We recently connected with Tania Hormozi and have shared our conversation below.

Tania, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

When I was applying for my doctorate program at Alliant International University, I knew that in the interview process, they were going to ask if I knew what I wanted to focus my dissertation topic on or my research as well as population that I wanted to focus my work towards. I have always been very passionate about my own family story, being first generation Iranian refugees, leaving a country that we only knew, language, culture, food, family, friends, careers, and coming to a new country with different lifestyles, financial needs, language, culture, food, and strangers that we didn’t know. This story of me and my family’s journey to America has always been one that I spoke about in my papers, presentations, and conversations with peers over the years.

I was born in Tehran, Iran, and I came to the U.S. at the age of five, without the knowledge of anything. I didn’t know the language, what it would look like, if I would recognize people, or find anyone that looks or talks like me. My own experiences as well as my parents’ and older siblings shaped my perspective in life as a whole. I always wanted to help other people understand our struggles but also our resilience. I wanted my non-refugee, non-middle eastern friends to understand who we are as Iranians, who we are as refugees– not immigrants–that we had to leave due to religious persecution, we didn’t want to leave. Our lives literally depended on it.

I share this story about myself and my background, because when I started my master’s program in Psychology, I didn’t think I would love it so much that I would continue on to get my doctorate as well. So back to the first story. I applied to Alliant International University, got a call for an interview (group and individual). I went to the interview at the San Diego Campus in Miramar. I did pretty well in the group interview, and in the individual interview they asked more about the research aspect, the dissertation, the commitment, and why I am seeking to earn this degree.

I started by sharing my story, and how therapy is stigmatized in my culture. I shared that I have always been into writing and reading and hope to write books one day (dreams came true); and that I want to focus my research on Iranian refugees and their acculturation in the US. I want to write about the journey but more so the acculturation and learning how to live in the US with the differences that American and Iranian cultures embody. I told them that I am very involved and engaged in my own journey coming to US even as a young girl, I have always been fascinated with the story of how my parents were able to do this with three young children. I want to dedicate my research to this population, and I want to help other clinicians learn how to treat them, especially since Iranians don’t believe or understand how therapy can help them.

Now I am 13 years in my career field (post masters), I have worked with this population in a variety of settings: domestic violence, substance use, family, individual, couples, anxiety, depression, psychiatric inpatient and outpatient, and private practice. I love working with middle eastern refugees and immigrants, because I understand what they are going through, but I also have been able to work through the struggles, utilize my resilience and resources to get to where I am today. It was definitely not easy, my parents didn’t have the finances, or understood the commitment it took for me to obtain my master’s and doctorate. Culturally, didn’t understand why I missed so many family parties, weddings, etc. to get to where I am today. They understand it now, of course and are proud of my discipline and commitment.

This brings me to present day. A couple of months ago I was preforming a Persian dance at a middle eastern clothing fair, and the owner of an organization got my phone number for future events. A few months after that, she called me very early in the morning. I called her back after I woke up thinking she was going to ask me to perform soon at another event. Instead…she asked me about my experience as a therapist.

Are you licensed? Yes.
Do you speak Farsi? Yes.
Do you Supervise interns? Yes.
Do you want a parttime job? Actually…Yes.

I was in awe of this conversation, looking up at the sky, asking God what have You done? You were listening, You answered my prayers, what is this? After a month of conversations, meetings, and interviews. I can gladly say that I decided to accept a position that brought me back to my decision to obtain a doctoral degree.

License to Freedom is a non-profit organization that helps middle eastern refugees and immigrants with mental health, domestic violence, advocacy, case management, care management, housing, and referrals to other resources. This woman, the owner and CEO wanted me to become the Head of the Family Therapy Services department. She wanted me to do some supervision for the trainees getting their masters in this work and provide some directing of the department; after her current director stepped down from the job.

I have to tell you that after I got off the phone with her that morning, I almost forgot to go to work. I sat on my couch staring at the roof of my house, praying to God, thanking Him, asking Him if this was real, and what is going to happen next? Well, I took the job of course. I have been there now for a couple of months and getting used to what I need to be doing. It definitely entails all my skills as a person and a therapist. I am organized, on top of my work, help resolve issues and concerns, available to the students as needed and for supervision, I am able to share my ideas for the future of this department within this organization, I am recognized and appreciated. I did keep my private practice job for about 10-15 hours a week, because I do love seeing clients and working individually and with couples. However, this is a dream come true.

This is full circle.

Me, the 5-year-old girl who left the only country she knew to live in a country without the language or familiar faces, to accomplishing goals left and right. To becoming an English major, Journalist, a writer, an editor, a psychology student, a trainee, intern, associate, licensed, and with a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy; writing and researching about her own familial journey through the words and stories of participants and community members who had to deal with the same struggles?

Wow. All I can say is, if you put your mind to it, just do it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Dr. Tania Hormozi. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a master’s and a doctorate in psychology and an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have a background in English literature and print journalism. I have always been interested in getting to know people. I am very social, and the newspaper world really helped shape my confidence in asking questions and not being afraid to step in and find a story in any place possible.

As a therapist, I am very direct, and I provide perspective. I provide suggestions and tools for individual and couples to be able to work through their stressors, anxiety, depression, familial and relationship issues. I have also written 2 books in the past five years. My books are about relationships, dating, and healthy marriages.

Cooked vs. Uncooked Spaghetti: The Guide to Understanding How Men Think in Relationships
Cooked vs. Uncooked Spaghetti: The Guide to Understanding How Women Think in Relationships.

The idea is that men and women not only think and act differently, but process emotions differently, and it’s important to know who your partner is; and how to communicate in a way they can understand and process. Women tend to be cooked spaghetti due to their emotions and thoughts being intertwined together. Men tend to be uncooked given the logistical one task at a time perspective.

I now work parttime as a LMFT at a private practice virtually called Healthy Minds Counseling Services, I have been there since November 2019. I also recently accepted a position as the Clinical Director of Family Therapy Services for License to Freedom, as of September 2025.

I am always trying to help psychology students find their voice, their niche, and most effective theory that matches their personality. I also sell my books on Amazon, and will be hosting a workshop in January, and selling them at a Market in El Cajon this holiday season. Please follow me on IG: @cookedvsuncookedspaghetti

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I believe that in addition to education and training, the most helpful thing to succeed in the Psychology field is keeping an open mind. I believe that there are a variety of different formulas to solving problems and concerns. I don’t think that every client is one size fits all; therefore, the therapist needs to be educated and trained in a variety of different modalities, frameworks, and experiences to be able to help a variety of clients; regardless of the niche.

I believe that the more places you work, with different supervisors, bosses, managers, peers, and clientele; the more you are able to be a well-rounded therapist.

Perspective is very important as a therapist. We are not allowed to give advice. We can provide suggestions and guide them with tools and strategies to work through their issues and identify ways to manage and cope with their problems long term. However, perspective is the most important in any therapeutic relationship.

Not only providing them a different perspective outside of their own but also showing them how their perspectives have changed throughout their life and how it has shaped who they are today.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resiliency.

The framework that I used for my doctoral dissertation always comes back to define me as a person as well as a professional. Iranian refugees have nothing helping them move across country to a land far away without the language, culture, or even family support. All they have is resiliency. Knowing that they are strong enough, courageous enough, and able to get through anything if they were able to leave a country that threatened their safety, for some peace and freedom on the other side.

Yes, I was only 5 years old, maybe younger when my journey began leaving Iran. However, remembering bits and pieces of our home in Iran, and bits and pieces of our 6 months living in Austria to obtain our papers, and the years in elementary school in Bonita, Ca not knowing English, being made fun of for my nappy hair, and sitting outside of the classroom with a tutor to learn this language, being paired up with people that may have looked like me, but didn’t’ speak my language. My journey into the US as a little child was very significant to the rest of my life.

I had resilience. I kept going.

I didn’t give up, I would learn the language, I would make a friend, I would learn how to walk home from the bus stop, I would participate in extracurricular activities, eventually.

I did all of that and more. I grew up and learned about myself, my passions, my skills, my talents. I loved to dance, and I was good at it. I loved to read and write and joined the newspaper team. I went back one day and saw my 3rd grade teacher, and she was so impressed of my accolades knowing that there was once a day in my life that I didn’t know English and now I am an English major at SDSU studying to be a journalist? How does that happen?

Resilience.

I never gave up, and I continue to keep going. I never allow anything, or anyone get in the way of what I want and what I want to accomplish and achieve. That is how I have earned my degrees, my experiences, my work ethic, and where I want to be in the future continuing to do the same. Utilizing my superpower: Resiliency.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.licensetofreedom.org www.healthymindsca.com
• Instagram: @cookedvsuncookedspaghetti @Dr_Tania_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/m/in/dr-tania-hormozi-a5995025a
• Other: Amazon Books:

  https://www.amazon.com/Cooked-Uncooked-Spaghetti-Understanding-Relationships/dp/B0C12DRSD6/