Hi! My name is Zina.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. As a child refugee, I learned that integrating into a new culture, while grieving the loss of my birthplace poses great challenges. The social worker that was assigned to help my family settle into American life made a huge imprint on my child's mind, heart and spirit. Ever since then, I knew that I wanted to work in the helping professions. 

 

Although my journey has not been a linear, point A to point B kind of trip, I’ve had an incredible adventure as an English professor, a yoga teacher, a meditation trainer/guide, a personal trainer, a tutor and now a psychotherapist. In addition to my career and personal interests, I am also a mother, a wife and a dedicated community member. Building community and making sure people feel safe to feel their feelings and follow their dreams has continued to be a passion of mine since I arrived in the United States in gratitude of finally finding safety from the fear of war. 

 

I began working as a hypnotherapist in 2014, helping people get over their fears, trauma’s and insecurities, and as a therapist in 2019 right after graduating from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon with a Master’s in Social Work focusing on a Clinical approach working with clients across the lifespan. I am also a certified hypnotherapist, trained yoga teacher and trained Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner.

 

My passion lies in empowering clients to live a life that they feel is purposeful and fulfilling. I believe that cultivating joy everyday is possible.My approach is solution-focused, client-centered, and is both practical and deepening. While I integrate a solution-focused approach, I also use mind/body strategies, the research of neurobiology, narrative therapy, etc. to adapt to each individual client’s individual needs.