Meet Manal (she/her/hers): a South Asian muslim therapist in Twin Cities, MN
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A warm welcome from Manal, a South Asian Muslim therapist in the Twin Cities, MN
I want you to know that you are not alone, and that you don’t need to have it all figured out. I’m here for whatever you need, whenever you’re ready. You are the expert on your own life, and I’m here to collaborate with you. Empathy, warmth, non-judgment, compassion, care, and collaboration are embedded in my work and personality. I am a person who will laugh with you, cry with you, and sit with you as we try to make sense of life’s challenges.
Who I support
I work with individuals with concerns related to anxiety, self-doubt, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and/or feeling pressure to balance multiple roles and identities. I work with folks navigating immigrant (first- and second-generation) experiences as a second-generation immigrant, and help individuals address religious trauma or exploration.
What shapes how I show up
As a second-generation Pakistani-American Muslim woman, I know what it is like to grow up between cultures and balance different values, expectations, and responsibilities. I understand what it is like to feel different, wonder where you belong, and to search for support when people around you don’t have the language or tools to talk about what you’re going through. This is why it is so important for me to make our therapy space feel safe enough to bring your full self to our work together. This space is for you. All of you.
How we might work together
I work from a Person-Centered therapy approach while utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Narrative Therapy. I focus on creating space for you to make sense of your experiences, explore where your beliefs about yourself came from, why certain patterns keep showing up, and how your relationships, culture, family, and life experiences have shaped you. As a South Asian Muslim therapist, it’s important for me to acknowledge how we are shaped by our relationships, communities, cultures, faiths, stories, foods, and lived experiences, and I want to honor whatever feels authentic and meaningful to you.
A little more about me
I love trying new food, playing and watching sports (Go Lynx), listening to the same playlists 300 times, and cooking and sharing spicy foods.
A gentle invitation
If anything here resonated with you, that matters. Taking the first step toward support can feel like a lot, and there's no pressure to have it all figured out before you reach out.
Book a free initial consultation with our team to learn more about working with Manal — a relaxed, no-commitment conversation where you can ask questions, share a little about what's bringing you in, and get a feel for whether working together feels right.
Further Reading and Resources
About the Author
Merrily Young-Hye Sadlovsky (she/her/hers), MSW, LICSW, LCSW, is a therapist, clinical supervisor, and co-owner of MindBalance Mental Health Care, an independent holistic mental health practice serving Minneapolis and individuals across Minnesota. She is an EMDRIA EMDR-Certified Therapist and teaches clinical courses as an adjunct faculty member in an MSW program in Minneapolis. Her work focuses on culturally responsive, trauma-informed therapy supporting adoptees, BIPOC, immigrant, and LGBTQ communities, and college and graduate students navigating anxiety, OCD, trauma, disordered eating, and life transitions.
Educational Disclaimer
The information shared in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects our perspectives and understanding at the time of writing. It is not intended as medical, mental health, legal, or insurance advice, and should not be relied on as such. Reading this content does not create a therapeutic or professional relationship. For guidance specific to your situation, we encourage you to consult with a qualified professional.
A Note About This Blog
The ideas and experiences behind every post are the writer’s own. AI is used as a writing helper — for brainstorming, grammar, and organizing thoughts — so the content is as clear and readable as possible. Everything is reviewed before publishing, with citations and links added to credit the programs, people, and resources that inspired it. Transparency matters, especially when the topic is mental health. Readers deserve to know how this content is made.
