Hi, I’m Azaadi.
Pronouns - English: they/she/he | Other languages: all pronouns
I believe that the changes we make within ourselves and our most intimate relationships can have a lasting impact on the world. I also believe systemic problems require systemic solutions. These beliefs brought me to work in mental health and social change advocacy. Everything I’ve seen while engaged in this work for the past 15 years has affirmed my beliefs.
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Brooklyn, New York. I’m queer and trans-nonbinary. I’m an immigrant and a practicing Muslim, though I borrow from and engage in other faith practices as well. I live in Brooklyn with my partner, my two cats, and a strong network of friends and chosen family.
I’ve been working in the fields of social service and education for over 10 years. I’ve been providing mental health services, and specializing in trauma-informed care, for the past 7. I received my Masters of Science in Social Work with a focus on Integrated Clinical Practice and Program Management from Columbia University and my bachelors from Bard College. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with a variety of social service organizations around the world including but not limited to Janaagraha Bangalore, MOD Institute Berlin, New Sanctuary Coalition in NYC, the Ali Forney Center, Sakhi for South Asian Women, Hidayah in the UK and US, The LGBTQ+ Center, DRUM, and Jahajee in NYC. I believe all professionals should engage in continued learning, training, and community-based efforts. Therefore I continue to seek guidance from experts from around the world such as Dr. Janina Fischer, Linda Thai, Kai Cheng Thom, other leading practitioners and researchers, and local leaders and community organizers.
My current work falls into two categories: therapy and consulting. As a therapist, I provide individual and relationship counseling to two or more people. As a consultant, I support teams with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, worker burnout, trauma-informed program design, and staff training or supervision. In all forms of my work, I bring my expertise on working with survivors of gender-based and racialized violence, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ folks, South Asians, Muslims, and the kink/BDSM community.
My experiences, both professional and personal, have given me deep insight into the unique challenges those with intersecting marginalized identities face. Based on my experiences, I believe anyone who wants change is capable of achieving it when given the right kind of support. It can feel difficult to even imagine what change could look like. Once imagined, it can feel difficult to work towards. I’ve had the honor and pleasure of supporting people in their brave pursuit of change, despite the vast array of cultural and systemic barriers they may face. Witnessing these journeys has brought me joy and hope about transformation at every level of society. Let’s connect and work together to change things up for the better.
To learn more about services I offer, you can check out these pages:
MyValues
You’re likely on this page to determine if we’re the right fit for each other. To help you determine that, below are some of the values I am bringing to the spaces I participate in.
A few notes about these values: 1. This is not a complete list of my values. I am sharing some here that come up more frequently with my clients in initial sessions. 2. My clients tend to share some (though rarely all) of my values and struggle to implement them in a world that doesn’t always support them. 3. Some of my clients don’t share any of my values but come to work with me with an open mind and a healthy curiosity. 4. These values are flexible and can change over time. 5. I am open to feedback and reflections about these values.
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The criminal/legal system has perpetuated and continues to perpetuate systemic harm against several communities I am a part of at disproportionate rates. There is substantial, researched evidence to show that the criminal/legal system in the United States is not effective at bringing peace, dignity, and justice to our communities.
On the other hand, there are leaders and thinkers in our history and around the world who have elucidated alternative ways to address and prevent harm in our communities. Transformative justice is the name of one such ideology and method. It is an alternative approach to addressing harm and conflict that attempts to prevent the perpetuance of violence.
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I am firmly against racism and anti-blackness, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, worker exploitation, xenophobia, apartheid, sectarianism, settler colonialism, and other injustices. I believe in self-determination for all people. I am committed to working towards a more liberated world for us all.
There are overt and implicit messages in the world that are often used to divide and control us, how we dress, how we eat, how we treat each other, etc. It’s unfortunately normal to internalize those messages, regardless of your background. None of us are immune to it. Which is why we all need to hold one another accountable.
I am committed to the work of dismantling systems of oppression and imperialism. I am committed to doing this work with consultants, colleagues, clients, organizations, institutions, friends, family and community at large.
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I believe in change on the individual level. I believe in change on organizational/institutional levels. I believe in change on cultural, ideological, and societal levels. I do not believe these levels of change happen in isolation from one another. A change in one supports the change in another.
Structural problems require structural solutions. I do not take an individualistic or ‘bootstraps’ approach to supporting you. Should you need structural support, beyond what I can provide, I can connect you to institutions, organizations, and people that may be able to collaborate with me to provide you additional, collective support.