Today we’d like to introduce you to Afshan Malik.
Hi Afshan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a native of Pakistan. My parents were ex-pats in Kuwait, so I was raised in Kuwait till I turned 18. I have wanted to be a fashion designer since I can remember; I used to make clothes for my dolls and even for myself as a teenager. After completing high school, I enrolled in a prestige fashion school for a fashion designers in Pakistan. Long story, as much I loved and wanted to be a fashion designer, it did not align with my personality. Adjusting to my native country and the vanity of the fashion industry broke my spirit to continue, and I dropped out of the fashion school after two years of grinding. Filled with despair and loss, I did not know what to do next in life… since I could remember, I only saw myself playing with color and fabric, creating designs—the artistry of draping, sewing, and intertwining clothing articles to create style.
Not knowing what to do for my career, I listened to my father, followed his path into Finance, and completed an MBA with a major in Finance. During my second last semester in the MBA, I was introduced to my husband; he was an American visiting his family in Pakistan; six months later, we were married; two years later, I immigrated to the USA.
Starting a new life, not only in a new country but on a new continent, had its pandora box of challenges. Once again, I was back to square one with the same question; what to do next? Due to degree credit equivalency, I was required to complete additional courses to work in the Finance sector. While I was busy figuring out my redo roadmap in Finance, I became pregnant. During pregnancy, I decided to take some childcare classes and took a child psychology class. That was it. It was love at first sight with psychology, and the rest is history. Today I am a licensed Clinician with expertise in mental health, addiction, family, and trauma, and a certified Lifestyle coach.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am a therapeutic coach; I never knew this was my destination (as of now, it is). Sometimes we see the goal, and other times a pitstop in the journey becomes the destination. I was four months pregnant when I became fascinated by my first-ever child psychology class; by the time my daughter was born in October, I was enrolled in prerequisites classes for Ph.D. in psychology at UMSL. The following five years were grueling with two kids, part-time work, and marriage while adjusting to building a life in the new country—two years in the Ph.D. I recognized that I am not into academics and am more intent on the hands-on, direct impact. So I redirected from my Ph.D. and graduated with a master’s in Counseling.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My personal and professional growth inspired the Begin Again Consciously framework. I blended the best of both disciplines– therapy and coaching and have created a robust methodology built on evidence-based protocols that I developed specifically to meet the unique needs of each individual who is about to enter or is going through emotionally charged transitions and transformations in their life.
Begin again consciously is a therapeutic coaching process that I created for emotionally charged transitions. The process helps gain insights, clarity, and confidence to take the next step and move forward.
My extensive education, experience in mental health, and specialized training in trauma (EMDR), acceptance (ACT), addiction, family (SFT), and relationships (RFT) have strengthened my skills and intuitions in understanding people’s inner blocks. Also, my training (Energy leadership coaching) and experience as a life coach have equipped me to guide individuals to move forward with a clear goal and an action plan to lead an empowered and aligned life.
As a therapeutic coach, I meet with adult individuals one-on-one in confidential online sessions. I incorporate creative, reflective exercises, strategic thinking, crucial questions, and brainstorming to empower individuals in their transitional journeys.
What makes me different is that I work inside out principle. My main superpower is my hyped intuition, my interactive style, and many concepts that I have created such as; selfNess, Mind-Body-Environmental (MBE), etc…My superpower is that I live on three continents made me perceive and understand things, human nature universally, beyond the basic scope of psychology.
I am known for my direct, results-oriented, no-nonsense yet compassionate approaches, my teaching style, wisdom, and intuition, and for building internal accountability.
I center around healing, empowering & inspiring to live life consciously. I explore and dig deeper into individuals’ belief systems, internal language, neuron pathways, and reactive behaviors.– To establish new ways of being, raise self-awareness and activate emotional intelligence. In the process, individuals heal from emotional wounds and tap into their inner wisdom, strengths, and creativity. Discover their core internal and external values, identify priorities, and explore new perspectives. Gain clarity, confidence, and growth to become intentional and conscious.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
All my memories are precious to me. I was the ultimate tomboy, a rough and tough girl who was constantly mistaken for being sweet—shocking others and sometimes even myself. Whenever I think of that version of me, it brings me a smile and wisdom. My fearlessness and curiosity always got me in trouble and out of sticky situations. Picking a favorite memory would be like admitting to having a favorite child. But, I have to say…my favorite one is climbing to the top of our apartment buildings and walking or sitting on the ledge waiting for my father to come to get me; those were the most precious moments I spent with him that I will give anything to have a few of them back. I am who I am today because of the conversations in those moments with my father.
Pricing:
- Initial Individual Session: $175 for 60-90 min. (one time)
- Follow-up Individual Sessions: $145 for 45-60min. (ongoing)
- Solution / Strategy Session: $250 for a 90 min.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.afshanmalikconsulting.com/
- Instagram: afshans_begin_again_diaries
