Meet Salaado (She/Her)

Speaks Ormo and English

Education

Master of Social Work: Augsburg (in-progress)

Biography

Hi, my name is Salaado!

I am a Minnesota-born, Somali American student therapist currently in my graduate program at Augsburg. I am passionate about helping others and come from a family of healers (lots of healthcare workers as well as some other social workers!).

My decision to become a social worker was deeply influenced by my grandmother’s stroke. After her stroke, I saw firsthand how quickly a major health event can change not only one person’s life, but the lives of an entire family. My family had to navigate changes in her health, daily care, and overall independence while also learning how to support her and adjust to our new responsibilities.

Through this experience, I began to understand how important it is for individuals and families to have someone who can provide support, connect them with resources, advocate for their needs, and help them navigate difficult systems. Seeing my grandmother’s experience inspired me to pursue social work because I wanted to become that source of support for other individuals and families facing challenging and life-changing circumstances. It ultimately shaped my passion for helping others and showed me the meaningful role social workers can have during some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life.

My Practice

I enjoy working with adults navigating a variety of life experiences and mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, stress, and emotional challenges. As your therapist, my goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate difficult thoughts or feelings, but to help you better understand your experiences and develop strategies to cope, manage symptoms, and move toward greater well-being.

My style is collaborative, grounded, and responsive. I move at the pace that feels right for the client—whether that’s creating space to build trust or working directly toward specific goals. I value open dialogue, transparency, and flexibility, and I strive to ensure clients feel supported, heard, and respected throughout the therapeutic process. I am patient with clients who are slower to warm up and can also work well with individuals who are assertive about their goals in therapy. Occasionally, I may assign some light therapy “homework” to help you unpack and reflect on our conversations as we work towards your therapy goals.