My work is grounded in radical genuineness—the kind of honest, compassionate presence that makes real change possible. I believe therapy should be collaborative, skills-focused, and centered on what actually matters to you: your values, your goals, your life. Whether you're struggling with borderline personality disorder, emotion dysregulation, suicide, trauma depression, anxiety, OCD, or relationship difficulties, my approach focuses on behavior change and building concrete skills—not just talking about problems, but creating lasting transformation.

I believe in the power of insight to create transformation, in skills that last, and in showing up authentically and honestly. Your background shapes how you communicate, express pain, and ask for help—and that matters here.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is an evidence-based treatment specifically designed for people who struggle with intense emotions, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty maintaining relationships. If you've tried other therapies without lasting change, DBT is different because it's built on a fundamental paradox: acceptance and change happen together.

DBT was originally developed by Marsha Linehan to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and chronic suicidality, and decades of research have validated its effectiveness for emotion dysregulation across many presentations. It's also highly effective for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly when combined with Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. Many people with trauma histories experience the emotional dysregulation that DBT directly targets, and the skills you learn help you process traumatic material while building capacity to tolerate the emotions that arise.

But here's what matters: DBT is not just talk therapy. It's a skills-based treatment that gives you concrete tools to manage intense emotions, tolerate distress, improve relationships, and build a life worth living.

A comprehensive DBT treatment approach includes individual DBT therapy focused on motivation and behavioral change, skills training in four key modules (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness), phone coaching for crisis moments, and therapist consultation teams. The skills you learn are drawn from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Zen Buddhism, dialectical philosophy, and neuroscience. They're practical. They work.

What DBT is not: it's not a quick fix. It's not inspirational quote therapy or processed self-help repackaged as evidence-based care. It's not something many therapists actually know how to do well. Real DBT requires specialized training, ongoing consultation, and a commitment to the model as it was developed.

My clinical training has been shaped by some of the leading DBT and CBT experts in the world. I completed my doctoral training at La Salle University, where I began providing comprehensive DBT across diverse settings including community mental health clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and college counseling centers. I went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship specializing in DBT, deepening my expertise in evidence-based treatment for complex problems. 

In addition to my work in private practice, I serve as a trainer and consultant for Behavioral Tech Institute—the gold standard for DBT training and consultation, founded by Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT. Through this role, I lead DBT trainings and consultations for clinicians worldwide. 

Prior to my doctoral work, I earned a master's degree from The Catholic University of America and conducted suicide prevention research. Since entering the field, I have maintained a specialized focus on treating suicidality, emotion dysregulation, and complex mental health presentations.

I work with adults and young adults who are navigating:

• Borderline personality disorder

• Emotion dysregulation

• Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior

• Self-harm

• Difficult relationship patterns

• Feeling stuck despite wanting change

In addition to individual therapy, I provide:

• Professional Consultation for mental health clinicians seeking to strengthen their clinical expertise in evidence-based practices

• Clinical Supervision for pre-licensed psychologists working toward licensure in Pennsylvania and/or New York

Growing up Persian shaped how I think about therapy. I learned early that communication is never just the words—every culture has its own logic for how people express needs, navigate hierarchy, or signal distress. Cultural competence isn't a checkbox in my practice; it's an ongoing commitment to understanding how your background shapes the way you show up in therapy.

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Pennsylvania License #PS019543

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist, New York License #024430

• PSYPACT, authorized to provide teletherapy in the following states: AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

• PsyD, Clinical Psychology, La Salle University

• MA, Psychology, The Catholic University of America

• BA, Psychology, American University

I'm out-of-network with all insurance companies. Contact me for my current rates. I accept FSA and HSA cards, and all major credit cards.

I reserve sliding scale spots for clients with demonstrated financial need. If cost is a barrier, I'm open to discussing affordability on an individual basis.

You have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of my fees before treatment begins. If your bill exceeds the estimate by $400 or more, you can dispute it.

For more info: www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1-800-985-3059