Nazo Shamal

Dr. Nazo Shamal is a doctor of psychology and licensed social worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in the states of Hawaii and Washington. She has worked extensively with diverse populations, such as South and Central Asians, Pacific Islanders, East Asians, Latin-Americans and African-Americans.  Many of Dr. Shamal’s clients come in when life’s challenges become harder to manage due to traumatic and/or stressful situations, feelings of sadness, aloneness, anxiety and family discord. Dr. Shamal is particularly passionate about serving families and individuals suffering from traumatic experiences and challenges with acculturation. Balancing two cultures while adapting to the prevailing culture can be overwhelming and confusing for families.

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Dr. Shamal is trained in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) which is a type of psychotherapy that enables people to heal emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. She is also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, which involves making efforts to understand and change unhelpful thinking patterns and implementing strategies to change such patterns. Dr. Shamal provides family therapy specifically for families with communication challenges and difficulty getting along.  In session, Dr. Shamal focuses on your current view of yourself, life experiences and goals for therapy. She takes a strength-based approach which supports clients to feel safe, validated, and comfortable while navigating challenging issues. 

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Dr. Shamal’s style is tailored to individual needs of clients she serves. When a client first comes in, they are warmly greeted in a safe and private office. They are given the opportunity to share their reasons for seeking services, working with Dr. Shamal to develop an individualized treatment plan. She is dedicated to providing a relationship that is empathic, understanding, strength-based and warm. 

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Dr. Shamal received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University-Hawaii campus with a focus on diversity. She completed her Master’s in Social Work from New York University with focus on psychodynamics and psychoanalytic theories. She has gained extensive clinical experience working at community mental health centers, disaster response teams, schools, adolescent group homes, family services agencies, outpatient settings and private practice.