Why I Chose Psychiatry
I didn’t go to medical school planning to become a psychiatrist. In fact, I thought I’d be a pediatrician. But as I moved through my clinical rotations, I realized that most areas of medicine gave me only a few minutes with each patient—barely enough time to write a prescription, let alone truly connect.
That wasn’t why I became a doctor.
I told my mentors I wanted to get to know people, to understand what shaped them and help them live more meaningful lives—not just medicate and move on. Their answer was unanimous: You need to go into psychiatry.
When I did my psych rotation, everything clicked. I found that people opened up to me naturally, and the process of sitting with someone—really listening, validating their experiences, helping them work through pain—felt like a calling. Psychiatry gave me the time and space to make a real difference. I never looked back.
A Personal History of Healing and Growth
I was born in Tehran in 1968 and lived through the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War before immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager. That early exposure to trauma taught me something I’ve never forgotten: mental well-being is essential to survival—and to the possibility of joy.
Later, I faced my own physical and emotional battles. By my mid-twenties, I had been diagnosed with permanent disability due to severe tendonitis. Years later, I was debilitated again by Lyme disease—a six-year fight that fundamentally reshaped my life. While those years were some of the darkest I’ve known, they opened a door to my spirituality and taught me not just how to survive pain, but how to grow from it.
I don’t believe healing means “going back” to how we used to be. I believe it means moving forward into a new version of ourselves—one with more clarity, compassion, and consciousness.
What I Believe About People
I believe we all carry untapped strength, and that the path to healing begins with learning to see and trust ourselves. Life is too short to live stuck—disconnected from our needs, our power, or our potential.
Psychiatric symptoms, in my view, are not just chemical imbalances—they’re reflections of both inner and outer forces. My work bridges both worlds: the biology of the brain and the story of the soul.
What My Work Is For
My mission is to help people find what’s true and whole inside them—and bring that into their lives and relationships. I help my clients learn to advocate for themselves, honor their needs, and stop living from a place of fear or stuckness.
The people I work with are often thoughtful, capable, and spiritually curious. Some are in the midst of a major life transition or loss. Others feel lost despite outward success. Many are seeking clarity, growth, and the freedom to live more authentically.
A Life Rooted in Relationship
Becoming a mother changed me in ways no training ever could. It introduced me to a new level of human connection, and gave me the rare privilege of witnessing the full arc of human development. Motherhood grounded me, expanded me, and deepened my capacity to care for others with patience and love.
While raising my daughters, I completed pre-med, earned a master’s in physiology, graduated from medical school, and finished residency. That journey showed me how resilient we are when we live in alignment with our purpose—and how vital support is when we’re navigating complexity.
Today
I work with adults and adolescents who are seeking more than just symptom relief. I offer a space to explore the inner world—gently, collaboratively, and with deep respect. Whether you’re in crisis or in search of growth, I welcome you into the work.
Outside of my clinical practice, I live a life rich with connection and curiosity. I treasure deep friendships, love to travel, and find joy in the little rituals of family life. I’m drawn to meaningful conversation, soulful books, and long walks that open up new ideas.
Writing has always been a core part of how I make sense of the world. I’m currently working on a memoir that traces my journey from growing up in the midst of political revolution and war in Iran to becoming a physician, mother, and spiritual seeker in the United States. The process has been both a mirror and a medicine—helping me revisit old wounds and uncover new dimensions of healing.
I believe that growth is a lifelong path, and I bring that belief into the therapy room every day—not as a concept, but as lived experience.
