At a glance
Best fit for: Children of immigrants, South Asian clients, boundaries, shame, parenting, inner child wounds, perfectionism, and substance use.
Approaches: CBT, motivational interviewing, relational therapy, psychodynamic
Who Am I?
Hi! I’m Fariha (Fah-ree-ah, she/hers), a therapist who works with adults. Let’s look at patterns, challenge belief systems, understand how intergenerational trauma shapes us, and create new narratives. I live for plot twists and the latest news in your life. Show me the receipts, and yes, I want to see the texts. We start where you are, because only by getting to know the most real version of you can we navigate this work together, celebrating your wins big and small. I’m a cis-gendered, first-generation, South Asian woman.
I specialize in working with:
- Adults navigating anxiety, depression, and substance use
- Young adults working through life’s transitions
- Adults just trying to get through the day
- Substance use
- Parents dealing with, well, parenting
- Children of immigrants and first-generation folks
- South Asian identifying clients
- People-pleasing, boundary-setting, and inner-child wounds
How I help
The relationship between us is our strongest tool. I believe you have the power to grow and change from within, and I practice radical candor, which means caring deeply while challenging directly. Meeting with me should feel like hanging out with a trusted friend, one who isn’t trying to tell you what to do. My approaches include CBT, motivational interviewing, exploring shame through Brené Brown’s work, identifying boundaries, values alignment, and pattern recognition. I grab relevant strategies from many approaches, because therapy isn’t one size fits all. I want to see and support you, imperfections and all. I work from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens. And we’ll laugh, because laughter is medicine.
What a session with me is like
First things first, I will always have a blanket in session, because I’m always cold, even in summer. Bring your coffee, take your shoes off, get comfortable. It should feel like a conversation. Sometimes we’ll go off course and talk about random things, and that’s okay, we’ll come back. Sometimes you won’t even realize you got hit with some therapy. If you’re looking for a blank-slate therapist, I’m not it. My face will be facing. My favorite moments are when clients say, “I can’t wait for your face when I tell you…”
What I believe
Our identities, culture, and background are integral to the therapy space. Healing is layered and lifelong, more roller coaster than straight line. Discomfort is a sign of growth. I believe in laughter, in storytelling as a way to connect, and that therapy is political and tied to collective liberation.
A little more about me
Outside of work I love to travel, dance, read, eat, and spend time with friends and my partner, but mostly I’m hanging out with my kiddo who brings a new challenge everyday! . Parenting is so hard, I’m tired, y’all. I know a lot of random movies and TV trivia. My ideal day involves laughter and direct sunlight. I’m moving toward what fills my cup and leaving the rest.
A few common questions
Are you accepting new clients?
Not at the moment
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, I see clients virtually across Illinois, and in person at our Edison Park office.
Do you speak any languages besides English?
Yes, I speak Bangla.
What do you help with most?
Substance use and recovery, boundaries, shame, intergenerational trauma, and support for first-generation and South Asian clients.
What insurance do you take?
BCBS PPO, BCBS HMO Northshore, Optum, Cigna, and Aetna.
- AetnaBCBS HMO NorthshoreBCBS PPOCignaOptum/United
