Mahawish Ijaz

Mahawish Ijaz

Counseling Psychologist

Mahawish is a CDA licensed and U.S trained Counseling Psychologist specializing in treating children and adolescents (ages 8 to 25) experiencing a range of psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and trauma by using an individualized approach including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy. 

Mahawish’s experiences with cultural diversity deepens her ability to connect with people and practice with cultural humility. Originally from Pakistan, Mahawish was born and raised in an international setting in Saudi Arabia. Inspired by her natural inclination to empower alongside with a curiosity to learn about psychosocial development, Mahawish moved to the US to pursue higher education in Psychology. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Driven by her research endeavors in child abuse and neglect at The Kempe Center, Mahawish pursued a MA in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Cincinnati.

Mahawish’s dedication in working with children and adolescents stems from believing in the power of early intervention in preventing serious psychological issues later in life. She worked at two mental health centers in Cincinnati to provide counseling services to young people who experienced adversity and struggled with trauma, anxiety, depression, low impulse control and suicidal behaviors. Her clinical work combined with her own interest has propelled her to gain an extensive understanding of the neurophysiology of stress, safety and attachment and their effects on functioning.

Mahawish’s counseling approach is individualized and comprehensive. She seeks to understand her clients holistically and addresses the needs underlying their symptoms to provide more long-term relief. She firmly beliefs that her clients are more than any diagnosis or label as she appreciates that the human condition is complex and doing the best it can in the face of difficulty. While maintaining confidentiality and trust of her clients, she also works closely with families helping them understand their child’s mental health needs and ways in which they can help facilitate their well-being. 

Mahawish draws on eclectic interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution Focused Therapy. She works to explore the impact of life experiences, improve physiological and emotional regulation, as well as build safe and dependable relational supports. She also offers trauma-informed care to address childhood trauma by using Trauma-Focused CBT. Additionally, she facilitates Girls Circle, a group designed to empower young females through a process of creative exploration, self-reflection and sharing towards building healthy self-esteem and connections with others.

Furthering her passion to promote mental health culture in schools, Mahawish is trained to raise awareness on Trauma-Informed education. She trains school professionals to look beyond challenging behaviors by showing them the connections between underlying stress and learning, as well as providing practical classroom and relational strategies. She firmly believes that learning cannot take place without supporting mental health needs first.

M.Ijaz@bepsychologycenter.com