Alisa Ibragimova

I am a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in substance use, complex trauma, and other issues. I have experience in providing counseling and support for individuals who struggle with substance use, trauma, depression, anxiety, anger issues, domestic violence, childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, narcissistic abuse, family scapegoating, workplace bullying/mobbing, racial discrimination, grief, loss, and suicidal ideation.

My ideal client is a trauma survivor. Trauma survivors may have experienced abuse (physical, sexual, verbal), rape, incest, domestic violence, interpersonal violence, community violence, human trafficking, narcissistic abuse, family scapegoating, workplace bullying and mobbing, discrimination, and other social injustices.

The reason why I like to help this population is because they are often silenced by their perpetrators, their families, some professionals, and the legal system. When survivors come forward about abuse, they are often disbelieved, invalidated, and have their stories maligned, which creates more trauma. Often, survivors are judged, blamed, shamed by others or blame themselves for the abuse. Many don’t get to have a voice.

My role as a mental health counselor is to validate survivors, help them correct any negative self-image they have of themselves as a result of their past experiences, get rid of toxic shame, help them enforce healthy boundaries, and advocate for them in a system that oppresses them.

My approach to therapy is rooted in empathy, compassion, and non-judgment. I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where my clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings, and where they can develop the skills and tools they need to thrive. I utilize a person-centered approach to build a therapeutic alliance with my clients and create a safe place. I can help you achieve your desired changes through a solid therapeutic alliance, collaboration and active participation, focusing on the problem, and goal setting.

During trauma, you develop coping behaviors that help you survive that are no longer serving you and can even be hurting you. I can help you unlearn those behaviors and work towards change by challenging unhelpful thinking patterns and re-evaluating negative core beliefs. During our first session, we will explore reasons why you came to therapy, what you hope to gain, and come up with a plan to help you reach those goals.