ZARA HABIB, MD

Psychiatrist

Dr. Zara Habib is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist with a deep commitment to supporting the mental health of children and families across generations. Growing up between North America and South Asia, Zara’s global perspective and lived experience inform her culturally attuned, compassionate approach to care. Her dedication to pediatric mental health began early in medical school, where she witnessed the profound impact of untreated postpartum depression, domestic violence, and psychosocial stressors on young mothers and their children—experiences that inspired her lifelong pursuit of early intervention and integrative care.

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Zara earned her medical degree from Baqai Medical University in Karachi, Pakistan, before relocating to Dubai, U.A.E., and later returning to the United States to complete her residency in General Psychiatry at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. She went on to pursue a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn.

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As a psychiatrist working across the lifespan, Zara takes a developmentally informed, relationship-centered, and holistic approach to mental health treatment. She thoughtfully considers the biological, psychological, cultural, and environmental factors that shape each person’s well-being. Zara works collaboratively with families, schools, and other professionals to ensure care is personalized and comprehensive. When appropriate, she may recommend additional supports such as parent guidance, family therapy, or referrals to other specialists.

Her clinical interests include ADHD, anxiety and depressive disorders, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorders. She also values the role of cultural identity, spirituality, and community in the healing process and encourages practices that foster overall wellness—including movement, nutrition, and mindfulness.

Zara is a passionate advocate for equitable access to mental health care. She has participated in the Legislative Conference for Mental Health on Capitol Hill and served as a resident board member for the New York Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NYCCAAP). She completed the prestigious Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program and is currently pursuing advanced certification in intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the William Alanson White Institute. Her additional training includes clinical approaches to eating disorders and certification in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), further enhancing her ability to provide nuanced, developmentally informed care.