Zehra Ansari, MA, LP

Pronouns

She/Her

Location

• Only Virtual

Education

• Master's in Educational Psychology,  University of Wisconsin, 1994

• Master's in Psychology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 1967

• BA Journalism, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 1968

• BA Home Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 1964

Services Offered

• Individual Psychotherapy

• Couple's Psychotherapy

Ages I Work With

• 16 - 80+

Therapy Approaches I Use

• Psychotherapy for trauma-based issues - Anchored Relational

• Psychotherapy for trauma-based issues-  Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing ( EMDR)

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy

• Dialectic Behavior Therapy

• Eclectic approach with emphasis on Positive Psychology

Areas of Specialization

I enjoy working with all ages, mostly individuals who are struggling with life's challenges on account of trauma or other difficult experiences in their past that lead them to believe they are incompetent and set them up for further failure. Every human being has an inherent potential and capability to overcome life's hurdles and rise to their highest potential. As a therapist, I help my clients recognize this potential, trust themselves, and utilize all their resources to overcome any emotional, societal, relational, family, academic, professional, and political challenges they may encounter in their private, family, or public lives.

I am trained and experienced in treating ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Adjustment Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, and various trauma-based disorders. I enjoy working with couples and families to resolve conflicts and promote peace and harmony among them.

Having worked as a School Psychologist in a special education school District for 20 years, I have knowledge and expertise in most developmental disorders, including learning disabilities. As I have now limited my practice to virtual platforms, I do not do formal testing; however,  my prior experience is very beneficial in guiding parents of school-age children.

My Decolonized/Anti-Oppressive Lens

Having been born and grown up in India, I am very much aware of the harm that colonization has done to human beings' psyches over many generations. I am very consciously trying to be as nonjudgmental as I can with my clients, irrespective of their race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. First and foremost, everyone is a human being to me and therefore, entitled to the same privileges and dignity. I am always open to learning about the aspects of my clients' lives that I am not familiar with. I believe that therapy is a two-way street, where both the therapist and the client are educating one another.

What I Hope Clients Feel After Working With Me

I hope to instill in my clients a desire to make their lives successful, productive, and enjoyable through the realization of their own strengths and potential. I expect that they will be able to face all challenges with confidence and view setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. I want them to like themselves for who they are, while recognizing and respecting others who differ in values from them.

Why I Chose This Work

When I reflect on this question, I think even as a child, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people around me by bringing cheer and happiness to them. Once I read a T-shirt that said, "I want to be used up." Of course, I did not get that T-shirt, but the statement stuck in my head. So here I am trying to live true to this statement.

What I Enjoy Outside of Work

Travel, travel, travel. I have travelled to  25 to 30 countries so far! I also enjoy cooking,  reviving old family recipes, and entertaining family and friends at home.  Also, I like reading, mostly motivational books, spending time with my grandchildren, and trying to catch up with the fast-changing world.  And last but not least, I enjoy listening to Urdu poetry.

My Favorite Quote

"So truly with every hardship there is ease; truly with every hardship there is ease." Quran 94: 5-6