Nayab Zafar Dehraj

Program: MS. Clinical Psychology-– Karachi Campus 

Batch: 2018 

Program: BS Psychology-– Karachi Campus 

Batch: 2016 

Co-Founder and Clinical Psychologist  

House of Pebbles  

I chose psychology to learn about human behavior and the impact of emotional suffering on our well-being. 

Back in 2016, psychology was still a nascent field and was usually taken up as a backup option. For me, psychology became the center of my professional journey when I learnt how deeply potent this field can be in the health sector. During the last four years of the undergraduate program, we learnt the basics of how psychology, mental health and healthcare can support the well-being of an individual. It was an experience filled with new projects, disciplines like journalism, personality theories, deviant psychology and many more. A glimpse into other domains allowed me to practically apply what I was learning in my bachelor’s. With my will and passion, I was able to secure a Dean’s scholarship for my high academic performance. In the final year of our bachelor’s, I was able to publish my research that explored the impact of swearing on our well-being. 

In 2016 I started my professional journey by enrolling in MS Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Professional Psychology, Bahria University, I joined the professional field with big dreams and hopes to shift the way we look at mental health. I started working for the Pakistan Institute of Living and learning as a Research Associate. During this period, I was part of multiple research projects that assessed issues like depression, schizophrenia, and abuse amongst the Pakistani population. This opportunity allowed me to see the impact of research in real-time. In my first year at the Pakistan Institute of Living and learning, I conducted field visits to healthcare centers and institutions to collect data, but more importantly engaged with patients at a deeper level. In no time, I was able to gauge the complete lack of awareness and services in our society. As I engaged with people from the clinical population, an insight started to build into what my true calling is. As we embarked on taking up clients as trainees in the MS program, I was hesitant about my prowess as a clinical practitioner. To address that, I immersed myself in learning about new techniques and approaches. I am also indebted to the support our Dean and Director, Prof Dr Zainab Zadeh provided me as a mentor, teacher and trainer. Dr Zainab Bhutto, Head of Department guided me through and through during my research. She was a supervisor who pushed me, challenged me yet practiced the true embodiment of a kind and understanding mentor. During our Master’s program, my interest developed in Mastering the clinical conversation and Psychodynamic approach. 

By design and my approach to young clients, I started seeing young adults with issues like Suicide, Depression, Trauma and Abuse. 

I started my independent practice at different private clinics and also completed my EMDR training. I have also been working with Institute of Professional Psychology, Bahria University as a visiting faculty. 

Reflecting on the high need for a community and clinical space for practitioners and mental health clients, I founded House of Pebbles. House of Pebbles provides support to young adults to cope with mental health issues, provides space for private practitioners to flourish their practices and engages the community with student internship programs, awareness workshops, training and sessions. With 50+ therapists on board with us right now, we have been able to conduct more than 8500+ therapy sessions over two years! And we hope to keep changing the landscape of mental health with continued efforts and support. 

I will always remain thankful to all teachers at the Institute of Professional Psychology, Bahria University for helping me in growing in this field.