Do you find yourself caught in a cycle of high-functioning anxiety, meeting the demands of your career and your community while feeling increasingly disconnected from your own needs? Or have past traumatic experiences shaken you and left you questioning your goals, your relationships, or even yourself? Whether you’re navigating the weight of perfectionism, past trauma, or the exhaustion of carrying long-standing expectations, relief is possible.

Many of us have learned to survive by staying strong, productive, and composed, even at the expense of our own well-being. Over time, this can leave you feeling stuck in patterns of hypervigilance, self-doubt, or self-criticism, unsure how to slow down or tend to what you actually need. Simply getting through the day can feel like an accomplishment, even as part of you longs for more ease, connection, and meaning. You don’t have to navigate this weight on your own.

I offer a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can put the armor down and begin moving toward healing at your own pace. In our work together, we’ll take time to understand the roots of what you’re carrying. We’ll explore how past experiences, relationships, and societal pressures or oppression have shaped the ways you protect yourself. From there, we’ll work on developing the tools to feel lighter, build relationships that feel safe and reciprocal, and regain a sense of control over your own life. Whether using a CBT or psychodynamic lens, or a specific technique like EMDR, our work can help you reclaim a sense of agency so your life feels less like something you’re managing and more like something you’re living.

If you’re ready to reclaim your energy and explore a new way of being, I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation call.

Psychotherapist

Akilia Fadhel, LMSW

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Gottman Trained, Levels 1 & 2
EMDRIA Trained, EMDR
Master of Social Work, Columbia University
B.s. Global Health, Georgetown University

Morning coffee
Journaling
Yoga
Running

Jean Baker Miller, M.D.
Kristin Nepp
Brene Brown

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: Growing up as the daughter of a political refugee, I learned how to love someone who was still healing from the effects of political conflict. That experience shaped the way I show up for others today. I consciously choose to give of myself to my clients, believing that even one small act of kindness can create a corrective experience, one that can influence how a person sees themselves, their relationships, and their future. I hope that, in some small way, those moments of care can create a ripple effect that extends beyond the individual and strengthens the community as a whole.
: Personally, I know when a client is healing, when they can look at a situation that once brought them pain, and now use it as a source of strength.

As a clinician, I notice the subtle changes in their body language, their voice, their facial expression. All these subtle signs show me that my client is becoming more hopeful. What once brought them pain is now evidence to them that they are stronger than what they've been through.
: Curiosity helps me connect with people who come from backgrounds different from my own. As someone who speaks three languages and loves to travel, I've learned to see moments when I don't know or understand something as opportunities to listen, learn, and gain a new perspective from others.
: Lately, I've become more passionate about community gardens. One organization I volunteer with is NYC Parks GreenThumb, which supports community gardens throughout New York City. There's something really healing about being able to stay connected to gardening and nature, even while living in an NYC apartment building. I love that community gardens create a space where people can connect with one another, get their hands in the soil, and contribute to something that benefits the neighborhood.