As an Iranian-Armenian immigrant, I was raised in a multigenerational household. I watched as intergenerational attachment patterns revealed themselves to me through daily social interaction. I noticed how important our relational experiences were in determining the quality of our lives and recognized that lack of access to mental healthcare compounded these issues. As I grew, I became fascinated by connection, especially by the idea of “love.” What was this potent chemical concoction? And how did people sustain healthy, loving relationships?

Inspired by my observations, I volunteered in multiple research labs and ultimately earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Arizona. Sponsored by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, I trained as a relationship researcher, intervention scientist, and psychotherapist. As a doctoral student, I aimed to understand two questions: “Why are some people so good at connecting with others while others struggle so much?” and “Could we teach healthy relationship skills to improve mental health?”

My goal is to enhance confidence and connection for everyone. I finished off my predoctoral training at the Veteran’s Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System and went on to specialize in the development of scalable intervention programs as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Stony Brook and Stanford University. I am now an Assistant Professor at Santa Clara University in the Counseling Department. I conduct research on relationships, teach the next generation of therapists, and work with diverse clients through my private practice. In an effort to increase confidence and connection for all, I also spend time disseminating healthy relationship tips on social media.