Student Spotlight: Alisha Ahmed

“What I’ve loved most about being at the Wright Institute is creating meaningful spaces for connection within the larger community,” shared Alisha Ahmed, a fourth year student in the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology program. “I’ve learned that those moments require showing up, speaking up, and being willing to take risks by being vulnerable and inviting others to do the same.”

Alisha was born in Orange County, California, where she lived with her parents, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Pakistan, and three sisters. When she was five, the family moved to Sacramento. “My parents chose to move to Sacramento not only due to my dad’s job, but also because they wanted to immerse us in an Islamic school environment so we would have a solid foundation in our faith,” she explained. Alisha attended an Islamic school from kindergarten through middle school and later made the somewhat difficult transition to a Catholic all-girls high school. “I was one of the only hijab-wearing Muslim students at the school which was both isolating, but also an opportunity to connect with others,” she reflected. “I led the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and was invited to participate in interfaith events and give presentations in world religions classes.” Throughout her upbringing, Alisha was very involved in her local community, serving on the Sacramento Youth Commission, interning at civil rights organizations, and volunteering at her local mosque.

While in high school, Alisha began a successful Etsy business called “The Sticky Station,” with over 3,000 orders to date. She was very interested in decorative planning with stickers at the time, so she decided to learn to make her own. “One summer, between SAT prep and internships, I taught myself how to design stickers and saved up for a cutting machine,” she recalled. “It took a lot of late nights, failed attempts, and YouTube tutorials, but eventually I got the hang of it and decided to launch my shop for fun, not really expecting it to go anywhere.” The shop was a big success and Alisha ran the whole operation from her bedroom and later from her dorm room. “Beyond the sales, it taught me a lot about patience, problem-solving and gave me the confidence to continue trying new things,” she reflected. “I was also able to connect with a global community of fellow sticker shop owners and customers, which was a really cool experience.”

For her undergraduate studies, Alisha attended Zaytuna College in Berkeley, CA, the first accredited Muslim liberal arts college in the US, where she earned her BA in Islamic studies and liberal arts with a minor in Arabic. “What drew me most was how holistic the curriculum is, as Zaytuna’s mission centers on cultivating a love of beauty, truth, and goodness in each student,” she explained. “We studied both the Islamic and Western scholarly traditions, engaged in community service, and even had physical education requirements like archery, horseback riding, and swimming.” There were only eleven students in Alisha’s cohort and she really enjoyed the intimate learning environment and formed lifelong friendships during her time there.

It was during her time at Zaytuna College that Alisha first discovered her interest in the field of mental health. “I met an amazing therapist who helped me connect what I was learning in the classroom to my lived experience, not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually,” she recalled. “She gave me language for things I had been feeling for a long time and was the first person to suggest that psychology might be a path worth exploring.” Around the same time, Alisha began working at two crisis hotlines as she explored her interest in the field and how she could serve her community.

In July of 2020, Alisha began a research internship at the Stanford Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology lab. “That was a really meaningful experience for me, because I had already been thinking about how to bridge Islamic tradition with psychology, but this was the first time I saw that happening in a structured, academic setting,” she explained. “At the lab, I worked on several research projects and focused on developing psychoeducational materials tailored to the Muslim community, which remains under-resourced and often lacks access to mental health education due to ongoing stigma in many cultural contexts.” Alisha loved being part of a team that contributed to this developing field, and she discovered her desire to help shape it through her future career.

At this point in her trajectory, Alisha began looking for a way to connect her foundation in Islamic studies with the field of psychology. “I wanted to enter this work grounded in both my personal and spiritual values,” she reflected. “Modern psychology tends to focus on the brain, behavior, and what can be measured, but it often leaves out the spiritual dimension.” In an effort to see psychology through a more holistic lens, Alisha applied to Cambridge Muslim College in Cambridge, UK where she earned her diploma in Islamic psychology in 2022. “Islamic psychology is rooted in a holistic understanding of the human being, viewing the mind, body, heart, and soul as interconnected aspects of the self. These aspects of ourselves are meant to function in harmony when we live in alignment with our fitrah, the innate disposition toward truth, balance, and goodness,” she explained. “Healing, in this view, is about returning to balance and living with greater awareness, sincerity, and alignment with our higher purpose to worship God.”

Alisha enrolled in the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology program in the fall of 2022. She was initially drawn to the Wright Institute because of its location, just minutes from Zaytuna College. “When I attended an open house, I really appreciated the cozy, community-centered atmosphere,” she recalled. “As I started doing more research, I learned that Wright had a strong reputation as one of the top PsyD programs in the Bay Area.” Another thing that drew Alisha to the Wright Institute was the opportunity to begin practicum in her first year, which wasn’t available at most other programs. “I also had a chance to meet some of the faculty, like Dr. Veronique Thompson, who made me feel genuinely welcomed,” she shared. “As a person of color, it mattered to me to be in a program that took issues of diversity and multicultural humility seriously.” Based on those factors, Alisha felt confident that the Wright Institute would be a good fit for her needs.

During her first year at the Wright Institute, Alisha completed her practicum at Contra Costa College’s College Wellness Program, providing psychotherapy to students surrounding topics such as academic stress, identity development, depression, and more. Alisha found that many of these students were carrying a heavy load with very little support and the system had very limited resources to provide them. “The need for sustained, culturally responsive mental health support was so clear, yet the program itself was barely hanging on due to unstable funding,” she recalled. “That experience really solidified my interest in advocacy and community-based care.”

Alisha completed her second year practicum at the Wright Institute Psychodynamic Clinic, working with adults ages 20-85 and administering psychological assessments. “One of the biggest things I learned was how to trust the therapeutic relationship as a space where change can emerge organically - not always through insight alone, but through presence, attunement, and the courage to sit with uncertainty,” she explained. “I also learned the value of bringing my whole self into the room - my identities, values, and curiosity - and saw how doing so allowed clients to show up more fully as well.” Alisha valued the opportunity to conduct psychological assessments and found it rewarding to balance the depth of therapy with the insight and structure that assessment provides.

Last year, for her third year practicum experience, Alisha worked at Adventist Health Vallejo (AVH), Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital. “It was my first time working in an inpatient psychiatric setting, and the pace, acuity, and level of coordination required were unlike anything I had done before,” she shared. “I learned how to adapt quickly, communicate clearly with multidisciplinary teams, and stay grounded even in high-intensity moments.” One moment from her time at AVH that Alisha will never forget was treating a patient who spoke Urdu. “When I addressed her in our shared language, her face lit up,” she recalled. “That moment of being understood without a language barrier was deeply emotional for both of us and I still carry it with me.” Alisha’s work at AVH reaffirmed her commitment to working with high-needs populations.

The title of Alisha’s in-progress dissertation is “Understanding Attachment to God in American Muslims.” In her research, Alisha is exploring the ways in which Muslim adults in the US experience their relationships with God. “The Qur’an teaches that the purpose of life is to worship Allah, draw near to Him, and see every experience as an opportunity to recognize His attributes and deepen one’s connection,” she explained. “When someone’s relationship with God is central to how they make sense of the world, it deserves to be understood on its own terms and brought into therapy as well.” When she began her research, Alisha found that the vast majority of literature on attachment to God was based in Christianity, so her goal is to fill the gap by focusing on Muslim experiences. “Ultimately, I hope this research helps clinicians better integrate faith into therapy, especially when working with Muslim clients and other faith-based clients,” she shared. “My goal is to help bridge that gap and provide therapy that is culturally-attuned so our clinical work can better reflect the full reality of the communities we serve.”

There have been two professors who have had a profound impact on Alisha during her time at the Wright Institute thus far. The first was her Case Conference instructor, Dr. Anita Barrows, whose compassion for her students left a lasting impression. “What moves me most is her integrity, reflected in her lifelong dedication to healing, her courage to speak out against injustice, and her daily practice of writing and sharing poetry to grieve and honor the lives lost in Palestine,” Alisha reflected. “Her presence in the program has shaped so many of us, and it’s easy to see why she is so beloved by generations of Wright students.” Dr. Barrows was also a huge support to Alisha when she felt overwhelmed by the weight of the heavy cases discussed in her first year Case Conference, showing her that her capacity to hold this weight would grow over time. The other professor who had an impact on Alisha was her Advanced Clinical Seminar instructor, Dr. Layli Khaghani. “Dr. Khaghani was one of the first people I met at the Wright and she welcomed me with open arms and has been so kind and encouraging from the beginning,” she shared. “I really appreciate how she integrates faith and spirituality into her work, and encourages it in this field.” Alisha is glad to have both of these amazing professors on her dissertation committee.

Since she began her studies at the Wright Institute, Alisha has been involved in the SouthWest Asian North African and Muslim Student Group (SWANA-M). “From the start, it felt like a grounding place to connect with peers who share similar cultural and religious backgrounds,” she reflected. “It’s become a space where we can support one another professionally and personally, celebrate our accomplishments, and also hold space to process the weight of what’s happening in the world, especially events that directly affect the communities we come from and care so deeply about.” Alisha is now the co-president of the group and is very proud of the group’s accomplishments and the community they have created for one another.

In 2023, Alisha was a student co-facilitator of the Wright Institute’s 18th Annual Multicultural Symposium. “We titled the symposium Reimagining Psychology: Towards a Decolonized Future, and focused on how colonialism, imperialism, and structural oppression have shaped the field of psychology as we know it,” she explained. “The event brought together students, faculty, and staff for workshops, speakers, and open dialogue, including a powerful circle discussion on cultural biases, power dynamics, and the role of spirituality in clinical work.” The event fostered a safe place for members of the community to be vulnerable and Alisha found it very fulfilling. “It gave me hope for what the field of psychology could look like when we come together to challenge the status quo with compassion and critical thinking,” she reflected.

Last year, Alisha was chosen to be a DEI Fellow at the Wright Institute. Looking back, she’s grateful for the relationships she was able to build with faculty and staff like Dr. Veronique Thompson, Dr. Marriam Zarabi, and Dr. Karen Egu, all of whom supported her in this role. One of the biggest highlights of her work as a DEI Fellow last year was facilitating an Iftar dinner during Ramadan. “With support from the DEI office and the SWANA-M student group, we organized the dinner as a way to gather and reflect while also honoring the lives of over 70,000 civilians who have been killed in the genocide in Gaza,” she shared. “It was a beautiful evening that reminded me that even in times of such immense grief and loss, we can come together to support one another in deeply human ways.” This year, Alisha continues on as a Senior Fellow, which she hopes will allow her to organize more events to build community at the Wright Institute.

Looking back on her time in graduate school, one of the most valuable lessons Alisha has learned is the importance of speaking up and staying grounded in her values. “It takes courage to voice your truth in environments where fear or silence may feel safer,” she reflected. “Being brave invites dialogue, even if it also comes with discomfort.” She notes that clinicians are trained to bear witness to the most difficult parts of their clients’ lives, but it’s just as important to analyze their own areas of discomfort, blind spots, and beliefs. “In a society that often rewards neutrality and silence, especially around injustice, it takes real intention to remain anchored in our clinical values such as cultural humility, critical self-reflection, and a commitment to deep, unconditional compassion,” she explained. “Ultimately, we serve as mirrors for our clients and can only guide them as deeply as we’ve dared to examine and understand ourselves.”

Beyond her clinical and academic life, Alisha finds joy in traveling, creating art, spending time with family, and being outdoors. She loves exploring new coffee shops, playing pickleball, and watching the Great British Bake Off. “I have been fortunate to travel and spent a few of my college summers studying Arabic in Jordan,” she shared. “I’d love to continue studying abroad in some capacity in the future.” Alisha also loves baking, especially trying out variations on a classic chocolate chip cookie.

Alisha is very grateful for the strong foundation in academic and clinical work that she has gained from her time at the Wright Institute. Throughout her studies, she has been able to explore different populations, care settings, and theoretical frameworks, which has given her the space to discover the type of clinician she wants to be in the future. “My deepest hope is to continue serving communities that have historically been marginalized or misunderstood, including my own, by offering care that’s both clinically grounded and spiritually attuned,” she explained. “Wherever I end up, I hope to facilitate healing by offering spaces rooted in compassion and presence.”