complex disorder. There continues to be a plethora of myths and false claims about ADHD on the internet that blatantly say ADHD is a disease made up by pharmaceutical companies. I think there may be some truth to this, however, this does not mean that the condition does not exist. Click here to read the rest of this article on Huff Post At a Glance What are common symptoms

Depression is a topic that is often overlooked in the Muslim community but it seems to be growing at an alarming rate. Think of five of your closest friends – chances are that one of them OR their immediate family is depressed. In the United States, depression affects about 1 in 20 individuals over the age of 12 or about one individual in every five families. Sometimes symptoms are obvious and sometimes they aren’t as clear, but if you know someone who is depressed or

At a Glance How does online counseling work? Online counseling links people with licensed therapists. They can talk through secure video sessions, phone calls, or online platforms, all from home. Clients discuss emotional challenges, stress, relationships, anxiety, or personal goals in a confidential setting. Online counseling delivers accessible mental health support, offering flexibility and convenience for individuals with busy schedules or limited access to in-person care

At a Glance How can mothers manage daily stress effectively? Mothers handle daily stress by setting realistic goals. They also make time to rest and recover emotionally. Chronic parenting stress increases the risk of emotional exhaustion and burnout when demands exceed available support and recovery time, and research confirms this. Mothers need a balance of support and recovery time to maintain their well-being and avoid burnout. Helpful stress-management strategies include:

At a Glance How do you convince someone to go to therapy? Encouraging someone to attend therapy is often more effective than trying to convince them. Research shows that people are more likely to seek help when they feel understood rather than pressured. Instead of saying what’s “wrong,” share your concerns about specific struggles you see. Then, explain how therapy can help. Approach the conversation with empathy, patience, and curiosity rather than criticism or ultimatums.

I’ve learned a lot about what it’s like to be a police officer from my sister, who has been an officer for a few years now. My sister and I are close and while I’m proud of the profession she has chosen, in the back of my mind I do worry about her safety. We have had a number of conversations about the recent police shootings and violence across the country, and based on these I feel there is a major component of this discussion that many people are missing when talking about