Exploring Life & Business with Kiana Naimi of Soulh Psychotherapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiana Naimi

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Part of my story begins with a deeply personal connection to loss and resilience. When I was a teenager, my mother died from breast cancer. Her death changed the course of my life, leaving me to navigate profound grief at a young age. That experience taught me about the complexities of loss and how it can reshape every aspect of our lives. Though I didn’t know it at the time, it was this loss that ultimately inspired my path into mental health and grief work.

Another part of my journey is also shaped by the context of being a first-generation immigrant, a woman of color, and someone who navigated life with special healthcare needs. Growing up, I faced the unique challenges of straddling two cultures, navigating systemic barriers, and finding my voice in spaces where I wasn’t always represented. These experiences instilled in me a deep sense of empathy, determination, and the importance of creating inclusive spaces for healing.

I began my career as a licensed clinical social worker with a passion for helping others process their pain and discover their inner strength. Specializing in grief and trauma therapy, I’ve always been committed to providing care that is both empathetic and evidence-based. My lived experiences have allowed me to connect with clients on a deeply personal level, meeting them where they are and helping them navigate their own unique journeys.

Today, I’m not only a grief therapist but also a PhD student, furthering my research into the intersections of grief, trauma, and resilience. Pursuing a PhD has been both challenging and rewarding—it allows me to deepen my understanding of the very experiences that connect us all as humans. I believe that my blend of lived experience, academic study, and professional expertise allows me to support my clients in a way that feels both personal and informed.

Through it all, my mother’s memory remains my driving force. Her strength coupled with the challenges I’ve overcome as a first-generation immigrant and a woman of color, remind me every day why I do what I do. It’s my mission to help others find their own path forward, especially when the weight of grief feels overwhelming.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to where I am today has been anything but smooth. It’s been filled with unexpected detours, steep learning curves, and moments of self-doubt.

One of the most significant challenges has been balancing the emotional weight of the work I do with the logistical realities of running a private practice. While my MSW program provided a strong foundation in clinical skills and theory, one thing they didn’t teach was how to market yourself. In school, the focus is on being a compassionate, effective clinician—and rightly so. But when you step into private practice, you quickly realize that understanding how to run a business is just as critical.

Learning how to navigate marketing was an entirely new skill set I had to develop on my own. How do you articulate your expertise in a way that resonates with people? How do you communicate the value of what you offer without it feeling overly transactional? These were some of the questions I had to wrestle with, all while trying to stay authentic to who I am and the work I do.

On top of that, being a woman of color in the mental health field presents its own unique hurdles. Representation matters, and while I’m proud to be a part of this field, there are moments when you’re acutely aware of how underrepresented people like me can be in leadership roles or specialized areas like grief and trauma. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, but it’s also an added pressure.

Balancing my professional goals with my personal life has been another challenge, especially as I pursue my PhD. There are moments of exhaustion, imposter syndrome, and questioning whether I can manage it all. But I remind myself why I started—to create spaces for people to feel seen, heard, and supported in their grief and trauma.

Despite the obstacles, I’ve found that the struggles have also been my greatest teachers. They’ve taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of asking for help when needed. Whether it’s figuring out marketing strategies, building a network, or managing the emotional toll of this work, each challenge has pushed me to grow both personally and professionally.

What keeps me going is the belief that this work matters. Every struggle has brought me closer to understanding not just my clients’ pain but also my own, and that shared humanity is what drives me to continue.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Soulh Psychotherapy ?
My practice is named, “Soulh” which in farsi, translates to peace and tranquility and the reason for that is because my work is centered around providing compassionate, trauma-informed care to individuals navigating grief, loss, and life’s many transitions. As a licensed clinical social worker and grief therapist, I specialize in helping people process and integrate their experiences of loss in a way that aligns with their unique needs and values.

I’m particularly passionate about working with individuals who feel stuck or overwhelmed in their grief—whether they’re grieving the loss of a loved one, struggling with unresolved trauma, or navigating ambiguous losses like divorce, immigration, or chronic illness. I’m also trained in trauma therapy, a highly effective approach for addressing trauma, and I integrate evidence-based modalities to provide individualized care for each client.

What Sets Me Apart

What makes my practice unique is the lived experience I bring to the work. I know what it’s like to navigate profound grief, having lost my mother to breast cancer as a teenager. I also understand the complexities of being a first-generation immigrant and a woman of color, carrying the weight of cultural expectations while striving for personal growth. This combination of professional expertise and personal understanding allows me to hold space for my clients in a deeply empathetic and authentic way.

Additionally, I offer 1-to-3 day therapy intensives, which set my practice apart. These intensives are designed for individuals who want a focused, immersive experience to address specific challenges. Whether it’s working through a particularly heavy aspect of grief, processing a traumatic memory, or breaking through feelings of stagnation, these intensives provide the time and space to dive deeply into the work. They’re ideal for clients who may have limited availability for weekly sessions or who want to jumpstart their healing journey.

Brand Identity and Values

My practice is rooted in creating a safe, inclusive space where clients feel seen, heard, and validated. I’m committed to breaking down the stigma around grief and mental health, especially in communities where these conversations are often taboo. I want my clients to know that their grief doesn’t have to fit a specific timeline or look a certain way—it’s theirs to navigate in their own time and terms.

I’m most proud of the trust my clients place in me to guide them through some of the most challenging chapters of their lives. It’s an honor to witness their strength and to help them discover new ways to move forward while honoring what they’ve lost.

What I Want Readers to Know
If you’re reading this and you are experiencing grief, trauma, or a sense of disconnection, I want you to know that you don’t have to navigate it alone. Therapy is not about “fixing” grief or erasing pain—it’s about creating a space where you can explore your emotions, find tools to manage them, and rediscover meaning in your life.

Whether you’re looking for ongoing weekly sessions or a more concentrated approach through a therapy intensive, my goal is to support you with compassion and care. I work virtually with clients across California, providing a flexible and accessible option for anyone ready to take that first step toward feeling supported.

Grief is hard, and life can feel overwhelming at times. But in those moments of darkness, there’s also an opportunity to find connection, resilience, and even moments of joy. My practice is here to help you navigate that journey in a way that feels authentic and empowering for you.

If you’re interested in exploring therapy or learning more about the 1-to-3 day intensives, I encourage you to reach out. It would be an honor to support you.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to trust the process. This phrase was first shared with me by my practicum director during my MSW program, and it’s stayed with me ever since. At the time, I was navigating the challenges of graduate school, balancing demanding coursework, practicum hours, and the immense emotional labor that comes with learning to hold space for others in their most vulnerable moments.

When my director told me to “trust the process,” I was initially hesitant. I wanted immediate clarity and results—answers to whether I was on the right path or doing enough. But over time, I began to understand the wisdom in those words –especially in the world of grief where there is a lot of unpredictability.. Trusting the process isn’t about blind faith; it’s about recognizing that growth and transformation often unfold in ways we can’t predict or control. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and allowing space for things to come together in their own time.

Pricing:

• Individual sessions $200
• Couple sessions $200
• 1 Day Intensive = $2,500 and includes 6 hours of therapy
• 2 Day Intensive = $3,500 and includes 9 hours of therapy
• 3 Day Intensive = $5,000 and includes 13 therapy hours.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soulhpsychotherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulh_psychotherapy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulh_psychotherapy

Image Credits
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