Today we’d like to introduce you to Noha Zaki.
Hi Noha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Peering out of my mother’s kitchen window on the second story as a young child, I had a deep yearning to learn about society taking place down on the busy street below. I witnessed everything through the window from crime, poverty, to the hot sun beating down on people trying to make a living on the streets below. It was at that moment at the ripe age of nine that I understood society had the potential to grow as well as transform just as every individual in society. I wanted to understand society not just on an institutional level, but on a far more complex level through the individuals that compromised society as a whole. My curiosity to understand society ranged from wanting to learn more about intergenerational traumas, human behavior, epigenetics, and how the environment and life style factors can influence our gene expression, as well as our mental health.
In 20012, I graduated from CSUN with a major in Sociology Criminology and a minor in Psychology, when I received a phone call from an LAPD detective who was retiring, forgetting that I had applied a year prior to graduating. Once the fear had passed of realizing I was not in trouble over the phone, I let out a sigh of relief and took in what the detective was saying. I was offered a position to work downtown for the LAPD Homicide unit Olympic Division. There I worked alongside one of the greatest homicide detectives of all time for five years. Detective Jon Skaggs. I spent years working alongside Skaggs aiding him with homicide investigations. At the same token, I additionally attended the Forensic Science Academy where I learned how to do latent prints, understand bullet trajectory, blood spatter analysis, trace evidence analysis, as well as forensic photography, and additionally attended CSUF and became a state certified crime and intelligence analyst. The work was mentally tasking but rewarding, however after many years working homicide I was beginning to pay particular attention to the rate of suicides or murder/suicides that were occurring on an almost day to day basis. That observation was the pivotal point and the start of my career in psychology. Working at the LAPD homicide unit as well as through the education and guidance of my mentor FBI psychologist Dr. Joseph Davis, after many years, I felt my duty to serve the community through aiding detectives solving crime was over. My calling and inner voice instead veered me towards wanting to aide individuals in society on a deeper level, before reaching the point of suicide. The following year I applied to go obtain my masters in counseling psychology to embark on my career as a psychologist.
In 2018 I obtained my masters in Counseling Psychology from Mount Saint Mary’s University, and was elated to begin helping individuals. During that interim I volunteered at USC with a doctor on a study examining patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. There I scored the tests, and looked at the different bio markers that can cause the neurodegenerative disease that sadly impacts many. Coincidentally on a subconscious level, I was looking for answers as to how to help my young father who suffered from Alzheimer’s and Parksinson’s disease. I additionally worked at Didi Hirsch as a suicide prevention counselor, and had the pleasure of being exposed to the PEERS Clinic at UCLA aiding children who were neuro-divergent.
In the Spring of 2018 my world forever changed, as I gained a new way of looking at the world all together. The impact changed the way I will forever see the world, and gave me a deeper sense of compassion for those that struggle from illness. At the ripe age of 29, I suffered a TBI so catastrophic, it left me paralyzed for two years with the inability to walk and speak. Although I miraculously survived my brain injury, everything I had every known was gone and was replaced by chronic physical pain, my body falling apart head to toe, and a tiny seed of hope to recover. My hard work, memories, the ability to stand to shower, recognize objects, my hearing, and my entire body being able to function became foreign. It took me a year and a half to walk and almost two full years to regain my speech. Unfortunately, I never regained my hearing in my left ear but it became my new normal, and I adapted very much in the same way that I aide patients, to adapt to their new level of normal post any life challenges or transitions. I am now eight years out from that very dark time in my life and gained a newer perspective and understanding on life. Not only do I appreciate just waking up in the morning and appreciating the little simplicities in life, I started to view individuals from a very holistic standpoint. There is a significant interconnectedness between our mental state and our physical bodies. Having walked in those shoes has allowed me to help patients that need aide with chronic illness, or patients that harbor physical pain in their bodies as a result of traumas or mental distress.
In 2021 post recovery, I decided to go back to school to obtain my doctorate in applied clinical health psychology to aide those who suffer from health challenges, want to get better from health ailments, or simply not functioning at their full mental capacity due to the everyday challenges of life. While working on my doctorate I completed my dissertation on Postpartum depression and it’s impact on family systems, in addition to working at a lock down facility aiding individuals struggling from schizophrenia and severe mental health challenges. Post graduating I have aided individuals struggling in various arenas such as addiction medicine , pediatrics, addiction in the world of sports, private practice, and those struggling with major life transitions. These days I am dabbling in my geeky interest which is anything related to neuroscience, particularly brain injuries in sports, and gut health. I am so grateful and humbled to help everyone and anyone that walks through my office, and truly blessed to be in this field. Hopefully one day, I can engage in traveling to aide those struggling in war torn countries or those who cannot obtain mental health in marginalized parts of the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were definitely struggles along the way that have shaped me as whole and humbled me. In 2018, I was left fighting for my life following a brain injury. The brain injury changed the way I will forever see the world, and gave me a deeper sense of compassion for those that struggle from illness. My injury taught me that if you give someone a tiny seed of hope, miracles can occur, and that is the same hope I pass onto my patients. I also learned that you cannot recover in the same place you got sick. My entire perspective on everything ranging from health, diet, exercise, from everything we put in our bodies and mouths to increase our longevity had significantly shifted. Unfortunately during my interim as a student, I had also lost someone very close and young to my heart to cancer, and watched my father continue to struggle with Alzheimer’s. To be able to mentally allow myself to sit in that dark space at times and know that these were life challenges and changes that were not in my control, that no matter what the outcome would be that I would have to be ok with not being ok. The circumstances taught me self-compassion, humility, and how to further become a grounded individual. I am grateful for everyone that showed up during my time ill to show me empathy, compassion, patience, and understanding. Without their encouragement I would not have been able to heal to extend the same warmness and compassion to be able to help others.
We’ve been impressed with Dr. Noha Zaki Psy.D, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a clinical health psychologist that specializes in postpartum depression, in addition to clinical health psychology. I aide individuals from all walks of life. My understanding in the field of psychology originates from a deep understanding of human behavior that began in understanding society as well as criminal behavior. These days I enjoy understanding individuals from a holistic approach. Looking at individuals with everything that is going on around them in their environment, their physical health, life’s purpose, and bringing that all in to understand their mental state. It is my greatest joy to aide individuals towards a healthier happier version of themselves, to find their own purpose in life.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking is an important aspect in any career. My advice would be to attend as many functions as you can in your field, collaborate with others on projects, and take the time volunteering for events or functions that you find joy in. Be ambitious, crave knowledge, and find genuine happiness in the arenas you volunteer in. For those that are still students, get to know your professors. I am so blessed to have met my mentor Dr. Joseph Davis. FBI psychologist, who helped guide the way for me then, as well as now. Another piece of advice I would give is to be able to take constructive feedback from others. As psychologists we are always adding new approaches to treatment in our tool box. Remember therapy is not one size fits all and we must understand and cater to every patient’s unique needs. And last but not least continue to do hobbies that light a fire in your soul! From sports, to ocean hikes in my town of Palos Verdes, to traveling and soaking in new cultures, do what enriches and cultivates your mind, body, and soul and be your authentic self!
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