The Scholarly Stuff

I am a licensed clinical counselor, and received a PhD in Counseling & Counselor Education from North Carolina State University. I also serve as an adjunct professor, and created a learning institute for graduate students in counseling who are dedicated to rigorous training in providing inclusive clinical therapy for minoritized folx. I train other leaders on how to create interconnected workplaces. I eat, live, and breathe identity and belonging. Here’s why…

The Back Story

As an Egyptian American kid in the rural south, I silently suffered with daily comments about my heritage. This led to self-doubt, self-consciousness, and general confusion about my place in the world. When the inevitable question of “WHAT are you?” would arise, I started to wonder myself. This singular painful question propelled me into a lifetime quest to discover WHO I am beyond the WHAT.

Across my roles as a therapist, professor, entrepreneur – as a mom, daughter, friend, partner – I see people trying to answer the same questions – WHO AM I? How can I be connected to both myself and others? Where do I belong?

I teach folx how to own their belonging journey, and explore the barriers to belonging, most of which are rooted in oppressive systems that don’t provide safety to be ourselves. I guide folx on how to create connection – both in the world within themselves and in the world around. By using a visual map of the various places of where belonging lies, we can begin to address the confusion around isolation, and gain clarity on how to create your world to accommodate you as much as you show up for others.