When insight alone stopped cutting it, this founder built something different, with a body, a brain, and real change in mind.
*No shame in your sound bath game. No hate for Bali retreats. We just do things a little more clinical (& a lot less Instagrammable).
Featured & Verified -
Featured & Verified -
Built by Someone Who Got Tired of Surface-Level Everything
Abraham Sharkas is a licensed therapist, PhD student, researcher, and full-time nerd who somehow made “nervous system literacy” part of his job description. He works at the intersection of psychology, movement, and cultural identity—because mental health isn’t just mental, and talking isn’t always enough.
His approach blends clinical rigor with trauma-informed care, somatic depth, and a surprising fluency in both science and story. He’s trained in psychedelic integration and grounded in evidence-based frameworks—like transpersonal theory, applied positive psychology, and contemplative traditions. (Yes, he once nearly committed to Tibetan Medicine. No, he’s not here to diagnose you with your moon sign.)
Influenced by everything from Sufism to philosophy, myth to movement, Abraham’s work is shaped by the question: what actually helps people remember who they are? Also—he’s published four books of poetry and is somehow working on eight more. (Don’t ask. Seriously.)
No crystals. No shortcuts. Just care that honors your complexity—and is built to work with it.
Counseling Experience
I’m a licensed associate counselor at Layers Therapy, where I offer evidence-based, integrative mental health care with an eye toward culture, complexity, and the body. My clinical work spans individual and couples therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, psychedelic integration, and group process—grounded in inclusivity, research, and nervous system literacy.
I draw from a range of approaches—Positive Psychology, Gestalt, somatic work, CBT, mindfulness, and strength-based methods—tailored to fit the client, not just the manual.
I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Arizona State University, an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University, and I’m currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision. I’ve trained with Fluence in psychedelic integration and harm reduction, and completed advanced coursework in Applied Positive Psychology through the Positive Psychology Guild.
Outside the therapy room, you’ll find me dodging kicks in Capoeira, nerding out on movement culture, and low-key fascinated by the mechanics of dance. I’ve spent years studying contemplative systems—from the precision of Tibetan Buddhist medicine to the poetic logic of Islamic-Sufi psychology. (No incense were required. Just curiosity.)
Before joining Layers, I trained at Joy Mental Fitness, supporting clients across cultural backgrounds as they navigated trauma, anxiety, depression, and the ongoing work of identity and adaptation.
At the heart of my work? A belief that effective care should be inclusive, embodied, and built on what actually helps people move—mentally, emotionally, and sometimes literally.
Teaching Philosophy
As a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision, I bring both academic depth and lived clinical experience into the classroom. My teaching philosophy is simple: learning should be inclusive, embodied, and just rigorous enough to leave you smarter and more human.
I’m all about preparing future counselors for real-life complexity—not just textbook scenarios. That means blending didactic instruction, experiential learning, self-reflection, and a lot of questions that can’t be Googled. Whether we’re unpacking theory or practicing the art of presence, I emphasize active listening, cultural humility, and the kind of critical thinking that keeps you awake at the wheel (and your clients better supported).
My classroom is collaborative, relational, and unapologetically integrative. We pull from neuroscience, social justice frameworks, somatics, and transpersonal theory—not because it sounds good, but because mental health care needs that kind of range.
At the core, I want to mentor students into becoming clinicians who are not only competent but curious. And as a researcher, I’m always looking for ways to bring students into the fold—because scholarship should be a team sport, not a solo grind.
Teaching Style
It’s not just theory—it’s presence, connection, and everything they didn’t teach you in textbooks. In the video below, you’ll get a feel for how I teach: interactive, research-informed, and grounded in the real work counselors face every day. Expect practical tools, honest dialogue, and maybe even a moment or two that makes you pause (on purpose).
Click below to watch a sample lesson.
Because sometimes, style says more than a syllabus.
Approach to Supervision
Supervision, to me, isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about building clinicians who think, feel, and reflect with intention.
As a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision, I take a developmental and relational approach, encouraging supervisees to grow through critical self-inquiry, practical skill-building, and real-time feedback. My background in multicultural counseling, somatic work, and psychospiritual integration allows me to create a space that’s both structured and flexible—a balance between guidance and autonomy.
Supervision sessions are part dialogue, part discovery. We explore clinical challenges, celebrate growth, and clarify your voice as a practitioner—one conversation at a time. My goal is to support emerging clinicians in building confidence, cultural humility, and clinical precision in a space that’s curious, grounded, and never performative.
Interested in working together? Feel free to reach out. I’m happy to share my Supervision Disclosure Statement and Contract upon request.
Advocacy & Leadership
For over two years, I served as Acting President-Elect of Bab Al Ilm, a nonprofit focused on community, culture, and storytelling that makes room for real conversations. We organized gatherings, workshops, and creative spaces that welcomed everyone—from spiritual seekers to social changemakers.
The goal? Build bridges, not echo chambers. We made space for diverse voices, especially folks often left out of the dialogue—LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrant, and faith-based communities included.
Leadership for me isn’t about being loud—it’s about listening well, showing up consistently, and helping people feel seen. That’s the energy I brought to Bab Al Ilm, and it's the same energy I bring to the work I do now.
Got thoughts? Projects? A rant about wellness culture?
Let’s talk: Hello@wdml.xyz.
We’re always for conversations with curious people.
*No crystal consultations, influencer collabs, or moon-sign readings. Also not currently accepting applications for spirit animal readings or NFT therapy startups. (Probably.)