In today’s episode, Dr. Sheeza Mohsin & Durriya Shamsi have an important conversation about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with a special focus on the South Asian community.

Durriya brings years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with neurodiversity and helps us understand what autism truly is, how it shows up across the spectrum, and why our cultural frameworks around "normalcy" can get in the way of getting our loved ones the support they need.

Whether you're a parent, a sibling, an extended family member, or simply someone who wants to show up with more compassion — this episode is for you.

Durriya Ahmed Shamsi is a BCBA (board-certified behavior analyst) and has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with neurodiversity. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology

🌐 Connect with Durriya: durriya shamsi on facebook and deeshamsi on Instagram

⏱ TIMESTAMPS:

1:38 — What is Autism? Neurodiversity explained

4:05 — Autism in the South Asian community: late diagnosis & under-representation

5:01 — Cultural stereotypes, stigma & the silence around ASD

7:38 — Supporting families: managing shame, guilt & grief after diagnosis

9:16 — High-functioning children on the spectrum & building inclusive communities

13:07 — Why early intervention matters — the brain science explained

14:26 — Levels of Autism: symptoms, behaviors & strengths

16:43 — Impact on the family system: parents, couples & siblings

18:22 — Marital strain & how couples can support each other

19:27 — Practical tips for extended family members

21:25 — Mental health stigma & the role of media and community

22:46 — A message for anyone feeling isolated and unsupported

🔔 Make sure to subscribe to “Dil Ki Recipes by Dr. Sheeza Mohsin” to tune in weekly or follow us on IG @drsheezamohsin & TikTok @dilkirecipes

🧠 Have a question or want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment below!

Produced by HAZZE MEDIA | A part of the HAZZE MEDIA Podcast Network | To Learn More, visit: www.hazzemedia.com

#AutismAwareness #SouthAsianMentalHealth #NeurodiversityMatters #DesiCommunity #BreakTheStigma #AutismParenting #DilKiRecipes

In the newest episode of Dil Ki Recipes, Dr. Sheeza Mohsin sits with Zeinab Masud Agha to explore one of the most important, and misunderstood, topics in mental health: the world of professional coaching.

They cover the difference between coaching and therapy, why supervision is non-negotiable, and what it really means to be an ethical coach working with South Asian clients. From navigating men caught between their spouse and parents, to why South Asians resist celebrating their own wins, to the dangers of untrained coaches in Pakistan and India.

Zeinab Masud Agha is a Seattle-based Behavioral Coach, Writer and Public Speaker

🌐 Connect with Zeinab: https://zeinabmasudagha.com/

⏱ TIMESTAMPS:

4:41 — Why Supervision Is Essential for South Asian Coaches: The importance of case consultation, checking biases, and protecting clients

7:05 — Therapy vs. Coaching Dual Training: How being trained as both a therapist and coach shapes sessions and the value of a humanistic lens

10:10 — When to Refer Out

12:59 — Coaching Standards: North America vs. South Asia

16:07 — Behavioral Coaching & the Tiny Habits Method

19:23 — Coaching Men Caught Between Spouse and Parents

23:22 — Gender in Coaching

24:14 — The Coach-Client Relationship: Trust, confidentiality, and finding the right fit

27:14 — Client Fear of Gossip in the South Asian Community

30:46 — What Is a Golden Behavior?

31:22 — Why South Asian clients struggle to celebrate their win & the role of toxic shame

33:45 — When Behavioral Coaching Isn't Working

35:20 — Supporting Clients Through Divorce

39:09 — Coaching vs. Therapy Defined Clearly: Goals, scope, emotional regulation vs. action plans, and why both disciplines matter

🔔 Make sure to subscribe to “Dil Ki Recipes by Dr. Sheeza Mohsin” to tune in weekly or follow us on IG @drsheezamohsin & TikTok @dilkirecipes

🧠 Have a question or want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment below!

Produced by HAZZE MEDIA | A part of the HAZZE MEDIA Podcast Network | To Learn More, visit: www.hazzemedia.com

#CoachingAndTherapy #SouthAsianDiaspora #MentalHealthMatters #SouthAsianWellness #TinyHabits #ExecutiveCoach #CoachingLife #MindsetCoach #HabitCoach #SouthAsianRelationships #MarriageCounseling #FamilyDynamics #BiculturalIdentity

In the newest episode of Dil Ki Recipes, Dr. Sheeza Mohsin sits with Dr. Umar Latif (triple board-certified in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and addiction medicine) to discuss mental health challenges in the South Asian/Desi immigrant community.

The episode covers topics from cognitive dissonance between outward success and inner struggles, generational trauma, cultural stigma around mental health, the intersection of faith and psychiatry, addiction as a brain illness, men's mental health, and the sandwich generation caring for both children and aging parents with dementia.

🌐 Connect with Dr. Latif: https://noesisclinic.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/umarlatifmd/

📖 Subscribe to his newsletter: https://blog.umarlatifmd.com/subscribe

⏱ TIMESTAMPS:

3:10 - Challenges in South Asian community: cognitive dissonance, achievement culture

4:50 - How cultural values perpetuate emotional disconnection

6:00 - Intergenerational trauma: mothers perpetuating misogynistic patterns

7:30 - FOMO culture and social anxiety across generations

8:00 - Teen suicide crisis: social media impact and mental health

9:30 - Intersection of faith, spirituality, and psychiatry

10:30 - Why spirituality matters in healing (bio-psychosocial-spiritual model)

12:00 - The problem with confusing religious leaders with mental health professionals

13:50 - Overcoming family resistance to psychiatric medication

15:00 - Biology of mental illness explained (functional impairment)

17:00 - Addiction as brain illness (not moral failure)

18:00 - Process addictions: work, food, porn, gaming, people-pleasing

19:30 - Dopamine and the neuroscience of addiction loops

20:30 - Love addiction and trauma bonding in abusive relationships

21:00 - Fight, flight, freeze, and fawning / culturally rewarded trauma response

22:00 - Toxic masculinity vs. good men underrepresented in mental health

23:00 - Creating safe spaces for men to be vulnerable

24:30 - Loneliness epidemic in high-achieving men (health impacts)

26:00 - Sandwich generation: caring for aging parents and children

26:30 - Early detection of dementia and mild cognitive impairment

27:30 - Caregiver burden, guilt, and anticipatory grief

29:00 - Elder abuse and role reversal in dementia care

30:00 - When to seek psychiatric help immediately (safety concerns)

🔔 Make sure to subscribe to “Dil Ki Recipes by Dr. Sheeza Mohsin” to tune in weekly or follow us on IG @drsheezamohsin & TikTok @dilkirecipes

🧠 Have a question or want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment below!

Produced by HAZZE MEDIA | A part of the HAZZE MEDIA Podcast Network | To Learn More, visit: www.hazzemedia.com

#MentalHealthAwareness #SouthAsianMentalHealth #DesiCommunity #Psychiatry #BreakTheStigma #GenerationalTrauma #MensMantalHealth #ImmigrantMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #TherapyMatters #IslamAndMentalHealth #MentalHealthPodcast #EmotionalWellness #CulturalStigma #HealingJourney