At-a-Glance

About Dr. Aisha Leighann Chaudhry, PsyD, CCATP

Dr. Aisha Leighann Chaudhry, PsyD, LMHC, LPC, CCATP, is a licensed clinical psychologist, Clinical Director of Manara Counseling, LLC, and a classically trained Aalimah. She specializes in providing online, faith-integrated therapy for Muslim women, offering evidence-based, trauma-informed care that honors Islamic values. Dr. Aisha is a professionally licensed therapist serving clients across Florida, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Saudi Arabia.

Professional Training & Clinical Specializations

Dr. Aisha Leighann Chaudhry is extensively trained in neural and trauma-informed care, specializing in supporting Muslim women navigating anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and trauma-related disorders.

Using an integrative therapeutic approach, she blends evidence-based psychological modalities with faith-aware spiritual grounding. Dr. Aisha holds a particular clinical specialty in treating OCD and OCD-mimicking cycles (such as spiritual Waswasa) that trap individuals in distressing emotional and behavioral loops.

Professional Qualifications & Credentials

  • Doctoral Degree in Psychology (Psy.D.)

  • Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology

  • 6-Year Aalimah (Islamic Sciences) Degree

  • National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC)

  • Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP)

  • Clinical Supervisor for associates and interns working toward professional licensure.

Cultural Competency

A native Floridian, Dr. Aisha Leighann Chaudhry has a deep, lived understanding of multicultural dynamics. She lived in Lahore, Pakistan for two years and has resided in Saudi Arabia since 2013, traveling frequently between Florida and the Middle East throughout the year.

Her extensive knowledge of Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern history, parenting dynamics, and regional cultural attitudes allows her to provide highly sensitive counseling to immigrant populations. To date, she has successfully supported Muslim women from over a dozen diverse backgrounds, including the United States, Canada, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, Japan, Australia, Myanmar, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the Philippines. Her global training includes clinical rotations in a prestigious Joint Commission-accredited hospital in the Middle East.

Advocating Education

For over 20 years, Dr. Aisha Leighann Chaudhry has delivered self-improvement talks, mental health workshops, and seminars for women worldwide. Bridging the gap between spiritual wellness and modern psychotherapy, she has developed and taught specialized courses including Purification of the Heart and Understanding Marriage & Relationships, providing guidance rooted in classical Islamic principles and modern therapeutic insights.For over 20 years, Dr. Aisha has delivered self-improvement talks, mental health workshops, and seminars for women worldwide. Bridging the gap between spiritual wellness and modern psychotherapy, she has developed and taught specialized courses including Purification of the Heart and Understanding Marriage & Relationships, providing guidance rooted in classical Islamic principles and modern therapeutic insights.

Family and Personal Interests

Born and raised in Florida, Dr. Aisha Leighann Chaudhry reverted to Islam in February 2001 during her senior year at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Her personal search for truth and healing led her to the Quran as an infinite source of guidance, light, and profound psychological comfort. Embracing Islam became the transformative milestone of her life, permanently shaping her personal values and her clinical approach to mental health.

Married for over 24 years, alhamdulillah, Dr. Aisha is the mother of five children. Outside of her clinical practice, she is an avid painter and enjoys fishing, jet skiing, parasailing, tree trekking, and playing soccer with her family. 

Dr. Aisha Chaudhry PsyD - Muslim Woman Therapist and Aalimah - Manara Counseling
Dr. Aisha Chaudhry, PsyD, a licensed female Muslim therapist and Aalimah

Qualifications

  • Doctoral Degree in Psychology (Psy.D.)
  • Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • BA Degree in Psychology
  • 6 Year Aalimah (Islamic Sciences) Degree
  • NBCC / National Board Certified
  • Professionally Licensed in Florida, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Saudi Arabia. 
  • Clinical Supervisor for associates and interns working toward their licensure.
  • Specially trained in treating trauma, OCD, Depression, Anxiety and more.
  • OCD and OCD mimicking cycles that spin into emotional and behavioral loops are a particular speciality.

Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do you treat religious Waswas, Scrupulosity, and spiritual intrusive thoughts?

Yes. Dr. Aisha Chaudhry specializes in treating religious OCD, spiritual Waswasa, and Scrupulosity for female adults, adolescents, and children. As both a licensed psychologist (Psy.D.) and a classically trained Islamic scholar (Aalimah), she integrates evidence-based Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Islamic theological principles. She provides clinical support for intrusive thoughts surrounding purity (Tahara, Wudhu, Ghusl), prayer (Salah), faith/theological doubts (Iman), and moral/religious fear.

How do you treat specific types of Waswasa such as Tahara, Najasah, Salah, and Kufr intrusive thoughts?

Dr. Aisha Chaudhry provides specialized Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) tailored for Islamic scrupulosity. This includes targeted clinical treatment for Waswas related to ritual purity (Tahara/Najasah), excessive repetition of ablution (Wudhu) and bath rituals (Ghusl), doubts during prayer (Salah/Rak'ah counting), fear of blasphemy or intrusive thoughts of Kufr/shirk, and constant moral or religious anxiety for female clients and youth.

What credentials does Dr. Aisha Chaudhry hold, and what states can she supervise in?

Dr. Aisha Chaudhry is a licensed psychologist holding a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC in Florida), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC in Texas & Virginia), and holds active multi-state teletherapy practice authority in Michigan, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Vermont. As a Qualified Supervisor, she provides board-approved clinical supervision for registered mental health counselor interns (RMHCI) and associate counselors completing required hours for LMHC and LPC licensure.

Can I receive therapy if I live outside the United States, such as in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, the UK, Canada, or Australia?

Yes. Dr. Aisha Chaudhry provides secure, HIPAA-compliant teletherapy services for English-speaking women, mothers, children, and families internationally. She frequently works with female expats and residents in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam), the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Qatar (Doha), Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, the United Kingdom (London, Manchester), Canada (Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), and across the US.

What specialized therapies do you offer for OCD, Trauma, and Anxiety?

Dr. Aisha Chaudhry utilizes clinical, evidence-based modalities tailored to each client's cultural and faith background. Specialties include Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Writing Exposure Therapy (WET) for Trauma and PTSD, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and specialized approaches for Neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism, Pathological Demand Avoidance / PDA).

Do you offer neurodivergent-affirming therapy for Muslim women, teens, and children with ADHD, Autism, or PDA?

Yes. Dr. Aisha Chaudhry provides neurodivergent-affirming teletherapy for women, adolescents, and children with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Modalities such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Writing Exposure Therapy (WET) are adapted to respect each client's sensory profile, communication style, and Islamic cultural context.

Are your clinical supervision services available for LMHC and LPC residents and interns?

Yes. Dr. Aisha Chaudhry is a Qualified Supervisor authorized to provide clinical supervision for pre-licensed mental health counseling interns and residents working toward state licensure (LMHC, LPC). Supervision focuses on clinical skills development, ethical practice, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive/faith-integrated therapy techniques.

What licensed states do you serve for US-based therapy clients?

Dr. Aisha Chaudhry holds multi-state clinical licenses and authority to provide virtual teletherapy to female clients and youth located across Florida (LMHC), Texas (LPC), Michigan, Virginia (LPC), South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Do you provide therapy to men or offer marriage counseling?

No. Dr. Aisha Chaudhry does not provide individual therapy to adult men or couples/marriage therapy involving male partners. Her practice is dedicated exclusively to women, adolescent girls, children, and family therapy conducted with mothers and their children.

What makes a faith-aligned Muslim female therapist different from secular therapy?

Faith-aligned therapy ensures that your core religious values, spiritual struggles, and cultural background as a Muslim woman or mother are understood without needing explanation or justification. Dr. Aisha Chaudhry bridges rigorous psychological science with Islamic values, ensuring clients never have to compromise their faith while pursuing emotional healing and clinical recovery.

Verifiable Professional Licensure

  • Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) — License # MH21960

  • Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — License # 89072

  • Michigan Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — License # 6401225482

  • Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — License # 701015150

  • South Carolina Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — License # 2638

  • New Hampshire Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — License # EL33702