Fatima Tahira

My online sessions are held from 6:00 a.m EST to 12:00 p.m EST on weekdays. On the weekends my timings are more flexible.

To resolve the traumas of my clients, I employ a variety of techniques, including internal family systems (IFS), Compassionate Inquiry (CI), humanistic therapy and psychodynamic therapy. I offer online sessions to clients from every locality and culture, and in-person sessions in Pakistan.

As an integrative therapist, ​I treat every client as a unique individual and use a customized combination of therapeutic approaches to address their concerns. I do not believe in giving people labels based on their psychological health or treating them with a static psychological model. My techniques include: Trauma-informed therapy, Psychosomatic therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) aware, and Compassionate Inquiry (CI).

My approach is rooted in empathy, authenticity, and a deep respect for each person's journey. After working as a psychotherapist for a long time and having treated severely traumatized patients, I have become a strong believer in the strength and resilience of human beings and their ability to evolve and grow from adversity.

The word "trauma" is Greek for "wound" and psychological wounds require just as much attention, if not more, as physical injuries. Research proves that trauma has physical manifestations in our bodies such as aggravating existing medical conditions and creating muscle pains or digestive problems. My work is unique because it goes beyond traditional talk therapies to address the somatic (physical) manifestations of psychological trauma.

Almost all of my clients are traumatized to varying degrees which disconnects them from the "Self". Although they may be aware of their emotional state on a cognitive level, they struggle to feel their emotions, regulate their thoughts or notice the impact of their emotions on their body. My job is not to "fix" my clients but to help them see that they're either living in their painful past or with an anxiety related to the future. My work focuses on the mind and body simultaneously to create wholeness and healing, I help my clients find safety within themselves, resolve their past and find their path to peace.

Taking the first step to come into therapy is challenge for many clients. The client could be anxious about the direction of the process and being vulnerable before a stranger. At times, in my first therapy sessions, I've experienced frustration with the assessment process and giving my history.  Too many questions may feel intrusive and out of place if the client expects to feel supported and held in the initial interaction with the therapist. The history unfolds gradually in a very subtle and powerful manner throughout the process. 

In the first session, I want to ensure a warm, non-judgmental space by following the pace of my client. If the client agrees, I like to start with a brief grounding exercise that helps them tune into their body and emotions. It helps to explain that emotions and trauma can manifest physically and that in order to heal holistically the psychological and somatic experiences must be explored simultaneously. Many clients are deeply dissociated so the first session has to be gentle so that the client can gradually open up about their physical and emotional experiences.

Basically, the first session is the most important building block of the therapeutic relationship.