I’m Dr. Nouraini.
Welcome to my practice.
I provide psychological support to individuals, couples and professionals seeking to improve their lives and organizations.
I work with you to uncover and address the root causes of your challenges and create a safe, non-judgmental space to explore even the most difficult topics.
Learn more about my background, experience and approach below.
Approach
I take a compassionate, curious, and honest approach to therapy, and work from a psychodynamic and relational lens. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of your life, history, experiences, relationships, passions, strengths, challenges and fears. Together, we will explore the underlying barriers or pain you may be experiencing and through our collaborative relationship will identify opportunities for healing. I strive to create a safe and comfortable space where you can speak openly about even the most difficult topics, free from shame or judgment.
I also emphasize the importance of exploring the impact of history and culture on your experiences. I have worked closely with diverse communities, cultures, and professions, and I bring a broad perspective to my practice. As a child of immigrants, I draw on both my personal and professional experiences to foster a deeper understanding of home, community, cultural humility, and trauma-informed care.
Experience
My clinical passion was ignited during my previous career in local and international NGOs, where I supported individuals and communities affected by political and structural displacement. During this time I worked closely with the many service providers who also supported these vulnerable populations, and experienced a heightened awareness of the effects that high-pressure work environments can have on responders and their families. I witnessed the internal conflicts many faced between engaging in a fulfilling, meaningful career and wanting to increase wellness in other areas of their lives. My growing understanding of these conflicts, as well the impacts of burnout and vicarious trauma, inspired me to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology.
In my training and career I have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of individuals, couples, and communities, including K-12 students, adults, and elders, focused on concerns ranging from reproductive planning to end of life care. I’ve supported schools, cities, crisis teams, and community mental health clinics. I have also dedicated a large portion of my training to working in medical institutions, including the National Health Service (NHS UK), Sutter Health, and University of California, San Francisco’s Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, where I provided in-house mental health and consultation support to hospital and university executives and medical staff. Through these experiences, I have developed a holistic understanding of mental health and well-being that informs my practice.
In addition to my clinical practice, I am a Supervisor and Adjunct Faculty member for the Wright Institute, as well as a Cultural Group Facilitator for The Psychotherapy Institute. I also deliver professional presentations on a number of topics, including disenfranchised grief and reproductive loss, coping with grief during the holidays, and developing a therapeutic alliance, which I developed for UCSF and the Community Institute for Psychotherapy in Marin County. I have also facilitated groups focused on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Self-Compassion and provided psychotherapeutic trainings to Psychiatry residents for the NHS UK, UCSF and Sutter Health, respectively.