Understanding Your Unique Experience
Navigating mental health as a Farsi-speaking individual or someone from a Persian or Middle Eastern background comes with unique challenges. Whether you are a first-generation American, an immigrant, or part of a collectivist culture, the expectations, values, and family dynamics you experience can deeply shape your well-being. As a therapist with Iranian heritage, I provide culturally responsive therapy that honors your background while supporting your individual growth.
Why Seek Therapy with a
Culturally Aware Therapist?
Many Farsi-speaking individuals or those from Persian and Middle Eastern backgrounds struggle with issues that are deeply intertwined with culture, family, and societal expectations. Therapy can be a powerful space to work through concerns such as:
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Balancing independence with family obligations
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Navigating intergenerational conflicts
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Managing cultural identity and assimilation pressures
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Challenging traditional gender roles and societal norms
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Addressing anxiety, depression, or trauma within a collectivist framework
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Healing from intergenerational trauma and unspoken family wounds
You may find yourself feeling caught between cultures—honoring family traditions while also seeking personal fulfillment. Therapy can help you explore these complexities with a therapist who understands the nuances of your background.
My Approach to Culturally Sensitive Therapy
As a culturally competent therapist for Farsi-speaking individuals in California, I take a compassionate, nonjudgmental, and holistic approach. My work is informed by:
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Relational Therapy: Exploring how family and cultural relationships impact your emotional well-being.
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Family Systems Approach: Understanding how intergenerational patterns, unspoken expectations, and cultural values influence your identity and choices.
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Trauma-Informed Care: Providing a safe space to process personal and intergenerational trauma, especially if you have experienced displacement, immigration stress, or complex family dynamics.
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Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Developing tools to manage stress, anxiety, and self-criticism often ingrained by high expectations or perfectionism.
By integrating cultural awareness with evidence-based therapeutic approaches, I support you in navigating your challenges while staying true to your values.
As a first-generation Iranian-American, I personally understand the challenges of growing up between two cultures. The pressure to succeed, maintain family honor, and meet expectations—while also pursuing your own path—can feel overwhelming. Therapy offers a space to process these internal conflicts and create a life that feels authentic to you.
Through therapy, we can work on:
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Setting healthy boundaries with family and community
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Processing guilt or shame tied to cultural expectations
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Exploring your identity and belonging
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Navigating relationships and dating within cultural contexts
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Overcoming patterns of self-sacrifice and perfectionism
Is Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Right for You?
If you've ever felt like traditional therapy doesn’t fully understand your cultural background, working with a therapist who shares your cultural insight can make all the difference. Whether you prefer to speak English in sessions but want someone who understands your Farsi-speaking family’s values, or you are looking to work through cultural identity struggles, I am here to support you.
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Therapy can be a place where you feel seen, heard, and validated—without having to explain the cultural nuances that shape your experiences. If you’re interested in exploring therapy with a culturally aware therapist in California, feel free to reach out to schedule a consultation to learn more.