We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Sehrish Ali recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Dr. Ali thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
“You don’t have to earn your right to rest.”
It’s something I find myself saying to many of my clients high-achieving, deeply caring people who measure their worth by how much they do for others. Rest often feels like something they have to earn after the inbox is cleared, the kids are settled, the to-do list is done. But the list never really ends.
In our work together, we talk about rest not as a luxury, but as a form of resistance and self-respect. Resting doesn’t mean you’ve stopped growing; it means you’re giving your mind and body the chance to catch up with your life.
Over time, clients begin to notice small shifts: setting boundaries without guilt, choosing to slow down, realizing that taking care of themselves isn’t selfish it’s sustainable. When they finally internalize that truth, there’s often this quiet moment of relief like exhaling after holding your breath for years.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Dr. Sehrish Ali, a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), and founder of Guided Growth Therapy PLLC in Houston, Texas. I’ve spent my career helping people reconnect with themselves their bodies, identities, and sense of worth especially those who have spent years striving, performing, and taking care of everyone else first.
My path into this field started from curiosity about why people struggle to feel “enough,” even when they’re doing everything “right.” Over the years, that curiosity turned into a calling to create spaces where healing feels human, inclusive, and culturally responsive. I’ve worked across every level of care, from hospitals to digital health startups, and what’s stayed constant is my belief that therapy should be both compassionate and evidence-based rooted in science, but delivered with heart.
Through Guided Growth Therapy, I provide individual therapy, clinical supervision for therapists, and immigration evaluations all grounded in a trauma-informed, identity-conscious lens. My clients often come to me navigating eating disorders, anxiety, perfectionism, or major life transitions. Many are high-achievers, caregivers, or professionals who appear “put together” but feel disconnected inside. Together, we work on integrating self-compassion, rest, and authenticity into their daily lives.
What sets my work apart is its blend of clinical depth and cultural understanding. I don’t believe healing happens in isolation it happens in context: culture, family, identity, and lived experience. Guided Growth Therapy was built to honor all those layers.
I’m most proud of creating a practice that feels both professional and deeply human where clients, supervisees, and collaborators alike feel truly seen. Beyond therapy, I’m passionate about education and advocacy speaking at conferences, leading workshops on identity and eating disorders, and building bridges between mental health and community.
At its core, my brand and my work is about growth that feels guided, not forced. Whether I’m supporting a client through recovery, mentoring a young therapist, or collaborating with other professionals, my goal is the same: to help people grow with intention, grace, and connection.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely!!!
I’d choose this path again, without hesitation. This work has stretched me in ways I never could have planned for. It’s challenged my patience, deepened my empathy, and constantly reminded me that growth is lifelong for both clients and clinicians.
What I love most is that therapy isn’t static. The field evolves, and so do we. I’ve been able to weave in my passions from identity and culture to leadership and innovation and build something that feels both deeply personal and professionally meaningful.
There are hard days, of course, but even in those moments, I feel immense gratitude that I get to witness people’s resilience up close. It’s an honor to hold space for someone’s story and to see what healing looks like in real time.
So yes ’d do it all over again, every single time!
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Beyond training or credentials, I think what matters most in this field is humanness. Therapy isn’t just about theory it’s about presence. The ability to sit with someone in their discomfort without rushing to fix it. To be curious instead of certain.
So much of this work depends on emotional attunement, self-awareness, and humility knowing that no matter how much we’ve studied, the person in front of us is still the expert on their own experience. The most effective therapists I know are grounded, compassionate, and deeply reflective; they do their own inner work so they can hold space for others with clarity and care.
For me, success in this field comes from authenticity showing up as a real person, not a perfect one. Clients can feel when you’re genuine, when you’re listening without judgment, and when you believe in their capacity to grow. That human connection is what creates real change, far more than any manual or intervention ever could.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.guidedgrowththerapypllc.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sehrish-ali-phd-lpc-s-ceds-79420546/
Image Credits
juliagutierrezphoto