Today we’d like to introduce you to Razia Muhammadi.
Hi Razia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a conservative, patriarchal, and abusive household and immigrated to the United States from Pakistan at age six with my single mother, six siblings, and grandparents. Growing up, I never felt like my voice mattered. I learned to pay attention to everyone else’s needs before my own and spent much of my life focused on survival rather than myself.
A major turning point came during my junior year at Michigan State University when I made the difficult decision to move out of my mother’s home. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, but also one of the most important. Starting over on my own with my cat, Leila, gave me the space to begin healing and discovering who I was outside of the roles and expectations I had carried for so long.
My journey has not been perfect or linear. Through difficult experiences, I slowly learned to direct some of the care and attention I gave to others back toward myself. That process helped me recognize my own trauma, patterns, and strengths, and ultimately led me to pursue a career in social work and mental health.
Today, I am a licensed clinical social worker, trauma-informed therapist, first-generation immigrant, and proud pet mom to two cats and a husky. I created Shared Echoes Counseling to provide a safe, welcoming space where people can feel seen, heard, and supported without having to shrink parts of themselves. As someone who understands what it feels like to live between cultures and carry unspoken family stories, I feel honored to walk alongside others as they begin or continue their own healing journeys.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was growing up in an abusive environment where I often felt unheard and learned to prioritize everyone else’s needs above my own. Leaving that environment during college was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made, but it was also the beginning of my healing journey.
As a first-generation immigrant, I also navigated the challenges of balancing different cultural expectations while trying to discover who I was as an individual. There were times when I struggled with self-doubt, boundaries, and feeling responsible for everyone around me. Learning that I could care about others without sacrificing myself was a lesson that took years to learn.
Professionally, building confidence as a therapist has been its own journey. Like many clinicians, I have experienced imposter syndrome and moments where I questioned whether I was doing enough or knew enough. Over time, I learned that being a good therapist isn’t about being perfect- it’s about being authentic, self-aware, and willing to continue learning.
Today, I view those challenges as some of my greatest teachers. They helped me develop resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of what healing actually looks like. That perspective continues to shape both my personal life and my work with clients.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Shared Echoes Counseling was created from both my personal and professional experiences. As a first-generation immigrant and trauma-informed therapist, I know how important it is to have a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. Too often, people spend years carrying painful experiences alone or feeling like they have to explain every part of their identity before they can even begin the work of healing.
My practice provides virtual therapy to adults across Michigan, with a focus on trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, and identity-related concerns. I take a culturally responsive and trauma- informed approach and draw from modalities such as mindfulness, narrative therapy, EMDR, and attachment-based work.
What matters most to me is creating a therapeutic relationship where clients feel safe enough to show up as their authentic selves. Healing doesn’t happen because someone gives you all the answers- it happens when you feel supported enough to explore your story, make sense of your experiences, and begin moving toward the life you want to create.
I often tell clients that therapy isn’t about “fixing” who they are. It’s about understanding themselves more deeply, developing compassion for the parts of themselves that have been carrying pain, and building a life that feels more aligned with their values.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that caring for others should never come at the expense of caring for yourself. For much of my life, I was focused on meeting other people’s needs, managing other people’s emotions, and trying to earn my worth through helping. While those qualities can be strengths, they can also lead to burnout, resentment, and losing touch with yourself.
Over time, I learned that boundaries are not selfish and that healing often requires turning some of the compassion we freely give to others back toward ourselves. That lesson has shaped both my personal life and my work as a therapist.
I’ve also learned that growth is rarely linear. There is no point where you suddenly have everything figured out. Healing is an ongoing process of self-awareness, self-compassion, and choosing, over and over again, to show up for yourself even when it’s difficult.
As a therapist, this lesson reminds me that people don’t need to be perfect to begin healing. They just need a safe space, support, and the willingness to take the next step forward.
Pricing:
- Free 15-minute consultation call available
- Insurance accepted for individual therapy services, I only accept cash pay for couples counseling
- Virtual therapy for individuals (18+) and couples in Michigan
- Contact Shared Echoes Counseling Services for current rates and availability
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sharedechoescounselingservices.my.canva.site/se-website-website/#main-page
