Israt Audry, LICSW
The healing process looks different for everyone, and requires rigor, discipline and intentionality to work towards creating necessary shifts within our lives. It is an individual and a collective effort. I recognize the ways we are shaped by our experiences, which are informed by our work and home environments, sociocultural, economic, political, and geographic backgrounds. As a systems thinker, I believe our experiences are influenced by systems of oppression– white supremacy, capitalism, racism, gender-based violence, etc.
The work to overcome these systems and their impacts on us as a whole requires that we can hold complexity. This includes honoring that the long-standing cultural beliefs, practices and conditioning we inherited from past generations are survival strategies, while also learning to let go of what may no longer be in service to us. In this process of release, we make space to do the radical work of reclaiming the ancestral wisdom and joy that oppressive systems seek to invisibilize. This is only made possible when we cultivate deep, intentional relationships with ourselves, the people in our lives, and in community.
As a community-centered provider, it is important for me to provide relevant and affirming services to those I serve. I aim to center and explore healing practices beyond Western, traditional forms of talk therapy. While I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other conventional therapy modalities in my practice, I am inspired by the rich history of storytelling and art used as instruments of resistance and healing by my Bangladeshi/South Asian ancestors. I recently completed an Expressive Art Therapy training certification which allows me to explore healing through art, movement, poetry, writing, visual arts, and more.
As a queer, non–binary, Muslim, therapist of color, I am dedicated to providing inclusive and affirming sessions to teens and adults who experience depression, anxiety, the impacts of trauma, and the complexities of LGBTQIA+ identities. If our work together might support you in your healing process, I look forward to hearing from you!