Dr. Habiba Jessica Zaman Mental Health Therapist Specializing in Trauma 

Dr. Habiba Jessica Zaman is a distinguished psychologist, author, and entrepreneur whose work has significantly influenced conversations around trauma, identity, self-awareness, and personal transformation. She is the founder and owner of North Star of Georgia Counseling, where she integrates clinical expertise with advocacy and education to support individuals in achieving meaningful life changes. Zaman has more than 15 years of professional experience in counseling, life coaching, and therapeutic guidance, specializing in trauma and personal empowerment.

Over the course of her career, Zaman has authored 25 publications and nine books, several of which have appeared on the Amazon Bestseller Lists and received international recognition. Her work includes widely read titles focused on identity, resilience, motherhood, and relationships, such as Beautifully Bare, Undeniably You, Dear Time, Dear Love, and the You’ve Got This, Mama series. In addition to her written work, Zaman is the creator of the I.D. ME Quiz, an innovative self-assessment tool designed to help individuals evaluate their sense of identity and enhance self-awareness: an essential element in achieving personal fulfillment and authentic living. Zaman’s insights and voice have been featured across multiple media platforms. She has participated in podcast interviews, including Douglas Coleman Podcast, The Expect Effect Podcast, Life Boss Podcast, and The Holistic Warrior Podcast. She has also appeared in magazines and online features, including interviews in Writer’s Life Magazine, Voyage Atlanta, and Forbes, reflecting the broad reach and impact of her work. 

Of Bangladeshi and American descent, Zaman lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family. Her journey, from clinician to best-selling author and media contributor, illustrates a sustained commitment to helping others navigate their inner landscapes and live with purpose, resilience, and authenticity.

How are you helping clients with self-awareness, identity work, and trauma-informed healing to change lives? 

In my work with mental health therapy, we start with discussing current issues while navigating their past to understand what makes them the person they are today. I’m a big proponent of psychoeducation, so as we are unearthing patterns of belief tied to behaviors and emotional responses, I teach why it is happening to them from a neurological perspective. With trauma work especially, it helps to know that the current experiences and their response all have a psychological meaning and reason behind them, and are typically an expected response given their background and what they’ve learned through life experiences; Whether overt or covert in nature. I get the honor to hold their trust as they navigate through this journey of discovering all the events that contributed to the person they are today, what to unlearn, healthy coping skills, and finally taking steps towards who they are wanting to become. I utilize elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, trauma-focused therapy, and brain spotting, though it usually feels like a conversation over a cup of coffee between lifetime friends. 

“You have the power to course-correct your life once you understand your blueprint.” Explain 

We go through life making decisions based on the foundation that was created in our subconscious during early childhood development. We assume that we are the masters of our lives, but we are actually living out the narrative that was written for us. How we react to the world, who we choose to love, what feels safe, and all other choices are influenced by the messages we received in childhood, whether overtly or covertly, by our experiences. That is where our belief system was developed and how we go through life. Only when we are aware of these patterns and systems of belief are we able to decide whether or not that is the life we wish to continue to live. Take, for example, someone who wishes for connection and intimacy, yet when they meet someone where the connection is undeniable, they may slowly pull away and spend longer moments before responding, unlike how things were when they first met. They might disclose that they are now busier than usual, feeling more tired, or do not have the time to reach out. When, instead, they had specific experiences where love was withdrawn because they did something that the caregiver or significant other disapproved of, what was said or done, then the fear of losing this connection will be substantial enough to tinge attachment with fear of rejection or abandonment. In order to shield ourselves from this belief of inevitable loss and hurt, they might pull back so that they are not as invested and therefore will not be devastated when this relationship proves to be the same as the others that came before. This pattern will repeat in many ways and in all relationships until the original blueprint becomes part of their awareness. In understanding this pattern of thought, feelings, and behavior associated with connection and intimacy, they can work towards unlearning what was and work towards how they wish to show up in the world. 

Tell us about your innovative self-assessment tool, ID. ME Quiz.

The ID ME Quiz is a self-awareness assessment created to help people evaluate their sense of identity and self-image. It’s designed to give you insight into how well you know and understand yourself, how grounded your sense of self is, and whether you might benefit from personal growth work around confidence and identity. The I.D. ME Quiz typically explores themes like:

How clear do you feel about who you are and what you believe? How much does your self-perception affect your relationships and decisions? Whether your identity feels authentic or is influenced heavily by others, and areas where you might want to grow or heal to feel more secure in yourself.

It comprises 10 questions with yes or no answers that explore the following themes:

1. Identity clarity

• Example: “I feel confident describing who I am without relying on other people’s opinions.”
•  This checks whether your sense of self comes from you or from others.

2. Decision-making

• Example: “When I make choices, I usually know what I want instead of going along with others.”
• This looks at independence and confidence in decisions.

3. Authenticity

• Example: “I feel like I can be myself in most situations.” This explores whether you feel free to be genuine or feel pressure to act differently.

4. Emotional awareness

• Example: “I understand why I feel the way I do in difficult situations.” This measures self-awareness and emotional understanding.

5. External validation

• Example: “I need approval from others to feel good about myself.” This helps identify how much your self-worth depends on others.

What will people notice when working with you? 

People will see that I embody all of the traits I am helping the clients to face. I will show up in my most authentic self, no matter what topic we are addressing, and show them that no part of you should be kept hidden. In working with people who have experienced trauma, whether it was one significant life-altering moment or subtle years of emotional neglect and covert abuse, it is daunting to face themselves because who they might have been is no longer the person looking back at themselves in the mirror. These experiences force our brains into survival mode, where we become what we need to be in order to make it through another day. I cannot expect my clients to explore their shadow selves if I am not willing to show mine as well. The goal is to strip the fear of judgment and rejection so they can start to embrace who they are at the moment and who they are working to become. 

Take us through working with a client.

Though each client will have a unique pathway and treatment plan, we work on similar themes through the process of therapy. There are stages we follow; the first is being aware of the Self. Beginning with noticing patterns, internal narratives, and how past experiences shape current behavior. This stage encourages honest observation of one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. The second stage is Acceptance of Emotions & Experiences, where we work on recognizing and validating emotions rather than suppressing or denying them. This is where we learn to understand that pain, joy, fear, and hope all have meaning. The third and most challenging stage is the Inquiry Into Beliefs & Behaviors. I often call this the storming phase, where the head and heart are actively in conflict. This stage incorporates questioning long-held beliefs about self-worth, identity, relationships, and purpose. The most extended phase of exploring “why I do what I do” rather than just “what I do.” Once successfully navigating through the storming stage, we embark on Integration & Growth. This is active work on rebuilding the sense of self while using concrete techniques (reflection, questions, practices) to shift internal narratives. We work to build new habits and ways of responding to life from a more intentional place. And finally, the Embodying Authentic Self stage. This is maintenance and action of moving beyond coping and survival into thriving with clarity and purpose.

Can you share a few client stories of true healing?

• While I cannot share the specific details of client stories, I can highlight how three of my clients went through groundbreaking transformations. I had one who came to be with profound musical talent that was limited by their belief in themselves. Over the years of unearthing these limiting beliefs associated with their childhood and current experiences, they were slowly willing to take risks in their career, leaving behind the safety of being an educator to opening a business in their field. They grew their business into a million-dollar success and have opened multiple companies. 
• Another client is perhaps my greatest depiction of healing as a South Asian woman. Through our time together, we navigated overlapping cultural, family, gender, immigration, and identity pressures. We worked on cultural duality: Feeling “too Western” in South Asian spaces and “too ethnic” in mainstream American spaces. Code-switching fatigue: Constantly adjusting behavior, language, or values depending on the environment. Being taught that mental health struggles should be hidden or minimized. Fear of bringing “shame” to the family by seeking therapy, speaking up for themselves, or setting boundaries. Unlearning the pressure to “be grateful” and not complain, especially in immigrant families. The most significant hurdle may have been enmeshment in family and romantic relationships, which is the difficulty separating personal needs from family expectations, and finally, shame around sexuality, desire, or body autonomy. She has worked tirelessly and oftentimes, filled with doubt, to redefine her own identity and is now rewriting the narrative her family and culture attempted to write for her. 

• Perhaps one where I was heavily invested was someone who came to me as a young adolescent. We worked through family trauma, parental alcoholism, and parental personality disorder. They are truly an inspiration of resiliency and held fast to the hope that if they held out long enough, we would get through it together. I hold their trust in me close to my heart still, as it was oftentimes triggering for me to watch them endure when all I could give them was reassurance, guidance, empathy, and support. They knew I was ready to fight for them at a moment’s notice, and all they had to say was when. No longer an adolescent, they have performed in venues all over the world, got their degree, lived in many countries, and send pictures from time to time showing how they are thriving. 

What is an essential element in achieving personal fulfillment and authentic living?

Understanding yourself and integrating what you learn into intentional steps as you evolve through life stages is essential. Being curious about who you are and who you are becoming is an integrated, layered process of what we as therapists define as the process of healing. Healing doesn’t necessarily mean something is broken or there is something missing. 

Healing means becoming more honest and aware of yourself. Recognizing your fears, perceptions, desires, and strengths is foundational to transformation and authentic living. By being honest with yourself, you can begin to piece together your experiences into something meaningful. 

Healing involves growth through vulnerability and reflection. Acknowledging pain, confronting old patterns, and gradually transforming how you see yourself. This reflects a woven journey where emotional insight, acceptance, and change are all interconnected.

Healing isn’t linear; it’s personal and cumulative. I believe in what I do, so of course I emphasize therapeutic techniques, identity work, and narrative exploration, since healing isn’t one big event but a layered, ongoing process, much like weaving threads together to form a whole picture rather than fixing one issue at a time. 

Tell us about the You’ve Got This, Mama series. 

The “You’ve Got This, Mama” book series is a collection of motherhood-focused guidebooks and anthologies designed to encourage, support, and empower moms through the realities and challenges of parenting. It is written and curated by Sabrina Greer and features contributions from many mothers sharing their stories and insights. I am part of three books in the series: 

You’ve Got This, Mama: A Mother’s Guide to Embracing the Chaos and Living an Empowered Life “Developing From The Negatives.” My story appears as one of the personal accounts from mothers in this anthology, focusing on growth through hardship and learning from challenging moments of motherhood. This chapter aims to help other mothers see value in the lessons that come from difficult experiences, offering both empathy and empowerment. 

• You’ve Got This, Mama, Too: A Mother’s Guide to Embracing Imperfection and Living an Authentic Life

– This book’s theme (embracing imperfection and raw motherhood experiences) gives context to my story:  authentic reflections about motherhood’s emotional highs and lows, the pressure of comparison, and the relief of community support. My section supports the book’s overall mission to show that you aren’t alone in imperfect moments. 

 You’ve Got This, Boss Mama: A Mother’s Guide to Embracing Growth and Living an Aligned Life

• Integration of identity and mothering: In this installment, the focus expands toward mothers balancing career, identity, and parenting, sharing insights on what it means to grow personally and professionally while also nurturing a family. My contribution fits into this larger conversation about alignment, ambition, and evolution as both a parent and an individual. 

What has been your greatest joy during your career? 

The greatest joy during my career has been witnessing the transitions clients go through, whether in therapy, business, or their identity. I have had the honor of working with people for years, and they continue their journey with me as part of it because I have been a constant presence with them along the way. No topic is off-limits, and we genuinely have a great time navigating it all. It can be frightening to let go of everything you once knew and the people you thought would be part of your life forever, and to embark on rebuilding each facet of your life. The greatest joy is truly having the honor of witnessing their journey through it all while being trusted not only to hold space for their growth but also to be guided by them. 

Tell us about your upcoming  “Women in Power” segment. 

The show is scheduled to air in summer 2026. It will be available on major streaming platforms in the upcoming season of Inside Success TV, a groundbreaking TV series showcasing influential entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and business icons. My episode will focus on:

• How to transform early challenges and feelings of not belonging into purpose-driven work and impact.
• How perseverance through betrayal, setbacks, and financial loss can strengthen leadership and resilience.
• Why taking ownership of your growth is more powerful than relying on others to validate or support you.
• That balancing personal responsibilities with professional goals is possible when you prioritize and plan intentionally.
• How grief and loss can be channeled into meaningful contributions that honor those you love.

• Why mentorship and guidance are essential to navigating difficult moments and accelerating personal growth.
• That curiosity about yourself and your evolving identity allows you to adapt and thrive in changing circumstances.
• How advocacy and standing up for others can define your integrity and leadership legacy.
• That consistent self-reflection uncovers patterns and beliefs that, once addressed, empower conscious life choices.
• Embracing independence and forging your own path is key to unlocking your full potential.

www.habibazaman.com