My name is Fátima Paredes, MA, LAC (fae/they/she). I am a proletariat lesbian transgender AuDHDer muslim counselor who offers mental health and substance misuse support. I am queer and questioning; I think a more specific sexuality self-category is that I am lesbian, queer, questioning, maybe pansexual, and maybe asexual. I am currently working at Our Mirrored Minds, LLC. under the supervision of Kelly Garvey, LCSW.

My own therapy that I received as a teenager opened my eyes to the role therapy plays in the process of healing. Additionally, I witness and experience current economic, political, social, and environmental stressors that could be somewhat alleviated with professional support. I became a counselor to offer support to people who struggle with various stressors. I believe therapy can help people and communities rebuild and reclaim their past, present, and future.

On a personal note, I enjoy playing video games (i.e., Divinity series, Final Fantasy series, Bannerlord), hiking (i.e., state parks), writing, reading (i.e., nonfiction, history), playing tabletop games (i.e., chess, TTRPGs, board games, card games) and cooking outside of work hours. I have 1,714.7 hours of playtime in Hearts of Iron IV, mostly because of the Fallout Old World Blues mod. Praying helps me feel grounded.

I went to Ohio University for undergraduate studies. I graduated with a B.S. in Communications, Media Arts & Studies, Screenwriting & Producing and a minor in History. I went to Montclair State University for graduate studies. I graduated with an MA in Counseling, Addictions Concentration. I’m especially interested in helping people with symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationships, self-esteem, stress, grief, family concerns, environmental concerns, and emotional regulation. I feel especially passionate about supporting Black, Brown, Indigenous, Transgender, LGBTQIA+, Muslim, Spiritual, Disabled/Neurodivergent, Autistic, ADHD, Latine (i.e., Caribbean, Central Amerika, South Amerika), Refugee, and Working-Class communities and populations.

I describe my approach to therapy as collaborative and eclectic, while I maintain a grounding theoretical orientation (i.e., Liberation Psychology). The person I support is the expert of their life experiences, and my task as the counselor is to support people as they navigate various life challenges. I use strengths-based therapy, person-centered therapy, and motivational interviewing.

Ideal people who I support include individuals who are integrated, or have desire to integrate, in their communities. People come to collaborate with me to determine new ways of being honestly involved in the lives of loved ones and the place(s) where they live and thrive. I help individuals restore their mind-body-spirit connection to re-learn how to be the best version of themselves. Healing doesn’t function in isolation and/or alienation. I thrive when supporting activists and labor organizers.

Liberation Psychology is the therapeutic orientation which informs my approach to collaboration and support. Healing goes beyond the individual and interacts with social, environmental, political, economic, and spiritual spheres. I center individuals’ lived material conditions in the therapeutic setting. I apply other modalities to suit your specific situations while centering what you need when we begin our collaboration. I hope to help you unlearn and heal from repressive systems. I provide community resources.

I work with people who are impacted by symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and/or substance misuse related to relationships, family, environmental stressors, socioeconomics, and political repression. We will collaborate on things which are immediately present and important for you. I specialize in long-term counseling, yet we can collaborate on short-term solutions.

Let’s build together. Additionally, I don’t use artificial intelligence (AI).