Specialties and Therapeutic Approach
Ameenah Ikram Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist who utilizes an eclectic array of evidence-based approaches to best support her clients. Dr. Ikram embraces an interpersonal framework to develop a collaborative, nonjudgmental, and safe relationship with her clients. She is intentional about using the therapeutic alliance as a tool throughout the course of therapy. Most frequently, Dr. Ikram incorporates empirically supported interventions grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Time Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP) to help clients examine dysfunctional interpersonal patterns, explore internal and external experiences, process emotions, cope with challenges, learn new ways of thinking and behaving, and work towards achieving a wholesome values-based way of living. She has experience with brief and long-term individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and psychological assessment. Dr. Ikram works with individuals across the lifespan, and has been trained to work with a variety of presenting concerns, including, depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, family of origin issues, identity issues, multicultural issues, adjustment difficulties, perinatal mood disorders, reproductive health issues, and behavioral struggles.
Dr. Ikram truly embodies the spirit of evidence-based medicine, which requires incorporating the best available evidence related to mental health care, weighing it against her clinical expertise, and tailoring it to fit her clients’ values and expectations. She rejects the notion that therapy is a “one size fits all” application by carefully considering clients’ unique cultural contexts of marginalization, oppression, and privilege to develop a more authentic therapeutic experience. Moreover, Dr. Ikram has found that using cultural humility, feminist, anti-racist, and social justice frameworks are at the core of building safety, trust, empathy, validation, and understanding with clients.
Although Dr. Ikram has experience working with a wide array of populations using various therapeutic modalities, the provision of individual therapy is a particular passion of hers. Dr. Ikram enjoys working with adults who may be experiencing interpersonal relationship struggles, adjustment difficulties, troubles with processing emotions, and difficulties with deciphering needs. Dr. Ikram helps clients explore past experiences, traumas, and emotions in a safe and nonjudgmental way, better understand the ways clients have learned to relate, communicate with, and attach to others, and explore how such ways of functioning may or may not be helpful in the here and now. Dr. Ikram is also very passionate about women’s health, and enjoys working with women who are experiencing perinatal mood disorder symptoms, perinatal trauma, and reproductive/infertility issues. Dr. Ikram’s approach involves exploring emotions, processing and re-framing traumatic experiences which may have happened during conception, pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period, and increasing coping skills to help clients better function and re-engage in the present moment. Dr. Ikram is also specialized in working with individuals who hold marginalized/minoritized identities in regard to race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation who may be experiencing/have experienced traumas related to multicultural issues, including but not limited to, race-based trauma, first-generation American struggles, immigration trauma, and dual-identity struggles. She is also highly skilled in assisting emerging adults and those in early adulthood navigate challenges and adjustments in their lives.
Overall, Dr. Ikram strives to help clients heal through processing and “re-writing” their story. By providing a compassionate space through active listening, Dr. Ikram’s goal is to help clients openly and honestly hold space for life moments which were painful, while also creating space for life moments which are more positive. Dr. Ikram’s approach is to help clients acquire a more hopeful outlook on life, and as a result, achieve greater feelings of self-empowerment.
What it’s like to work with Dr. Ikram: “My approach is to be a warm, compassionate, affirming, collaborative, and culturally humble support system for you. My hope is that you feel safe with me as we examine your pains and joys, and as we explore your emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and needs. I believe that you are the expert on yourself, and that by working together, we can explore your areas of “stuckness” in a safe and nonjudgmental way, in order to help you live a more meaningful and values-based life. My hope is that together, we can add more tools in your tool box which can help you learn new ways of being, and ultimately guide you towards becoming the best version of yourself.”
Her expertise in evidence-based psychotherapies includes:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Time Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP)
- Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Education and Experience:
Dr. Ikram completed two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Louisville in 2017. She then obtained her Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from Spalding University in 2020, and earned her Doctor of Psychology Degree (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Spalding University in 2023. Throughout Dr. Ikram’s educational journey, she has received training in a plethora of settings, including two private practice settings, one community mental health setting, two Islamic School settings, and two University college counseling settings. While at these settings, Dr. Ikram provided individual therapy for adults, children, and families who experienced a plethora of presenting concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment concerns, attachment issues, personality disorders, identity concerns, interpersonal struggles, body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria, peripartum spectrum issues, perinatal mood disorders. selective-mutism, inattention, hyperactivity, obsessive compulsive tendencies, aggression, anger, conduct problems, and specific learning problems. Dr. Ikram also provided psychological assessment services at all training placements for concerns related to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorders, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and autism. Dr. Ikram also facilitated a “Women of Color” support group for university-going women of color. Additionally, she provided workshops and presentations for elementary, middle, and high school students on various topics including, navigating bullying, puberty and reproduction, time management skills, classroom skills, and self-esteem related issues from social media use.
Dr. Ikram completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. She primarily worked with young adults who experienced depression, anxiety, gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, trauma, racial minority stress, eating disorders, personality disorders, identity concerns, and interpersonal relationship struggles. Clients also commonly held various marginalized intersecting identities in regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and socioeconomic status. Dr. Ikram also facilitated a “Multicultural Women’s Empowerment” support group and an “Understanding Self and Others” interpersonal process group, and provided psychological assessment services for students looking for diagnostic clarification for mood disorder and personality disorder concerns. Dr. Ikram is currently a post-doctoral fellow at Breyta Psychological Services, P.A.
Additional Trainings and Experience
Dr. Ikram is also very passionate about working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Dr. Ikram is currently in the process of completing formal training in racial trauma and Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy. She has previously completed trainings in various topics including, implications of working with Muslim individuals with intersecting identities, how to raise anti-racist children, racial trauma therapy overview, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy conceptualization and application, telepsychology, QPR suicide prevention, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Dr. Ikram has also co-facilitated many community level presentations on topics including, cultural humility, gratitude, anti-racism, mental health from an Islamic lens, substance abuse in the Muslim communities, mental health support for Muslim college students, and the relationship between mental health and sexual health.
