Mohammad Ali Zafar

Hello! My name is Mohammad Ali Zafar, and I am the founder and lead therapist at Ajwa Counseling, a counseling practice focused on prioritizing mental and relational wellness from a multicultural and evidence-based clinical counseling perspective. Our practice derives its name from the ajwa date, a fruit known to many around the world for its medicinal and spiritual healing properties. It is a symbol to billions and a reminder for our practice to always provide holistic, culturally-attuned, and knowledgeable mental health care and relational support.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
I was born and raised in Florida to parents who immigrated to the United States from Pakistan many decades ago. I have a big family and am a proud husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. I am a practicing Muslim and Islam is a big part of my life, though I know many forms of religion as they are culturally practiced today have either felt harmful to some and beautiful to others. With that said, I do my best to be mindful of my clients' varying beliefs and identities, and the last thing I ever would want to do is marginalize or “other” people for who they are and who they want to be. I know personally, professionally, and socially the harm further marginalizing people's identities can be and is why much of my practice expertise is related to positive identity development and healing from discriminatory trauma.

HOW I PRACTICE: 
I practice therapy in a culturally collaborative way - I aim to listen well, care deeply, guide with humility and expertise, and remain non-judgmental. In therapy, I use a trauma informed lens and tend to practice in a way that we sometimes can both cry and laugh in the same session. I hope to always be attuned to differing client needs and aim to build and foster our clinical relationship as we as mental health providers know that without a strong relationship with folks it's difficult to make progress in therapy.

I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you.