

Hello, and thank you for considering therapy with me! I understand that seeking therapy can feel like a big step, and I want to assure you that this is a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your feelings, experiences, and challenges.
I studied Forensic Psychology and completed my Bachelor’s degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I went on to complete my Master’s degree at St. Johns University where I studied Mental Heath Counseling.
I’m a licensed clinical social worker who offers a direct and supportive approach to therapy. I believe in being clear, honest, and real—with compassion and without judgment. My work is grounded in affirmation of each client’s unique identity and experience. I meet people where they are and help them move toward where they want to be. Clients can expect openness, respect, and a collaborative space to grow and heal.
Seeking support takes courage, and I honor the strength it takes to begin this process. You may be navigating grief, major life transitions, identity exploration, or recovering from experiences of harm. Perhaps you are a young adult stepping into new responsibilities, a student balancing multiple pressures, or someone carrying the weight of anxiety or depression. You may simply want a space where you feel seen, affirmed, validated, and supported. A place to make sense of your experiences and move toward the life you envision.
That vision inspired me to create H.O.O.D. Counseling & Consulting — Heritage, Origin, and Our Dopeness. I founded H.O.O.D on the belief that healing is rooted in culture, lived experiences, and strength, reminding us that even in hardship, growth is possible. With 10+ years of experience, I offer a holistic, empowering, and culturally responsive approach. Clients describe me as compassionate, grounding, and direct, fostering an environment of trust and change.
During my training, I worked in 5 diverse school environments and trained clinically with seasoned therapists. I work with all populations, but my areas of focus are adolescents, teens, young adults and the Orthodox Jewish and Ex-Orthodox communities.
Finding a new therapist is hard. Finding that person with whom you can “click” is not an easy task but your effort to do so has the potential to be transformational for you.
I am a licensed clinical social worker and have been working with individuals and couples for almost ten years. I have helped people working though issues including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.
I believe that trust and honesty are the foundation to the helping relationship. I am also trainings in EMDR and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and strive to offer current evidence-based interventions to help my clients heal.
I most of all believe that having respect for my clients and their concerns is at the heart of creating trust. Having a place to feel heard, understood without judgement can be freeing in and of itself. So whether you have depression, childhood trauma or even combat related trauma I hope you will reach out for a consultation to see if we do “click”.
Welcome! My name is Aya and I am a LCSW in TX and NJ. I love working with people to help them better cope with symptoms of depression, anxiety, adjustment life transitions, or stress. I am here to help you reconnect to yourself, to your personal goals, values, and motivations: all the things that make you a unique individual (you!). I'm here to support you, explore your thoughts and emotions, sort through the difficulties you are dealing with, and gain insight and tools to navigate your life.
Most of my clinical training is focused in modalities proven effective for individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I am an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) certified therapist. Further, I completed CBT for PTSD therapy training.
I am also a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), New Jersey Chapter.
I enjoy working with individuals who want to overcome adverse experiences, are looking to establish a secure sense of self, and would like to manage stress caused by challenging thoughts/feelings. I believe that addressing these needs will allow clients to get the most out of life. As humans, we are created to live in community with one another. I highly value taking the time to build a strong therapeutic relationship and look forward to walking along side clients in their path to healing.


Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.