Biography
Wendy Ayala is an Associate Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from California State University, Northridge, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. She embraced Islam in April 2020 and brings a wealth of experience working with aging populations, refugee families, school-aged children, adolescents, and adults. Wendy is certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and suicide awareness and prevention, which have equipped her to provide impactful mental health services to underserved communities. Her recent role as a case manager strengthened her commitment to connecting families with essential resources.
Wendy’s ambition is to raise mental health awareness and serve as a compassionate guide for those seeking personal growth. She is inspired by the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) teaching: “There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is sound the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt, and that surely is the heart” (al-Bukhārī, 2010, Hadith 52). By focusing on the spiritual heart, Wendy seeks to offer a humanistic, Islamic approach through an intersectional lens, supporting the Muslim community in its journey toward resilience and wellness in modern times.
Clinical Focus:
Anxiety
Anger Management
Adjustment Issues (e.g., divorce, grief, loss, stress management)
Children & Adolescents (School-Aged)
Depression
Domestic Violence
Geriatric Concerns
Migration & Acculturative Stress
Trauma
Women’s Health
Modalities:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Motivational Interviewing
Play Therapy (particularly with children and adolescents)
Art Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Strengths-Based Therapy
Culturally Sensitive Therapy (e.g., addressing migration and acculturative stress)
Humanistic & Person-Centered Therapy
Languages Spoken
English
Spanish