About the Therapist

Hello! My name is Zakiyyah Abdul-Mateen and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I practice in the New York City area. It is my belief that every person gets a chance at healing whatever traumas she/he/they may have experienced thus far in life. This belief has lead me to open a private practice, which focuses on addressing complex traumas in children, adolescents and adults. I use play and child-centered meditative practices to assist the child in reducing anxiety associated with traumatic memory in the body. I am also a trained EMDR practitioner, a treatment where the individual goes through a process of releasing life challenges that are stored in both mind and body memory— it’s a holistic approach to healing.

My passion lies in creating a safe space and providing services to strengthen the most vulnerable populations. Life gets challenging even for children and adolescents. Things such as childhood traumas, environmental factors, depression, anxiety and adjustments can all cause shifts in the way one interprets life. I will assist the client in healing through various therapeutic techniques while also involving the family as needed.

International work

I reside in one of the most diverse cities in the United States, New York City. Living in NYC has awarded me the privilege of working with children and families of many different ethnic groups, cultural, race, class and creeds. Over the past 4 years, I’ve been apart of a dynamic team that travels to Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti to provide mental health trainings to community leaders on the basics of recognizing trauma and assist with needs in their community. While there, I conduct workshops and group sessions where we discuss topics such as: self image, violence in the home and community, and the ability to verbalize wants versus needs. The trainees are responsible for normalizing mental health in a way that’s culturally relevant for the community.

Private Practice Focus

Studies have shown that trauma is held within the body even after it has been released from the mind. My practice focuses on releasing trauma in the mind and body using meditative practices and child-centered relaxation techniques to assist the child in reducing anxiety and/or physical responses associated with traumatic memory. As an added holistic approach, I encourage close family members to be an active part of the treatment process and incorporate mind/body activities in their daily lives.