About The Clinic
EMPOWERING MINDS, TRANSFORMING LIVES
Inspiring Change for a Brighter Tomorrow
Mission:
Break down stigmas and foster a supportive environment
Raise awareness about mental health within the Muslim community and beyond
Create a safe and inclusive space for individuals to explore their well-being within the context of their faith
Provide culturally and religiously congruent mental health services
Our Vision
Equip individuals with the tools for leading fulfilling lives
Prioritize mental health and well-being
Deepen the understanding of the interplay between mental health and Islamic teachings
Inspire positive change in individuals, families, and communities
Meet Our Clinical Team!
Saha Jamshed, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, is a Mental Health Therapist at Axis Community Health and Maristan. She holds a Master’s from USC and trained at John George Psychiatric Hospital. Saha supports individuals, couples, and families with depression, anxiety, marital conflict, and low self-esteem, using CBT, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, EFT, ACT, and stress management. She is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and provides services in Dari and English. Saha also has 15+ years of experience with NISA, helping survivors of domestic violence.
Nuzhath specializes in youth and family therapy. With a Masters in Counseling Psychology, she has 10+ years of experience in school-based programs and community clinics and is trained in a diverse array of counseling modalities.
A compassionate professional with extensive experience in counseling, social work, and psychotherapy. Skilled in case management, diagnosing, treating mental health disorders, and crisis intervention. Holds a Master’s in Social Work from USC, a Bachelor’s in Social Welfare with a minor in Education and Public Policy from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Dedicated to enhancing skills and contributing to the Social Services and Mental Health industry.
Amal Khan is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Psychology from Palo Alto University. She works with adults and adolescents using Person-Centered, Solution-Focused, Attachment, Dialectical, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Amal focuses on healing through a strong therapeutic alliance and explores themes of loss, grief, self-worth, and oppression. She integrates various forms of expression, including art and meditation, and values consistency, trust, and empathic communication in therapy.
Wajma Nasir, a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco. She works at Wellness Together, a non-profit offering school-based therapy, specializing in children from TK to 6th grade. Wajma employs ACT, CBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy, and is also a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor.
Tasmeer, a University of Toronto alumna, is pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at Palo Alto University. She has completed a year-long internship with the City of Fremont Youth and Family Services, gaining experience with children, adolescents, families, and parents. Tasmeer has worked with non-profits focused on immigrants, refugees, and domestic violence survivors in Saudi Arabia and Canada. She also conducts research at Palo Alto University to improve training for future psychotherapists.
Jannah, a California native living in Chicago, is pursuing a Master’s in Art Therapy and Counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She holds a BA in Islamic Studies and Liberal Arts from Zaytuna College. With a focus on art, spirituality, and healing, Jannah has experience in community service and teaching. She aims to use art therapy to support underserved populations and enjoys coffee shop hopping, lakefront walks, and cooking new recipes.
Dr. Zahra Murtaza is a Clinical and Community Psychologist based in the Bay Area, serving children, teens, and young adults. She works part-time with Maristan’s Stanford Muslim Mental Health Initiative and full-time at Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto as a Licensed Psychologist and Program Manager. Dr. Zahra holds a BA from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology from Georgia State University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and a postdoctoral fellowship at CHC, specializing in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She has over a decade of experience with diverse communities and enjoys hiking, baking, and social justice advocacy.
Babalwa Kwanele is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 20 years of experience working with diverse clients. She holds a Master’s in Counseling with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy and is a final-year doctoral student in Educational Leadership. Specializing in trauma, racism, and poverty, she is also a professional trainer and curricula designer. Ms. Kwanele lives in the East Bay and has three young adult children.
Dr Sara Ali, MD, MPH is an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist. She completed her child psychiatry fellowship at Stanford University and is a consultant to Stanford Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology Lab. She has more than 12 years of experience in Muslim mental health research including history of mental health research, leading community mental health interventions, designing and evaluating CBPR initiatives. She currently works as a staff psychiatrist in a community clinic in the bay area, California.
Taymaz Tabrizi, PhD, is a clinical therapist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and couples therapy. With over ten years of experience in educational settings, his approach addresses how deep suffering affects self-perception and relationships, focusing on both conscious and subconscious family patterns and traumas. By guiding clients through self-perception and inner dialogue, he helps them embrace new ways of thinking and healing their fragmented selves.
Zainab Khan, APCC, M.A., Ed.S., is a registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with degrees in School Psychology from California State University, Sacramento. She uses a strengths-based, culturally sensitive approach, focusing on a holistic view of emotional, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. Zainab employs modalities such as CBT, DBT, ERP Therapy, and Creative/Art Therapy to address issues including ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, autism, trauma, and learning disabilities.
Contact
Clinic Admin Team
- clinic@maristan.org
- (510) 380-7229
- Monday-Friday 8am-4pm PST
Clinic FAQs
Please take a few minutes to fill out our appointment request form here and a member of our team will reach out to you shortly!
