From Zaria, Clinical Intern:
I was drawn to this work because I have always been interested in people—the experiences that shape us, the environments we navigate, the relationships we form, and the ways we learn to make sense of what happens to us. I believe that sometimes people do not need someone to “fix” them; they need someone willing to sit with them, listen without judgment, and help them understand their story from a different perspective.
As a developing clinician, I am learning that therapy is not about having all the answers. It is about creating a space where clients can feel safe enough to be honest, curious enough to explore, and empowered enough to recognize their own strengths. I want my sessions to be grounded in empathy, authenticity, cultural humility, and a trauma-informed approach. I hope to meet people where they are rather than where I think they should be.
I am especially interested in exploring work with adolescents and young adults, individuals navigating trauma and significant life transitions, and people who may feel overlooked or misunderstood by the systems around them. I am also interested in understanding the ways trauma, relationships, identity, and our environments can influence mental health and the choices we make.
I am still becoming the clinician I want to be, and I think there is something beautiful about that. I am learning, asking questions, challenging my assumptions, and allowing my experiences—both personal and professional—to shape me without allowing them to define the clients I serve. More than anything, I hope to become a clinician who helps people feel seen, heard, and reminded that their story is still being written.