Heal the self.
Therapy for members of the D.C. community navigating anxiety, depression, disability, life transitions, and sense of self.
Empower the collective.
col·lec·tive
/ kəˈlek·tiv / noun & adjective
1. a group or community of individuals joined in purpose; the strength that arises when people come together.
2. the foundation of the Inner Haven Collective; to provide individual therapy but also provide resources that keep you connected to the DC community. Check out the community calendar here.
Meet your therapist
Welcome! I’m Zehra Naviwala, LICSW (she/her). I’m a first-generation American who has been based in Washington, D.C. for over ten years. I have worked with individuals across the life-span, recently focusing on students and professionals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic disability, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the everyday weight of being human in D.C. right now. My goal is to help you reconnect with you and weave in the tools you need to stay grounded.
My approach is collaborative, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. I draw from CBT, narrative therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and inner child frameworks to help you understand patterns, build skills, and make meaningful change. My work is also informed by my lived experience with epilepsy and learning how to navigate my own medical and systemic barriers over the years.
Sessions are paced around your goals and what feels manageable as we identify and challenge any negative thought patterns. I aim to provide a space rooted in self compassion and authenticity, where you can explore your experiences with clarity, truth, and feel supported in rebuilding trust in yourself when the world feels like (or actually is) on fire.
Who I work best with…
Many of my clients grew up in immigrant families as ‘the responsible one’, ‘the peacemaker’, or the ‘high achiever’, now feeling the weight of burnout, anxiety, or unmet emotional needs. I specialize in supporting individuals in D.C. grapple with high-functioning behaviors on the outside, all the while internally carrying wounds that date back to childhood or adolescence, feelings of self-doubt, or perfectionism on the inside. Therapy gives us space to understand those patterns and tend to an inner haven that feels steady again.
Individual Therapy
Grab a pomegranate!
Weekly or biweekly telehealth sessions for teens and adults.
Supervision & Consulting
Support for new clinicians, LGSWs, or organizations seeking trauma-informed practice.
Community & Collaboration
Workshops, organizational partnerships, and disability visibility initiatives.
Testimonials
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“Zehra’s commitment to community wellbeing shines through everything she does. She approaches collaboration with heart, curiosity, and care — always looking for ways to make shared experiences more meaningful and inclusive.”
Lam H., PhD, Community Organizer
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"Working alongside Zehra has been a gift. She is genuinely one of the most compassionate, selfless, and grounded clinicians I've ever known. Her presence alone puts people at ease, anyone who sits with her can feel her warmth, authenticity, and commitment to helping others."
Elena Narsingh, LMSW
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"I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Zehra and quickly learned of her unparalleled commitment to improving the well-being of others. Zehra is incredibly dedicated and sincere in her clinical and community-based work. Her holistic approach is one that consistently makes space for creativity and growth."
D. Ganesh, Psychotherapist
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"Zehra is a lifelong learner and problem-solver. When she is stuck in a conflict or uncertain of what to do, she utilizes her imagination and understanding of people to create solutions. She devotes herself to creating a better environment at work and in her personal life, and she is not thwarted by naysayers or societal challenges. In her free time, she is always reading about different therapeutic frameworks and approaches so that she may better understand herself and others. Any client who works with her is lucky to receive her insight, energy, and compassion."
Amanda Canny, Case Response Specialist, National Human Trafficking Hotline
The vision at the Inner Haven Collective
Learning to live with epilepsy for over fifteen years has shaped not only my understanding of disability and identity, but also my commitment to advocacy and inclusion. As a first-generation Pakistani American therapist, I recognize how cultural and systemic stigma can impact our perception of self-worth and even access to care.
The Inner Haven Collective is growing toward a broader vision of connecting therapy, community, and advocacy. We aim to partner with organizations across the DC metropolitan area to host workshops, events, and spaces that bring mental health conversations beyond the therapy room.
