Cart 0
 
 

hello,

I’M KJ Nasrul

I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, musician, speaker, and collector of stories.

In case we haven’t run into each other on a windswept San Francisco Beach or gnoshing at Oakland’s Mac + Cheese shop Homeroom , my name is Kimberly, but please call me KJ.

I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (which means, I study and counsel on relationships), a musician, a speaker, and a collector of stories. I also am a Psychological First Aid Responder with extensive experience providing mental health support to families impacted by disasters, both natural and man-made.

 
 
 

Professional Qualifications

Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy

Bachelors of Science in Health and Human Services, Counseling Psychology

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2007

Certified Disaster Mental Health Responder

Red Cross-Approved Instructor of these Courses:

  • Foundations of Mental Health

  • Psychological First Aid

Professional Experiences

  • EMDRIA- Trained EMDR Therapist

    Institute For Creative Mindfulness

    EMDR International Association

  • Certified Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapist

The Embody Lab

  • Mental Health Quality Improvement and Compliance Coordinator

Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Quality Improvement + Assurance Unit 

  • Licensed Clinical Supervisor 

    Bliss Begins Within Psychotherapy Private Practice

  • Supervising Mental Health Program Manager

    Turning Point of Central California, North County Mobile Unit

  • Licensed Patient Care Advocate

    Pacific Care Behavioral Health

 
 
 

here is…

 

my story

 

Growing up, I was always aware that my unique background drew unwanted attention to me which caused me to feel self conscious, adrift and without a tribe to which I fully belonged. I am a biracial, female, transracial adoptee raised by a single mother in a fairly homogenous city- which is a fancy way of saying I didn’t look like anyone else in my neighborhood including my own family.

I became attuned to others who also felt like they were outsiders, unwelcome because of differences or challenges. I led a life where I downplayed my appearance, muted my voice, and hid my ideas from my teachers and peers. Sometimes I would avoid social gatherings. I stayed small, which caused bouts of depression and anxiety as well as self-shaming, especially in my later high school years.

Solace and sanctuary showed up in the form of creative practices such as playing piano, creating song lyrics and poetry, authoring short stories, and art journaling. I also discovered the power of active listening and the bond that grew in having honest and kind conversations with other people.

As I began sharing the lessons I learned with other women who were suffering from feelings of self shame, I created methods for shifting embarrassment about differences into celebrations of strength. The discovery of resilience is rooted in deep compassion, which comes from active listening to the stories we have internalized and applied to ourselves and others. As the women I worked with began noticing results, their friends and family members began to request my advice on accessing their own inner resources.

Over the past couple of years during the world health crisis, I began to feel a deeper calling – to help those in the health service and educator industries who focus all their energy on healing others. I teach these healers how to replenish their inner resilience stories so that they can continue healing their communities on the front lines.

 
bliss-begins-within
 
bliss-begins-within.jpg
 
 

here’s what I learned

the big takeaway

The more openly one shares their personal experience, the shame transforms into a deep compassion for self and others. Suffering lessens, and the pain of isolation softens into curiosity, wonder and strength.

services and offerings

how I can help you

 
 

Psychotherapy Services

daniel-schludi-pYpOZMP43Cc-unsplash.jpg

1:1 Psychotherapy

Uncover, repair, and express your Resilience Story through cognitive behavioral, narrative, and expressive arts therapy techniques. Learn daily practices to release toxic self-sabotage and train your mind to eliminate negative blocks.

Events and Workshops

anastasia-taioglou-EEDLURXCpqg-unsplash.jpg

Creativity Retreats

Bali Creativity Retreat

 
 
 

book a free

discovery call

 

Let’s connect in a 30 minute conversation where we can see how we might best work together.