Today we’d like to introduce you to Naj Alikhan, LMFT.
Hi Naj, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I believe that when we are walking in the right direction, doors open and opportunities come our way. This has held true for me ever since I began my first class in grad school for Clinical Psychology in 2010 while living in Santa Barbara. After two years and gaining 3000 hours of internship experience, I became licensed and found myself working at UCSB in the Alcohol and Drug Department. Working with students, particularly students of color, has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. When I moved to Pasadena, I continued this work at Emmada Psychology Center, which focuses on providing high-quality mental health support and education to communities of color.
Under the guidance of Dr. Rick Williamson at Emmada Psychology Center, I had the opportunity to engage in corporate and non-profit initiatives, offering valuable tools such as resilience, stress management, self-care, and diversity and inclusion education to these communities.
Later on, I transitioned to a full-time position at Caltech University, where I further specialized in working with Asian and South Asian individuals, particularly those in technical fields. The students at Caltech are a unique group. While their dedication and focus are remarkable, it often comes at a cost. This prompted me to collaborate with the Physical Education Department in developing a pioneering health class that integrates mental and physical health skills tailored to these exceptional individuals.
In 2022, I made the decision to leave Caltech and establish my private practice. Drawing on my background in culturally sensitive therapy, my familiarity with the intensity of the tech world, and my training in resilience and stress management, I quickly garnered the attention of many tech sector employees. A significant portion of my clients, particularly those of Asian or South Asian descent, are employed at several of the largest tech companies in California.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While the opportunities have been plentiful, the journey from being a lowly psychology intern to establishing a private practice has been incredibly challenging. Interns often face the most difficult mental health cases and often work without compensation in order to accumulate the required internship hours. I dedicated four years to community mental health, providing support to individuals struggling with conditions such as schizophrenia, drug addiction, and other severe illnesses.
However, the most difficult moment in this process occurred when I first relocated to Los Angeles. Although Emmada Psychology Center was able to offer me a few clients per week, the responsibility of building a client base largely fell on my shoulders, and initially, progress was slow. At one point, after covering my rent, I found myself on the brink of financial hardship. Tears welled up in my eyes as I sat in my 13-year-old car, questioning whether leaving the comfort and steady paycheck in Santa Barbara had been a mistake. Nevertheless, I persisted and gradually built my client base. Soon after, I secured a part-time position at Caltech and eventually transitioned to full-time employment.
I must admit, those years were undeniably challenging. However, they were also crucial for my personal and professional growth. They instilled in me the tenacity and mental fortitude that I now draw upon during my resilience lectures.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Throughout my career, I have held roles as both an educator and a therapist.
In my therapy practice, my specialization lies in working with Asian and South Asian individuals employed in the tech industry. I have gained recognition for my unique ability to connect with them on a deep level. I affectionately refer to my practice as “therapy for nerds” because, being a self-professed nerd myself, I understand the challenges of feeling truly understood when one sees the world, particularly relationships, through a slightly different lens than others. While this work has been incredibly fulfilling, I have also found immense reward in serving an even more specific niche: Asian/South Asian tech workers who identify as queer. Word of mouth referrals have consistently led this distinct group to seek my specialized expertise.
Currently, my educational endeavors revolve around creating psychology-based content for social platforms and YouTube. I am in the final stages of producing an amazing podcast on communication skills for young men, and my daily content is firmly rooted in my other areas of specialization. I have been commended for my ability to define and describe psychological issues and tools in an accessible manner that proves helpful for individuals who struggle with these complex concepts.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Never before has my background in resilience training proven more relevant than during the pandemic. As I navigated the highs and lows of sheltering in place alongside the rest of the world, I gained valuable insights into what kept me engaged and present in my own life. These insights, in turn, enabled me to offer effective strategies to my therapy clients. Together, we learned that amidst the chaos and uncertainty, establishing new routines and prioritizing self-care became crucial for grounding ourselves and finding moments of calm amidst the storm.
However, as time went on and we found ourselves six months into the pandemic, those once-novel routines began to feel stagnant and overly familiar. We were all yearning for ways to infuse our lives with vitality once again. It became evident that we needed to rekindle our connection with passion, excitement, and pleasure to reenergize ourselves.
Pricing:
- $150.oo per session
Contact Info:
- Website: www.therapywithnaj.com
- Instagram: @naj_alikhan
- Other: tiktok @therapywithnaj
