Background

Mahshid was born in Tehran, Iran. Her family relocated to Germany in 1981, where she spent her teenage years. After finishing highschool, she moved to the United States to fulfill her dream of studying abroad. Mahshid is fluent in English, German and Farsi. Her lived experience as an immigrant and an expatriate give her a unique understanding of cultural and social impacts and systemic inequities.

Education and Experience

Mahshid is a licensed Marriage and family Therapist in the state of California and a Somatic Experiencing® practitioner. After earning her undergraduate degree in Psychology, she received her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from San Diego State University. She began her career working for non-profit organizations in San Diego county, offering therapeutic services to school aged children and their families.

Following licensure, Mahshid studied the work of Dr. Peter Levine and became certified in his Somatic Experiencing® approach, a body-based naturalistic approach to healing trauma. She has been in private practice since 2014.

Mahshid is a faculty member with Somatic Experiencing International and teaches in various regions in the United States and internationally.

She serves on the board of the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy. USABP is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to developing and advancing the art, science, and practice of Body Psychotherapy.

Personal Statement

“My approach to teaching and therapy has been influenced by my education, by mentors I have had along the way and by my own experiences in the world.

I know first hand what it is like to have to start over. I know about the long lasting effects of developmental trauma and I know that some challenges are not meant to be faced alone. My passion for educating clinicians stems from my deep desire to share the knowledge I have gained along the way and spread the word about long lasting trauma healing. You can expect to be met with kindness and compassion in my office as well as in my classroom. I aim to create a welcoming environment where you can bring your whole self to the process.

If you are a Somatic Experiencing student in need of consultation or have questions about how to integrate SE into your practice, please feel free to reach out to me. I am an approved Individual and Group Case Consultation provider at all levels of the SE training. Working with SE students brings me great joy. I would love the opportunity to connect with you and help you along your training journey. ”