Meet Noushine Navabi | Mental Health Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Noushine Navabi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noushine, is there something you believe many others might not?
I think one of the things that held me back the most from starting my practice was the fear and belief that competition would not only be my biggest obstacle, but also my enemy. This caused me a lot of self doubt. There are hundreds of therapists in the Atlanta area, a lot of them more experienced and established in the community than I was when I started. I had no idea how I would be able to “compete” with them in such a saturated market. And then it hit me; I did not have to. There is only one of me with my lived experiences and as a solo practitioner, I am my brand. I’ve been very intentional about shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset, which I firmly believe has been pivotal for the success of my practice so far.

Moreover, my “competition” was actually my community. I am surrounded by highly experienced, knowledgeable, skilled, kind, helpful, and compassionate mental health therapists. This community is my resource, not my competition. I’m an introvert at heart, so socializing and networking can be taxing for me but I make it a point to push myself to do so because I have found these relationships to be invaluable. Over the last couple of years I have made so many meaningful connections, both professionally and personally. I have leaned on colleagues and now make it a point to remind others that they can also lean on me, especially in those beginning stages of starting a practice.

Another reason why I am embracing my community rather than framing it as competition is simply because I know that I won’t be the right fit for every prospective client, and that’s ok. Looking for a therapist can be quite daunting, so I do my best to point people to therapists I genuinely trust that would be able to meet their needs or criteria better than I can at the time. By referring to other clinicians and practices it has organically built symbiotic relationships that I greatly value.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I realized early on during my graduate program that I wanted to specialize in trauma work, so that’s what I set out to do from day one following graduation. Prior to starting my private practice I worked in different settings including community mental health, crisis stabilization at a behavioral hospital, a residential treatment facility for women survivors of sex trafficking, and a substance abuse intensive outpatient program. While not all of it was enjoyable work, every new setting provided me with valuable experience that helped me expand my clinical skills and would help me in the long run in private practice.

Back in 2020 I was working at a substance abuse IOP and was quite happy there. However this facility found themselves unable to recuperate from the financial impact of COVID-19 and made the heartbreaking decision to close down. This was right before the holidays and no place I knew of was hiring. When I had imagined transitioning into private practice a solid 5-10 years down the road, I had envisioned a slow and gradual transition; I would step down to a part time position while slowly building my private practice caseload on the side over the course of 6-12 months. If I was going to take this kind of risk leaving behind benefits such as PTO, 401K, and health insurance, it needed to be very calculated, or so I thought. Needless to say, this overnight shift was not part of my plan and I already naturally struggle with sudden change. It was going to be sink or swim! I was terrified yet more motivated than ever. In retrospect, getting laid off was the catalyst I never knew I needed to propel me towards my long term goal of starting my own practice. I have kept trauma as my specialty in addition to EMDR, which is trauma specific modality while working predominantly with marginalized populations including LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC.

I think one of the things that sets me apart is my ethnic and cultural background. I am a biracial woman who is also an immigrant, so I have a very intimate understanding of the need for a multicultural perspective. I understand culture shock is not just something that happens upon arrival, and how some things one may never get used to. I understand what it’s like to feel like both not enough and too much simultaneously, or what it’s like to not fit in at home nor in society. And while I realize there are thousands of others with similar stories to mine, it unfortunately has been my experience that there are few Middle Eastern therapists in the Atlanta area. This is one of the many reasons why I love working closely with minorities, including Middle Eastern and South Asian individuals. I am proud of the work I do and my ability to offer a safe space for others like me.

I’d also like to add that one additional skill set I have is that I am trained in ketamine assisted psychotherapy. I find psychedelic assisted therapy absolutely fascinating and have a deep appreciation for the healing it can bring. I love being able to blend what comes up during ketamine therapy and / or an integration session with EMDR. Even though I believe we still have a long way to go before psychedelic assisted therapy can be widely accepted across the nation, I am hopeful that we are moving in the right direction and looking forward to how this will benefit and add depth to the clinical realm.

I’m very excited about the idea of growing my practice with like minded clinicians in the hopefully near future. Although it’s not happening quite yet, I am doing what I need to in order to build a solid foundation so that when the time comes both my me and my business can be ready, and the transition can be as seamless as possible.

Nothing about starting my own practice was easy, especially given how quickly it all unfolded. I hadn’t had time to properly plan to ensure a smooth transition like I wanted so it all felt very nebulous. Of course I knew how to be a therapist, but was completely clueless to what being a business owner entailed. It was a huge adjustment and learning curve for me. When I first started I struggled with time management, I didn’t know how to effectively schedule or collect payment, didn’t know how to balance admin duties, or how to best market myself and advertise my new business, just to name a few. In fact, I’m 2 years in and still learning. I also wasn’t expecting how isolating private practice would feel. I was used to having coworkers and supervisors I could turn to anytime I was faced with a dilemma or had a question. Now I was completely on my own, with what felt like no one to turn to for advice. I was the one having to make all the decisions, had to learn to trust my judgment, and hope for the best. With that being said, it continues to be a highly fulfilling journey and I don’t think I could ever go back to working for anyone. I love the complete freedom of being able to show up as my most authentic self without insurance companies or corporate dictating my clinical work.

I want to combine your question of overcoming challenges and the things I’ve learned along the way because for me they go hand in hand. I would say that some of the things that helped me overcome those challenges were staying focused on my mission and reason for doing this work. Therapy and trauma work is where my heart is and likely will be for years to come. And while it’s incredibly rewarding, it can be taxing. So I’ve learned, actually scratch that, am still learning to know my limits and set boundaries. I’ve also learned that business ebbs and flows, meaning some weeks or months are busier than others. At first the unpredictability of it would send me into a panic because I was used to having a salaried 40-hour work week. My schedule and income never fluctuated like it does now. But all of this has pushed me to be flexible, embrace an abundance mindset, and finally to trust and let go. Lastly, I think being in solo private practice has taught me to ask for help. The isolation and loneliness I described earlier pushed me to seek out consultation groups, which help me feel more balanced and supported.

Something about me is that I love and care deeply in all aspects of my life, and my hope is for that to always be reflected in how I move through the world. I am both a nurturer and creative at heart. When I’m not being a therapist I like to make art, whether it’s macrame, sun catchers, painting, or pottery. My goal is to always bring that colorful creative but yet calm and grounding energy to my sessions.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since my husband is an Atlanta native, I usually defer to him when it comes to local recommendations. We both love good food and ambience and luckily Atlanta is short on neither. There are plenty of breakfast spots but our favorites for weekend Brunch are Bread & Butterfly and Buttermilk Kitchen- both are definitely worth the long wait times.

Our first date was at Leon’s Full Service over in Decatur and it’s still one of our favorite restaurants to eat out at. I’d also highly recommend The Optimist, Gun Show, or Kimball House to any tourists to Atlanta, so long as they follow dinner up with drinks at S.O.S. or dessert at Butter and Cream (must order the OG Goodness!)

Coming from a Persian family, I usually opt for either Rumi’s Kitchen or Delbar when I have an occasion to celebrate. Everyone who works there is so hospitable and we always leave with a full belly.

Walking or cycling along the Beltline is definitely an activity I’d recommend but if you really want to get a feel for the art scene in Atlanta, I’d make a visit to the High museum, ABV Gallery, or Cat Eye Creative. Both galleries throw some great events, it’s so nice to be able to check out local artists.

My husband is also a lifelong Atlanta sports fan, so we do our fair share of tailgating and supporting the home team. I’m more of an Atlanta United fan, the games are so electric and the home crowd gets super into it, it’s so fun!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my biggest shoutout goes to my biggest supporter, my husband Jared. I would not be where I am today and do the work I do without his unwavering love and support day in and day out. Although it was still fairly early in our courtship when I started my practice, he was my biggest supporter and inspiration for taking the leap. Private practice was something I had envisioned for myself years down the road, but certainly not then. I was terrified but he believed in me before I believed in myself, and for that I will always be grateful.

I also want to take the time to recognize my own therapist, Erin. I am fortunate enough to have been working with her for over 2 years and she is truly a gift. She is such a gentle soul, but also firm and incredibly empathetic. She knows when to dig deep and when to pause. Her support and validation over the years has been both invaluable and healing.

Thirdly, my EMDR consultation group advisor, Pegah, certainly deserves recognition. She is an absolute gem of a person, with incredibly sharp clinical skills. Joining her consultation group last year has been one the most impactful moves for me and my practice. I have immense respect for how fiercely Pegah is committed to the clinical work. She is in all respects the kind of therapist I aspire to be. Her groups always help me regain clarity, inspiration, confidence, and focus. I am very fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and look forward to every consultation.

Also a big shoutout to my community of therapists. Naturally I appreciate the healthy flow of referrals I receive that keep my practice going, as well as having trusted colleagues I can refer to when needed. But it also goes beyond that. I so deeply value the shared dilemmas, validation, support, feedback, and most of all the comradery. This is hard work, and I am honored to be surrounded by clinicians who are committed to growing and improving not only as professionals, but as individuals.

Lastly, one more quick shoutout to my absolutely wonderful accountant, Angela. I don’t know what I would do without her or how I would have managed starting a business. She is so very generous with her time and knowledge, and always such a joyous uplifting spirit to talk to!

Website: https://www.noushinenavabi.com/

Image Credits
Clutch Shots Photography