AIDA SHAHGHASEMI, MA
A sense of “normalcy” can bring comfort to us during childhood, challenge us in adolescence, and deter us in adulthood. What is normal anyway? Who determines this?
I want to listen to you, deeply, attentively, and compassionately.
Being bicultural, I navigate normalcy with two different perspectives every day, and as challenging as that has been it has also allowed me to realize that one never knows what may be normal for others. I strive to approach therapy from a client centered place while being deeply embedded in my own reality of being an immigrant in this country. I strive to work with those going through significant life changes, including immigration, while continuing to keep cultural consciousness at the forefront of the therapeutic relationship.
Working with anyone with a more fluid sense of normalcy, including the neurodiverse community and those identifying as LGBTQ+ is a passion of mine. Having been a professional artist, I am also eager to serve other artists needing to be heard while maneuvering the challenges of the field.
I am fluent in Farsi/Persian and can provide services to the Farsi speaking community.
My therapeutic style or theoretical approach includes but is not limited to humanistic, somatosensory, and Internal Family Systems with a significant emphasis on attachment theory and motivational interviewing. Feminist, socio-cultural, and biosocial theories are central to my work as well. Non-anthropocentric perspectives and ecotherapy are recent passions of mine.
I am also a musician so if we don’t have anything else to talk about, I know we can always talk about great music.
Specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma
Grief
Immigration emotional challenges
Domestic violence in families of color and immigrant families
Familial challenges embedded in Middle Eastern and specifically Iranian communities
Anxiety and depression specific to artists and the creative community
Mental health in neurodiverse adults
Gender and Sexuality
Education
M.A. – University of Saint Thomas
M.A. – New York University
B.A. – University of Minnesota
In Network With
CAREFREE Counseling’s Clinicians are In-Network with a variety of providers including:
- BCBS – Blue Cross Blue Shield
- MHCP – MA
- Medical Assistance
- PreferredOne
- UCare
- HealthPartners
- Cigna
- Aetna
- Hennepin Health
- United Health/Medica
Additionally, Out of Network & Out of Pocket options are available.
Clinical Experience
Tubman Chrysalis
Prairie Care
Iranian Psychological Association, Tehran
Roshd Development Rehabilitation Center, Tehran