Hello, and thank you for taking the time to get to know me.

My journey to becoming a psychologist has been long, meaningful, and filled with unexpected turns. I am profoundly grateful to now be in a position where I can support others and make a genuine difference in their lives.

I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2011, followed by a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. My passion for psychology stemmed from a deep hunger to more fully understand the human mind and spirit. That desire led me to pursue further training at Adler University in Chicago, where I completed my Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology. Those five years of intensive study and clinical work transformed me in ways I could never have imagined, both personally and professionally.

Throughout my training, I gained diverse and rich experiences that shaped my clinical identity. I worked in a psychiatric hospital with children, adolescents, and adults facing severe mental health challenges. It was there that I developed critical skills in collaborating with families and multidisciplinary teams to create individualized care plans. I learned that even in the most difficult cases, empathy, compassion, and flexibility are essential. Where others may have seen “difficult” clients, I saw human beings carrying the weight of trauma and pain who deserved to be truly seen and understood.

I also trained in a neuropsychological clinic, where I conducted psychological assessments and wrote comprehensive diagnostic reports. Although I ultimately realized that psychological testing would not be my primary professional focus, the experience taught me how to interpret and translate complex data into meaningful insights for clients and their families.

One unexpected yet deeply rewarding chapter of my training was my rotation in an OB/GYN specialty clinic. There I worked with women who were trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, or navigating other reproductive mental health challenges. Though I was not yet a mother at the time, I found myself deeply connected to the emotional experiences of the women I worked with. It was a profoundly human, woman-to-woman experience, one that allowed me to walk alongside them as they shaped the lives they envisioned for themselves.

I completed my internship at a nationally recognized clinic known for its focus on psychodynamic therapy. There, I received extensive training in attachment theory, child development, and parenting. I worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, and developed a therapeutic approach centered on authentic connection. During this time, I also became a mother, which added a personal depth to my clinical work. I learned the importance of not just offering coping tools, but helping clients understand themselves at a fundamental level. Through secure therapeutic relationships, clients often began to rewrite their life stories in powerful and lasting ways.

After graduation, I proudly became “Dr. Achmar.” I made the decision to move back to San Antonio to complete my postdoctoral supervised hours in a private practice setting. Upon becoming fully licensed, I felt called to dedicate my work to supporting women at every stage of life. That calling continues to guide my practice today.

In my personal time, I’m intentional about spending quality moments with my husband and our two wonderful children. I have a deep passion for travel and love exploring new places that offer rich cultural experiences and adventure. To unwind, I enjoy working out and indulging in my guilty pleasure, reality TV. While I’m often surrounded by people, I also cherish quiet moments alone with a good book. Lately, I’ve been focusing on being more present in my everyday life and learning to slow down, embracing both the highs and the lows along the way.

Dr. Zayna Achmar