My curiosity about human interactions and behavior started early in life. Growing up as a child of immigrant parents, I had to negotiate the tension between the culture in my family home and the outside world. I always had to scan my environment and adapt accordingly between Western and Middle Eastern social norms, which meant that I had to be highly attuned to my surroundings. Naturally, I leaned towards trying to understand political diplomacy and cultural nuances.
I went on to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, specializing in Politics, Economics, and History at the University of Toronto. Over the years, I worked within minority communities to empower individuals with knowledge to overcome barriers associated with immigration. Such experiences informed my understanding of the impacts of social and economic disparities on mental well-being, sparking my interest in psychology.
In tandem, I was constantly on a journey of personal growth and wanting to better myself. I spent years acquiring academic and experiential knowledge in psychology and sociology. I am currently completing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Additionally, I am training in trauma-informed therapies to guide individuals and families to understand the nature of intergenerational trauma and its profound effects on the self, body, relationships, and spirituality.
I am also in the process of developing therapeutic strategies catering to clients from collectivist cultures. My passion also lies in bringing knowledge from Islamic literature and healing modalities to the Western world to move beyond a mental health model that solely centers on the mind to one that acknowledges emotional pain can be held in the body, particularly in the heart.
I prioritize supplying the knowledge I’ve gathered to my clients, as every individual, when given adequate resources, is their best healer. The therapeutic container I provide allows individuals to turn inwards and explore parts of themselves that they may have buried deep down. I also know that acquiring practical skills and solutions is necessary to navigate daily life and integrate this into my work. I am honored to be entrusted by clients with their most sensitive stories and approach my profession with integrity.
