Pronouns: He, Him
License: Psy.D.
Hello! I’m Aimen, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist.
My therapeutic style is focused on building authentic connections with my clients in a compassionate environment. While my style often depends on the kind of work you want to accomplish, my treatment always integrates a strengths-based approach that encourages your engagement and collaboration to make the most out of our shared time.
I have experience working with various struggles such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance dependency, childhood and adulthood trauma, general life dissatisfaction, workplace stress, minority stress, and relationship challenges.
I am very passionate about working with clients of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and Middle Eastern communities. Social justice and advocacy are an important part of my life, and is therefore often incorporated in my work with clients. My personal and professional experiences as a gay man of color helps me provide multiculturally-sensitive support to those in our community who may feel misunderstood in the world.
I also greatly enjoy working with couples on improving communication, managing conflict, and strengthening bonds. My approach to couples therapy focuses on helping couples reconnect, improving relationship safety and trust, and expressing needs.
The decision to seek out a therapist can be a big one, so I want to commend you for prioritizing your health. Therapy is a gift to yourself to receive healing, unpack stressors, gain insight into your life, and improve your self-care.
Whether you’re looking for short-term or long-term therapy, I look forward to hearing from you and discussing how we can work together!
Meet Aimen, LGBTQ Therapist at GTC
How can you get started with being kinder to yourself?
Start with your addressing your self-talk. We all talk to ourselves- and in fact, it’s healthy! Self-talk can be viewed as the inner voice that guides you and helps you make sense of the world. How do you speak to yourself? What kind of words do you use when you’re upset with yourself? What kind of words do you use when you’ve accomplished something? We know research tells us that we are more likely to achieve positive change through self-compassion rather than via self-hatred and “tough love” talk.
Share a self-reflection prompt to spark meaningful introspection.
How can I be the person that younger me needed? What kind of support did younger me wish they had, but did not have? How can I show up as that person for myself in this moment?
Share a quote or mantra that helps you through tough times.
“They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.”
Repeating this quote to myself has helped me get through many challenging situations. To me, the quote speaks to the hardships of life, and that through our coping, there is strength and resilience. It’s important that we remember that hardship or trauma itself does not create strength within us- rather, how we coped and survived trauma is what is representative of our strength.
Therapy can involve setting boundaries. What tips do you have for setting healthy boundaries?
Boundary-setting is not inherently rude or mean, does not need to be adversarial, and can be done compassionately. After implementing healthy boundaries, many people report improvements in their relationships, happiness, and overall quality of life. Like starting any new habit, you might have more success starting with smaller boundaries, and then building your way up from there. Consistency, clarity, and compassionate assertiveness are key skills for setting healthy boundaries.
Share one small change that’s had a big impact on your mental well-being.
As silly as it might sound, I know staying on top of my water intake has a great impact on my mental well-being. It’s important to stay hydrated (coffee does not count)!
Share an activity or hobby that helps you unwind and relax.
I’m definitely one of those people who tends to rewatch a favorite TV show or movie for comfort–I think many of us do! Catching up on sleep, going to yoga classes, and chatting with my support system also help me unwind.
What’s one small change someone can make today to improve their mental well-being?
Setting an intention or goal at the start of your day can help get you started on making the changes you want to see in life. Make sure your goal is specific and reasonable, and consider how you want to track improvements.
Let’s break the stigma! Share a myth about therapy you’d like to debunk.
One of the biggest and most harmful stigmas that comes to mind is the belief that you must be crazy or hit rock bottom to seek out therapy. I think it takes a lot of self-awareness, courage, realness, and dedication to reach out for support and begin your therapy journey!
What’s your go-to coping skill when you’re overwhelmed? Share your favorite self-care tip.
My go-to, first line of defense coping skill is to take a few deep breaths to help myself regulate. It may sound simplistic, but deep breathing exercises can help us regulate when we’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or triggered. I enjoy talking about the science behind why deep breathing is so helpful for us. Let’s talk about it during our first session together!
Also, something as simple as going for a walk and enjoying fresh air can really help improve my mood. I had a friend once tell me: like house plants, we too need water, sunshine, and a little TLC to thrive.
