About Dr. Elika
I am a therapist, coach, educator, facilitator, and social impact leader whose work sits at the intersection of trauma, human connection, leadership, identity, and change.
Across my career, I have worked in nonprofit leadership, global development, higher education, peacebuilding, and conflict-affected settings. That work has continually brought me back to a central question:
What helps people understand themselves, reconnect with one another, and move through change in ways that are meaningful, sustainable, and human?
Today, through Dr. Elika LLC, I work with individuals and organizations through therapy, coaching, workshops, facilitation, speaking, and trauma-informed approaches to personal and organizational change.
A Path Carved by Purpose
My professional path has crossed disciplines and borders.
Across Cultures and Systems
I have worked in international development and humanitarian contexts, including with the World Bank, and have spent years working across cultures and within communities navigating conflict, migration, change, and complex systems.
I have also worked as a nonprofit executive and organizational leader, guiding mission-driven work through growth, change, strategy, and complex cross-cultural environments.
"What allows people to feel safe enough to be fully human with themselves and each other?"
Moving between worlds
Born in Iran and having lived and worked across multiple countries, I also bring a deeply personal understanding of migration, identity, culture, and what it means to move between worlds.
Credentials & Training
Education
Doctorate in Education, Master's in Social Work, and Master's in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Clinical & Somatic Training
Trauma-informed care, somatic approaches, EMDR, and restorative practices.
Emerging Approaches
Training in psychedelic-assisted therapy, preparation, and integration — grounded in care, ethics, and responsibility.
Enroot
Beyond my work through Dr. Elika LLC, I am also the founder of Enroot, a nonprofit creating connection across differences through food, storytelling, and shared experience.
Enroot brings people together through shared meals, community experiences, storytelling, and the Nom Nom podcast, exploring how food can become an entry point for curiosity, relationship, and connection across culture and identity.
Learn About Enroot"Healing is not about becoming a better version of yourself. It is about allowing yourself to be seen, exactly as you are, and realizing that you have always belonged to the earth."
Ready to begin?
If something here resonates, you're welcome to reach out — or begin with an intake form.