Waleed Ahmed, MSW

Hi, I'm Waleed Ahmed. As a therapist and part of the team at Imagine Healthcare, I specialize in treating patients with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, as well as families dealing with intergenerational trauma. For the countless people who have been failed by mainstream treatments, psychedelic therapies offer avenues for profound healing. Enabling a deep dive into core thoughts and behaviors, the use of an altered state of consciousness in conjunction with therapy helps individuals explore and examine their ways of existing in the world under the care of an experienced professional. At the heart of this work lies an inviting space and the chance to tell your unique story. I stand in solidarity with all people headed down such a path, with all its messiness and pain. And with every individual I meet, I'm reminded of the great privilege I have in standing beside them and sharing in their unique journey as they seek to rediscover the myriad, joyful facets of who they are. Throughout this process, I aim to foster inner and outer conversations that heal, enlighten, and empower not only individuals, but also families and communities at large. 

I received my Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2024. I hold a certification from the Behavioral Health Workforce and Training Program at the Center for Field Innovation, Research, Strategy & Training (C-FIRST), and I am a member of the Illinois Psychedelic Society. In a past life, I studied physics and worked in the financial markets. Due to my indirect path to social work, I've come to believe in a holistic approach to mental health, grounded in a diverse range of psychological theories and a deep appreciation of universal human needs. This approach draws from therapeutic frameworks such as Internal Family Systems and Existential Therapy, alongside foundational concepts like Maslow's hierarchy. I invite you to reach out to us at Imagine for the change you seek.