Meet
Nirmin Asali
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
license # 151353
Supervised By Raphaella Croccia, LMFT, RPT-S
About Nirmin
Nirmin is a warm and compassionate clinician dedicated to helping children and families feel safe, understood, and supported. She has completed extensive training in play therapy, child development, children's mental health, and family systems.
Nirmin has a special interest in working with children who have been through trauma or are navigating difficult family situations. She understands how trauma can affect a child's sense of safety, behavior, and relationships, and she works at each child's pace to build trust and stability. Her extensive training in trauma-informed approaches allows her to help children gradually process difficult experiences, strengthen their coping skills, and rebuild a sense of safety and security.
Nirmin has worked with families from diverse backgrounds, including refugees and recent immigrants adjusting to life in a new country.
She approaches every child and caregiver with cultural sensitivity, curiosity, and genuine care. .
Nirmin Asali holds two master's degrees: an M.A. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from National University.
She is currently completing her doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology, with a focus on Collective Trauma and Social Healing, while accruing supervised hours toward licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California.
Parents often notice how naturally Nirmin connects with their child. She builds strong, trusting relationships and creates a welcoming environment where children can move at their own pace. Her assessments are thorough yet conversational, helping families feel comfortable rather than overwhelmed.
Nirmin strongly believes in the power of Play Therapy as a child’s natural language and is committed to working with the whole family whenever possible. Her approach is flexible, relational, and client-centered.
Nirmin is bilingual in English and Arabic.
In play, children find the safety to express their story and the strength to begin healing—together with those who support them
At Child Therapy San Diego, Nirmin’s work reflects our attachment-focused, play-based philosophy—grounded in the belief that children grow and heal best within safe, supportive relationships
In her spare time, Nirmin loves sunbathing, watching movies and enjoying sunsets with her three children.
Nirmin credentials and certifications
My AMFT credential refers to Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and indicates a mental health professional who has earned a Master's degree and is working towards licensure as a Psychotherapist in California. As a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology, I have completed advanced graduate coursework and clinical training beyond her master’s degree and is in the final stages of earning her doctorate. My concentration in Collective Trauma and Social Healing reflects a deeper academic and clinical focus on how trauma impacts individuals, families, and communities, and how healing can occur within relational and cultural contexts.
