Dr. Aalih, PhD, LCSW, OSW-C
Dr. Aalih believes there is something to learn from every connection and interaction. This is essential to her compassionate practice of social work to honor the client’s self-determination, values, and journey. Dr. Aalih uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to inform practices of mindfulness, decolonizing approaches to therapy, U.S. third-world feminist ideologies, art & creativity, and faith-based (if requested) interventions when working with clients.
1ST AND 2ND GENERATION IMMIGRANT MENTAL HEALTH: If you (or your parents) were born internationally and moved to America, navigating the realities as a child of immigrants/ immigrant is certainly a unique lived experience. It may feel like you are trying to reconcile 2 (or more) aspects of your identity while going about daily life. As your therapist, Dr. Aalih helps unpack ideas such as immigrant guilt, being the “good minority”, etc. while calling attention to the systems of oppression in which we exist. As a child of immigrants herself, Dr. Aalih is passionate about working alongside this population to achieve wellness and growth.
BIPOC: Dr. Aalih is also passionate about working alongside BIPOC as she shares in the common struggle and strength it takes to navigate life as a minoritized person. Dr. Aalih offers a culturally responsive approach to living with anxiety, depression, relationship distress, grief, loss, trauma, or life-transitions. She is aware of the mental and emotional exhaustion of living through micro/ macro aggressions, enduring systemic bias and oppression, and code-switching can have on an individual and offers on non-judgmental space to unpack.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING: Dr. Aalih offers pre-marital counseling for individuals or couples. While these sessions can focus on tangible topics, such as finances, living situation, role expectations, communication, etc., Dr. Aalih believes focusing on the mental and emotional mindset is essential to establishing healthy and sustainable dynamics. In these sessions, Dr. Aalih will utilize CBT techniques, attachment styles, and love languages to aide in the individual or the couple’s growth. When requested by the client, Dr. Aalih would incorporate faith-based principles in this journey.
ADULT CHILDREN OF NARCISSISTIC PARENTS: If you grew up with a parent who has narcissistic traits and tendencies, learning to live with the mental and emotional impact of their actions can certainly take a toll. Dr. Aalih helps identify the root cause of people pleasing tendencies, perfectionism, and your empathic nature, and explores how this can impact your approach to work, personal and romantic relationships.
ONCOLOGY: Dr. Aalih is Oncology Social Work Certified (OSW-C) and has been working with cancer patients since 2014. It is not uncommon to experience grief, anxiety, and distress when diagnosed with cancer. These sessions can focus on the cancer-specific mental and emotional aspects of the cancer journey, coping skills and techniques, and communication with the medical team among other things.
- Aalih provides services to adults and short-term couples therapy.
- Virtual for all of PA
- Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Capital Blue Cross, Geisinger, Highmark, Optum, Quest and United Healthcare Plans