Honoring Culture, Building Trust:
The Journey to Mental Wellness for Afghan Refugees
For many Afghan refugees, seeking mental health support is often filled with barriers, such as societal stigma, fear of vulnerability, and distrust of therapists.
The team at Qazizada Multicultural Therapy Clinic (QMTC) has witnessed firsthand the impact of those barriers on Afghan clients and is deeply committed to improving their well-being by meeting them where they are.
Stories of Resilience and Renewal
The following stories reflect the real experiences of Afghan clients. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect their privacy.
A Refugee Mother’s Path to Resilience
After her daughter was sexually abused by a teacher, Layla developed PTSD and struggled with flashbacks and social withdrawal.
Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), she healed over time and reclaimed her life. Inspired by her healing journey, she decided to give back to the community by advocating mental health awareness and breaking the silence around trauma and therapy.
Finding Voices Through Words
Struggled with depression and anxiety for most of his teenage years, Hamid felt lost and powerless.
After discovering journaling as an outlet for his emotions, Hamid found a purpose and a therapeutic way to express himself. With CBT, journaling, and his therapist’s support, he gained more confidence, found his voice, and regained control of his life.
Meeting Clients Where They Are
QMTC understands that trust begins with cultural familiarity and prioritizes client comfort by matching them with therapists who align with their preferences, whether a male or a female clinician, a Pashto or Dari speaker, or in-person, virtual, or hybrid sessions. More importantly, QMTC thoughtfully engages with families by working closely with the head of the household to honor family norms and cultural values and to build long-term trust.
Transforming Trauma into Resilience
By blending clinical expertise with deep cultural empathy, QMTC is doing more than offering therapy. They are rebuilding trust, restoring dignity, and empowering Afghan refugees to reclaim their stories. Each healing journey is a step toward breaking the silence, reducing stigma, and normalizing mental health care within the community.
Centering Culture to Build Connection
At CIRH, we are proud to partner with Qazizada in advancing culturally responsive mental health services that meet clients where they are, with empathy, respect, and understanding.
Through the Refugee Mental Health Initiative (RMHI), our partners provide holistic, linguistically appropriate care that supports the mental health and well-being of refugee communities.
