Dr. Layla Asamarai is an Iraqi-American clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma. She came to the United States as a toddler when her father began his doctoral studies, spending her early years in Michigan before her family settled in Minnesota. She is the founder and director of The Luminous Mind, a Minnesota-based mental health clinic committed to culturally responsive care through a decolonized lens.
Dr. Asamarai is dedicated to the healing of individuals, families, and communities, with an emphasis on preserving dignity and honoring wisdom. With over 20 years of clinical experience—including nearly nine years of practice in Dubai—she has worked across diverse cultural and clinical settings, including inner-city communities, hospital psychology, community mental health, and with survivors of torture. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Asamarai has extensive experience in program development and in training mental health professionals and, in recent years, has developed a focused interest in Islamic Psychology. In 2016, she authored a chapter titled Utilization of Islamic Principles in Marital Counseling.
In addition to serving on Rabata’s board, Dr. Asamarai currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of New Arab American Theater Works in Minneapolis, Minnesota.