Draft:Israa Nasir

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Israa Nasir

Israa Nasir is a Pakistani-Canadian psychotherapist, author, speaker, and mental health advocate based in New York City. She is best known for her work in mental health education and public advocacy through her digital wellness platform, WellGuide, and for her debut nonfiction book, Toxic Productivity, which critiques the psychological impact of hustle culture.

Early life and education

Nasir was born in Pakistan and raised between Saudi Arabia and Toronto, Canada. Her multicultural upbringing has informed her cross-cultural sensitivity and understanding of identity, which are central to her work in mental health advocacy.

She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Toronto and later earned a master’s degree in counselling from Adelphi University’s Derner Institute in New York. She is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through the Beck Institute and in Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) through the Albert Ellis Institute.

Career

Nasir has over a decade of experience in psychotherapy, practicing in both Ontario, Canada, and New York State. She specializes in culturally responsive care and has held various clinical leadership roles within the digital mental health space. In her role as Director of Clinical Strategy and Operations at Anise Health, she focuses on developing scalable mental health interventions rooted in cultural competency.

Earlier in her career, she held positions at Upliv Health, Valera Health, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. She also co-founded Ammi Service, a mobile health solution for maternal wellness in underserved communities in Pakistan, aimed at improving access to maternal health information through voice-based technology.

WellGuide and digital presence

In 2019, Nasir founded WellGuide, a mental health education platform that provides evidence-based wellness content through social media, workshops, and public speaking. The WellGuide Instagram account (@well.guide) has over 275,000 followers, while her TikTok account has more than 47,000 followers and 1.8 million likes. Her content focuses on themes such as emotional resilience, identity formation, and mental fitness, often tailored to the experiences of AAPI and BIPOC communities.

In 2024, Nasir was named a Webby Award Honoree in the category of Fitness, Health & Wellness for her work on WellGuide. That same year, she was featured in Bank of America's Better Money Habits campaign alongside Holly O’Neill, which was recognized at the 17th Annual Shorty Awards in the Financial Services category.

Public speaking and advocacy

Nasir is a frequent keynote speaker and has been featured as a mental health expert by NBC News, Teen Vogue, and Business Insider. She serves on the PS Wellness Council with Vox Media and delivers workshops on topics such as toxic productivity, imposter syndrome, culturally competent workplace practices, and post-trauma workplace decompression.

She has spoken at major conferences including SXSW—where she also held a book signing—and the Mental Health America Conference. She has led over 100 corporate workshops and seminars on mental health and emotional well-being.

She has also appeared on numerous podcasts, including The World’s First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster, The Modern Millennial, Immigrantly, The Everyday Warrior with Mike Sarraille (for Sports Illustrated), Axios 1 Big Thing, and Mind the Gap.

Writing

On November 19, 2024, Nasir published her first book, Toxic Productivity, which explores the psychological and cultural roots of hustle culture and the myth that self-worth is tied to constant productivity. The book has been promoted as a guide to redefining success and fostering emotional well-being.

She also publishes a bi-weekly newsletter that includes curated mental health resources and longform writing on wellness and identity on Substack, also called The Well Guide.

Nasir writes a monthly column for Popsugar called “Therapist’s Corner,” where she provides mental health insights on emotional resilience, identity, and practical strategies for well-being. She has also written for national outlets including Harvard Business Review, Time Magazine, GOOP, Big Think, SELF Magazine, and CIAOoo Magazine.

Media partnerships and influence

Nasir's influence in the wellness industry has led to brand partnerships with companies such as Warby Parker, Love Bonito, Mental Health America (MHA), UpWork, Costa Farms, and Bank of America.

Her audience primarily consists of women aged 25–45, and her social media engagement averages over 7.7%.

Bibliography

• Nasir, Israa. Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More. New York: Bridge City Books, 2024. ISBN 978-1962305358.