Dr. Murtaza is the Ravenswood Program Manager and a Staff Psychologist at CHC who is passionate about working with diverse children, adolescents and families through a framework of evidence-based practice and cultural humility. She entered the field of psychology with a desire to reduce mental health disparities and promote resilience in every client and family with whom she works. Dr. Murtaza received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, double majoring in Psychology and Political Economy and minoring in Global Poverty and Practice. She proceeded to obtain her MA and PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Murtaza completed her APA-accredited Psychology Predoctoral Internship at the USC/UCEDD at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). She proceeded to complete her Postdoctoral Fellowship at CHC, where she received specialized training in comprehensive DBT, focusing on the treatment of adolescents who experience self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts/behaviors.
Throughout her training, Dr. Murtaza has worked with children, teens, young adults, adults and families with a range of presenting problems, including anxiety, depression, self-harm/suicidality, ADHD, behavioral challenges, trauma and adjustment difficulties. She has conducted individual, group and family therapy, psychological assessment, consultation-liaison work, program evaluation and outreach in a variety of settings, including outpatient community mental health clinics, a college counseling center and pediatric hospitals. Dr. Murtaza has provided these services in multiple languages including English, Urdu/Hindi, and Spanish.
Dr. Murtaza has received clinical training in several therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy, solution-focused therapy, trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) and multicultural therapy approaches. During her internship year at CHLA, she received specialized training in Trauma Psychology and also completed the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (CA-LEND) Interdisciplinary Training Program to enhance her competency in working with children with developmental disabilities.
In her spare time, Dr. Murtaza enjoys hiking, traveling, learning to cook new recipes, and spending quality time with her family, friends and cat.
Education
- PhD, Clinical-Community Psychology, Georgia State University (GSU)
- MA, Clinical-Community Psychology, Georgia State University (GSU)
- BA, Psychology and Political Economy (Double Major), Global Poverty and Practice (Minor), University of California, Berkeley
Licenses
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California Board of Psychology (PSY 32913)
Professional Affiliations
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Society for Community Research and Action (APA Division 27)
Awards
- Graduate Student Dissertation Stipend Award, GSU Department of Psychology
- Shaun Duggins Service Award, GSU Graduate Association of Student Psychologists
- Society for Community Research and Action (APA Division 27) Dissertation Grant
- El-Hibri Foundation Scholarship for Advancing Inclusion
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Fellowship
Languages
- Urdu/Hindi (Native Proficiency)
- Spanish (Professional Working Proficiency)
- Arabic (Limited Working Proficiency)
Recent Presentations
- Murtaza, Z. & Kuperminc, G. (2019, April). Fighting Hate-Based Violence, Racism, and Discrimination: Advances in Research and Practice. Panel presentation at ResilienceCon 2019 (Resilience Conference), Nashville, TN.
- Murtaza, Z., Arce, M.A., & Chan, W.Y. (2017, June). Intergenerational Conflict, Social Support and Depression. Paper presentation presented during a symposium entitled New Americans in the New South: Acculturation and Youth Development. Presented at the 2017 Biennial Society for Community Research and Action Conference, Ottawa, Canada.
Publications
- Chan, W. Y., Miller, J. L., Arce, M. A. & Murtaza, Z. (2018). Immigration issues. S. Hupp & J. Jewell (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development. New York: Wiley.
