Hufsa Ahmad, LCSW

11/25/2025

I am hosting a "You are More Than Enough" Women Professionals Workshop + Networking Event to tackle Imposter Syndrome and Build Community! I've got a powerhouse guest speaker who was a visiting professor at Harvey Mudd College! Info below:

**You Are More Than Enough: Women Professionals Workshop + Networking Event** (Virtual)
We create an environment that fosters lasting connections. You'll be motivated by our guest speaker, Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed, CEO, who will share her powerful story of rising in a male-dominated industry while battling imposter syndrome fueled by both environmental and personal challenges.
The workshop will be facilitated by Hufsa Ahmad, LCSW, a valedictorian, former tech professional, and therapist who experienced crippling self-doubt before finding the right help.
We will incorporate interactive technology and activities to keep the experience engaging. This workshop will not be a typical "sit and listen" format.
Women professionals at all levels are welcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to build connections that will empower you and others!
Agenda:
11:00 am - Welcome & Introductions
11:10 am - Jackie’s talk
11:20 am - Breakouts - Connect, Collaborate, Exchange Contact Info
11:30 am - Reunite, share insights, re-ignite our sparks
11:40 am - Interactive activity
11:50 am - 12:00 pm: Closing
To sign up, click the Eventbrite link in the comments. Tickets are $5. Please let me know if you have questions!

10/31/2025

Therapist Answers: ELI5 DBT Therapy! I was on the Catalyst for Healing podcast explaining Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with an original analogy far better than ChatGPT (which I verified!). See the podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/0l-e1IMjx_g?si=0TAL3SY-1PV7o0f5

10/31/2025

Feel free to reach out to me on WhatsApp with any questions about receiving services! I help tech and corporate professionals with imposter syndrome, substance use, trauma, and mental health challenges.

I respond within 24 hours.

06/10/2025

SWIPE FOR SPECIALTIES ➡️➡️

Our trauma and past experiences are the glasses that affect how we view ourselves and the world.

If you’re interested in therapy, and you’re in California, feel free to DM me “HEAL” ! I specialize in EMDR and various other therapies, and though I typically work with people with severe and chronic mental health and substance problems, I found that my experience can help anyone who is struggling, regardless of diagnosis.

Got it! Here’s a list of hashtags you can copy and paste directly, with a mix of general, healing-focused, and some location-based options (customized for Orange County, CA, as per our current location information):


















What are you looking for in a therapist?

06/09/2025

I am so happy to be a therapist, and I am ecstatic about the increased accessibility of therapy! Trust me, it was a NIGHTMARE:

I started working in the mental health field over 12 years ago, and finding a therapist was harder than an American Gladiator course. You had no online services to guide you. You went through your insurance, got a list of therapists, called each one and left a voicemail, and if you were lucky, you might get a call back.

You might be able to get a brief 10-minute free consultation call to see if you would click.

Then you'd try that therapist, and if you didn't like them, you might give them another chance because it was so hard to find someone else.

You'd rely on referrals from other providers or people you knew, but still, sometimes things wouldn't click.

And then, when you did find a therapist, it was possible that your therapist would retire or move out of state or be otherwise unable to continue with you.

And look at the world now!

Someone can just Google and sign up with one of the telehealth websites and get connected to a therapist the next day. The process of insurance approval can be automated and taken care of. If you don't connect with your therapist, you're able to find another one. And most importantly, before you even select someone, you get to learn so much about them and get a feel for who they are based on their written words and now even their spoken words in a video.

There's definitely still much room for growth with regard to access, especially for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those who lack insurance or are on government insurance, or are part of communities that face significant barriers including stigma, which still exists quite prominently today.

I'm still a STIGMA SMASHER, and I'll continue the work towards increasing access. And I can't tell you how happy I am that I'm dedicating my life to doing therapy and reaching people who may not have been able to find help 10 years ago.

I think it's very important to be grateful and realize, in the grand scheme of things, that our world is definitely moving in the right direction when it comes to people talking about mental health in more ways.

What's one area of growth you've seen, and one area of growth you would like to see? Let's keep moving!

P.S. Here is a flyer you may pass on to anyone in California. I focus on helping adults with severe mental health, addiction, or trauma-related challenges, especially those with suicidality and hopelessness. But, I found that the knowledge I’ve gained and the skills I have can treat people who aren’t diagnosed with a condition but are still struggling.

I accept insurance, out-of-network, and private pay. Link to my therapy site is in the comments!

05/21/2025

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a popular, short-term therapy that helps with both trauma and disturbing thoughts, memories, and emotions.

As an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist and former scientist, I have yet to come across a thorough, yet accessible, explanation of EMDR that would properly prepare clients who are considering this treatment.

So I wrote one! Please let me know what you think after reading it!

And if you are in California and seeking EMDR or other therapy services, we can work together.

Unpack the power of EMDR therapy. Discover how this proven method helps process past distress and leads to lasting relief and mental wellness. Read the full guide.

04/04/2024

Welcome Pichu to the newest member of the Ahmad family!

01/17/2024

I'm a public speaking coach and I can help you overcome your public speaking anxiety.

DM me or text me!

01/22/2023

Currently I cannot accept insurance and I serve only clients in California. Sliding scale available. Feel free to dm me here as well!

Thank you!

12/03/2022

I'm happy to announce that I have joined a private practice and can start seeing clients for therapy. If you know someone who would be interested, please direct them to send me an email at hufsa@mentally-chill.com or DM me. I can see clients anywhere in California through Zoom or on the phone.

I have advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Domestic Violence treatment, Trauma, and Su***de Prevention. I have worked with adults with mental illness for 10 years. I also am able to help with public speaking anxiety and presentation skills (I gave 2 TEDx talks and have won numerous awards for my speaking).

Currently, I cannot accept insurance because I am not licensed, but I am supervised by a licensed clinician.

Thank you!
Hufsa Ahmad
Associate Clinical Social Worker

Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/CoziWOzGEpgovVTLbFpfew

P.S. I should clarify if we are friends I cannot see you directly, but I can refer you to someone in the practice. This is more if you know anyone who needs therapy.