Most people don't come to me with one neat problem. They come with a tangle: low mood wrapped up with old pain, wrapped up with difficulties concentrating, wrapped up with relationships that don't quite work. I like tangles. I'm good at sitting with the mess and helping you pull the threads apart until things start to make sense.
I'm Malika. I work with people who feel weighed down by painful things from their past, who are struggling with things that others seem to handle easily, or who've always felt a bit different from the people around them. Maybe childhood wasn't straightforward for you. Maybe closeness with other people feels complicated. Maybe you've spent a long time feeling like you're falling short of expectations that were never fair to begin with. Those are things I take seriously and approach without assumptions.
My style is warm but direct. I won't tiptoe around the difficult stuff, but I'll never push you further than you're ready to go. We'll set realistic goals together and track them honestly. I'll suggest things for you to reflect on between our conversations, and I'll always explain why I'm asking what I'm asking. No guessing games.
I believe deeply that people can change, even when it doesn't feel possible. Even when you're exhausted, even when you've tried before and it didn't work. Sometimes it's about finding the right angle, and that's what I'm here to help with. We'll look at what's driving the patterns in your life, the ones you chose and the ones that chose you, and figure out which ones are worth keeping.
I also think the relationship between us matters. If you don't feel comfortable, nothing useful happens. So I pay attention to that. I'll ask how things are going, whether the way we're working suits you, and I'll adjust if it doesn't. There's no single approach that fits everyone, and I'd rather be flexible than rigid.
Whatever your situation, I'll adapt to you. Some people want structure. Others need room to think out loud. I can do both. What I won't do is waste your time with vague reassurances. You deserve better than that.