Maira Iqbal, MSW, LSW

Therapist
She/Her/Hers

As a daughter of South Asian immigrants, Maira has always been interested in working with traditionally overlooked communities. Maira started her career working in a community mental health center with a focus on Asian American and refugee communities. She has worked with refugees, newly arrived immigrants, domestic violence survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. Working with these communities sparked her interest in trauma-informed care. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at UIC with a specialization in Clinical Social Work. Maira began her training working with the Federal Defender’s Program involving individuals transitioning back into the community who had mental health and substance abuse diagnoses. She also received further training at the VA where she provided psychotherapy to veterans. Here Maira further developed her trauma-informed perspective along with an understanding of complex trauma, veteran issues, and LGBTQIA Concerns.

The therapy approaches and frameworks Maira tends to incorporate into her work with clients include CBT, CPT, ACT, DBT, Psychodynamic, Somatic, IFS, Neural Desensitization, Mindfulness, Guided imagery, Culturally-sensitive, Linguistically-appropriate, Trauma-informed, Client-centered, Evidence-based, Strength-based, and other approaches. Maira is an ADHD Certified Clinical Service Provider, and has received training to work with neurodivergent clients.

Growing up as a person of color taught Maira how important inclusivity and diversity is. It is why she always approaches her clients with openness and cultural humility. She leans in on compassion and unconditional positive regard. She operates through a trauma-informed and person-centered perspective. Maira maintains strong ties with her community with a desire to give back. She strongly believes in bringing mental health awareness to traditionally underserved communities.