My childhood was enormously difficult in Iran, especially since we lived through the Islamic Revolution. Shortly afterwards, my parents divorced and the family was effectively dissolved. At 16, I immigrated alone to the United States. Now, a quarter of a century later, I am still on a quest to rebuild dreams that in a sense I was never permitted to have, discovering and accounting for my own child within through motherhood; now, I want to make a profession of that dream and give of myself to care for other families that suffer and are at risk. I have matured into a strong and reflective woman with heightened emotional sensitivity and a natural ability to connect with people. This is why I have chosen a career in family therapy; I want to empower families to strengthen their relationships and to build solid futures together that provide stable and loving homes for their children.

At 41, I have fulfilled my dream of raising a family of my own, with the wonderful children who have all of the opportunities that I did not have. I have a wonderful and vibrant community here in Dubai and I want very much to give something back to my society, from the bottom of my heart. Most importantly, Dubai needs family therapists, and I am extremely excited about the prospect of helping to respond to this need. There are virtually no social services to protect children and educate their parents about parental responsibilities; and this in a country that condones corporal punishment in both public and private spheres. As a family therapist in Dubai, I want to be part of a profound cultural transformation, something of an Arab Spring between men and women, for the benefit of children.