In a first session with Mushda, the focus is on getting to know you: what has been bringing you to therapy, and the experiences and challenges that matter most to you. From there, you work collaboratively to identify goals and find an approach that feels helpful and realistic - not a program imposed on you. Mushda prioritizes building a strong therapeutic relationship so clients feel understood before being pushed toward change. She adapts sessions to each client, offering structured CBT tools and reflection prompts when helpful while also creating space for open exploration. Her intentional, strengths-based approach helps clients recognize patterns, challenge automatic thoughts, and build on the resilience they already possess. Her work is culturally responsive and respectful of family values. She can be structured when you want practical direction, and open-ended when you need space to figure out what is going on. She practices from a flexible, evidence-based base - CBT, DBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing - always person-centered and strengths-based: built around who you already are, not who a worksheet assumes you to be.