ABOUT ARENA

finding justice through healing

Arena is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care. Our mission is to de-stigmatize legal system involvement, increase access to care, and create a space for every person to reclaim their story with dignity and support.

We are trauma-informed, affirming care to all members of our community, regardless of life circumstance. Whether you’re seeking support following job stress or the end of a relationship, or navigating the lasting impacts of violence, abuse, incarceration, and loss, you are welcome here. We honor the complexity of healing and walk alongside you with compassion, curiosity, and respect for the journey you’ve taken to get here.

What will you face, battle, and overcome in your arena?

Our Team

Tatiana Duchak, JD, LCPC

Founder | lawyer | therapist

I work with people who have been asked to carry too much—survivors of trauma, individuals navigating mental health challenges, and those impacted by systems that weren’t built to support them. My work sits at the intersection of therapy and advocacy, grounded in the belief that many struggles make sense when we understand the context people have lived in.

Trained as both a therapist and an attorney, I bring a trauma-informed, systems-aware lens to therapy. I aim to create a space where you don’t have to explain, justify, or minimize your experience—only show up as you are.

    • Prior work experience in jails, prisons, psychiatric hospitals, child welfare, schools, and sexual assault crisis.

    • Trained in EMDR, ART

    • 40-hour Domestic Violence trained

    • I testify in court about the effects of trauma, particularly in the context of domestic violence relationships.

    • Domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or trafficking survivors

    • Millennials resolving issues, and trauma, from their childhood

    • Moms trying to figure it all out

    • Folks returning home after incarceration

    • Individuals who have been wrongfully convicted

    • Want a therapist who sees the whole picture, not just a diagnosis

    • You’re interested in understanding how past experiences, relationships, and systems shape your present

    • You’re curious about yourself, even if you feel stuck

    • You want therapy to feel steady, respectful, and human

    • You’re looking for highly structured, manualized approach

    • You’re currently in need of a higher level of care, such as intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, or multiple weekly sessions

    • You’re seeking primary treatment for substance use, OCD, or disordered eating (you deserve a highly specialized approach, and these aren’t my specialties!)

    • You’re a young child (again, you deserve someone with this specialty!)

    If this applies, I’m still happy to help connect you to resources or providers who can offer the level of support you deserve.

    • Love Yourz by J.Cole uplifts me.

    • The book Reality Bites Back by Jennifer Pozner has stayed with me.

    • The quote, “The function of freedom is to free someone else,” by Toni Morrison grounds me.

Hanan Zayed, LPC

Therapist

I work with individuals who are navigating the effects of trauma, relationship harm, and cultural or identity-related stressors. Many of the people I support are seeking a space where they can better understand the connection between their emotional experiences and their bodies, reconnect with their voice, and move through healing in a way that feels steady, collaborative, and human.

My approach to therapy is thoughtful, culturally informed, and grounded in compassion. I’m especially attentive to how trauma lives in both the mind and body, and how it can shape the ways people relate to themselves and others. In our work together, I aim to create a space that feels safe and respectful, and one where healing doesn’t need to be linear to be meaningful.

    • M.A. Clinical Psychology

    • Gottman Level I trained

    • 40-hour Domestic Violence and PAIP (Partner Abuse Intervention Programs) trained

    • Published research on intimate partner violence among Arab women (a focus that is both personally meaningful and clinically important to me!)

    • Survivors of domestic violence

    • Individuals wanting to heal from physical or psychological trauma

    • Individuals living their lives after substance use treatment, and/or are finding sobriety

    • Folks navigating depression

    • Immigrants and families navigating change, uncertainty, and belonging

    • Are healing from trauma or relationship harm, including domestic violence

    • Want to better understand the connection between your emotions and your body

    • Are navigating cultural, identity, or immigration-related stress

    • Are seeking a space where healing can be non-linear, steady, and respectful

    • If you are seeking highly specialized care related to diagnoses of Autism, ODC, or neurodevelopment issues (you deserve care from someone who is highly trained in this!)

    • You are a child under 14 (love teens though!)

    If this applies, I’m still happy to help connect you to resources or providers who can offer the level of support you deserve.

    • I prefer pen and paper over technology.

    • Energy drinks > coffee

    • I love books, but my “to-be-read” never seems to get shorter.

founder’s story

What’s ‘the arena’?

Over the course of my career, I’ve often returned to a famous speech given by Theodore Roosevelt titled, “The Man in the Arena.” In it, he describes an individual, “marred by dust and sweat and blood,” striving valiantly to conquer what’s before him. Sometimes, he falls. He’s injured, and sometimes doubtful, but he always rises.

I’ve taped this speech to the cinderblock walls of my jail therapy room. I’ve printed and distributed it to countless clients. Together, we tackle whatever creature exists in their arena. For some, it’s the consequence of neglectful, absent parents, poverty, and violence. For others, it’s disturbing memories they continue to relive. For all, it’s the thing that has impacted their quality of life, their functioning, their happiness. It’s the thing they wish, earnestly, they could conquer.

Healing, through therapy, reflection, and connection, awaits you in your arena. This time, when you step in, you are not alone. Together, we dare greatly in pursuit of a worthy cause, but the credit belongs to you - and those in the arena - showing up to the fight despite all that might stand in the way. We are honored to stand beside you.

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A trauma-informed approach to therapy & advocacy

We are committed to providing therapy and support to all individuals struggling with their mental health with a trauma-informed approach.

We specialize in treating survivors of trauma, including domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood and developmental trauma, incarceration, and other forms of violence. Our goal is to inspire hope and provide a safe place for survivors from all walks of life to process, make sense of, and heal from their past experiences.

How we can help

bridge the gap between the mental health and legal systems

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