About Kiana Naimi, LCSW (she/her) | Online Holistic Grief Therapist near Porter Ranch, California
So, you’re ready to break-free from your past…?
Let’s get started, together…
You’ve been asking yourself, “What’s wrong with me? Why am I making such a big deal out of this? Why am I still not feeling better?”
Getting through daily interactions leaves you feeling absolutely drained. A pure moment of bliss feels unattainable. Maybe the fatigue has also resulted in you barely catching your breath, leaving you unsure about the simplest of tasks such as whether you brushed your teeth this morning. Absolutely forget about what the next month could look like, right?
Is all of this making you wonder what changes are necessary to make and where should you even begin?
You don't need to face this by yourself.
HERE’S THE SILVER LINING:
First off…
It's normal to experience a wide range of emotions throughout the day, or even feel unsure about what will help you feel better (if anything?). Again, we’re human, remember?
Everyone faces messy thoughts, feelings, and reactions throughout their life journey including myself, especially after grief.
I understand the challenge that comes with beginning to process our sticky emotions, and I'm here to support you as you move beyond old narratives and beliefs that have held you back.
And, I’ll be completely honesty with you, merely discussing what has happened isn't going to be sufficient. Throughout our work together, you’ll have more than a space to vent and a therapist who only nods and smiles during your sessions.
Because your grief experience deserves dedicated time, a supportive environment, effective tools, and ongoing encouragement —that’s how you’ll truly achieve a sense of healing and well-being.
Visualize yourself as a potter…
Like a potter who relies on quality clay to create lasting pottery, your nervous system forms the foundation for your overall health and well-being—in essence, the clay is crucial for navigating life's challenges. Our life experiences [esp. grief] deeply shape this foundation, influencing our responses and behaviors, and potentially the short and long-term outcomes.
Similar to a potter preparing and refining their clay before crafting pottery, you too can actively nurture & strengthen your nervous system. This involves acknowledging and processing your grief experiences and providing the emotional nutrients needed for healing and growth. By tending to your emotional foundation with compassion and care, you can cultivate resilience and create fertile ground for personal transformation and well-being post grief.
Akin to your pottery instructor, I will gently guide you through a transformative process, shaping your journey toward healing and personal growth.
My Therapeutic Approach:
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My clients often express feeling immediate trust in our sessions, knowing they can share anything without judgment or criticism. Your trust is deeply respected, and I am committed to honoring it fully. It's important to me that you feel genuinely heard, seen, and understood throughout our work together.
I'm also going to be honest with you and say I know how it feels to be on the other side of the therapeutic relationship, and I've personally experienced transformation through the methods and tools I'll introduce to you in session. I believe wholeheartedly that whatever challenges you face, you deserve supportive guidance and practical insights to navigate and overcome them.
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Part of the reason I chose to specialize in grief work stems from my personal experiences with loss and bereavement. Through my journey, I have developed a deep empathy and understanding of the complexities and pain involved in grief. If you're sitting there wondering, but I'm not sure if she'll really be able to understand, give it a shot. I can almost always guarantee that I've heard a similar level of dark humor already.
As a mental health professional, I prioritize empathy and understanding as foundational pillars of my practice. Drawing from over 6 years of clinical practice as a therapist, coupled with my own life experiences, I bring a wealth of wisdom and insight to our sessions.
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One of the most meaningful compliments I've received from a client was, "Kiana, how do you manage to make me laugh and cry at the same time?"
As a therapist, I value the importance of incorporating wit and humor into my approach, and recognize their power to foster connection and ease difficult conversations. Humor can be a valuable tool in therapy, offering a lighthearted perspective that encourages openness and resilience.
Through my professional experience and personal journey, I have learned that laughter can be a healing force, helping clients navigate grief with both depth and levity.
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In the end, our sessions are about you. We'll consistently assess your therapy journey, adapting our goals and approaches as necessary.
During challenging times, we can increase our meetings. Overtime, as you progress throughout your journey and are satisfied with your progress you've made we can always meet less frequently.
My only goal is to provide you with the necessary support and direction, tailored to your current needs. If there are instances where you just don't want to go there with your grief, because you need to feel "normal" again, that's okay, too.
How is therapy with me different?
Therapy with me is characterized by unwavering encouragement and support, similar to having a loud, effervescent, and passionate cheerleader in your corner dedicated to cultivating your personal growth and resilience. Throughout my professional career, I have focused on understanding the science of attachment, grief, trauma, and their impacts on relationships. Simultaneously, my approach centers around the art of soothing the heart and soul.
Unlike therapists who may prioritize maintaining regular appointments over focusing on progress, my approach is rooted in genuine care for your well-being. I am committed to actively facilitating meaningful change in your life, not merely providing a space to talk. If you're not yet ready to engage in this transformative process, it may be helpful to start with a therapist who can accommodate regular sessions without genuine desire on level of progress.
My dedication to your well-being means that I am here to support you through challenges and celebrate your successes, ensuring our therapeutic journey is focused on meaningful and lasting transformation.
P.S. I also love saffron and pistachio flavored ice cream, which is my way of saying I come from an Iranian-American background, understand acculturation deeply, and speak Farsi fluently. Since immigrating to the U.S., the SFV has always been my home away from home. As the saying goes, you can take the girl out of the country, but you cannot take the country out of the girl.
Specialties
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Grief
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Trauma
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Therapy Intensives
My Background & Training
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PhD in Social Work (Present)
Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) --GO BRUINS!
Licensed Clinical Social Worker # 114736 (CA Board of Behavioral Sciences)
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Narrative Therapy
Attachment-Based Grief Therapy
TF-CBT (Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy).
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National Association of Social Workers (NASW) California Region