Therapists in British Columbia

I work with individuals and couples who seek to improve their mental health and relationships. I work with individuals, who experienced trauma, struggling with anxiety, and/ or seeking meaning to life events. My unique life experience exposed me to different cultures and ways of living, which included the Middle East, Europe, and North America. I believe that relationships, mental health, and behaviors are better understood when body, mind, and context are examined simultaneously. I work with my clients to navigate through their experiences, including their spirituality, to create helpful meanings in their lives.

I have lived, studied and worked in the Arab world, South and Southeast Asia before settling in Vancouver, BC in 2011. A good friend and mentor describes me as a honey bee, a nahlah that has travelled from place to place in search of sweetness and wisdom. Urdu is my first language, and I have picked up English and some Arabic, Farsi and Hebrew along the way. I am a hanif believer who knows the divine as the light of the heavens and the earth and dares to have a critical-appreciative relationship with tradition.

“Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart” writes Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This quote, though inspiring, leaves much unexplained. How do we transform our experiences of pain and suffering (i.e. anxiety, grief, depression, relationship discord) into the beauty of a deeper heart? Marcel Proust provides a clue, “We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full”. Thus, the transformation of suffering comes through full experience. In a society that tends to bury suffering, a guide specializing in unearthing its hidden potential is key.

If you hope to overcome a dreadful anxiety, come out of a hopeless depression, build inner self-confidence, learn how to stand up for yourself, or just try to get a grip on life today; together we can achieve it. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Masters in Counselling, 7 years experience, and a genuine compassion for people, I sincerely create an encouraging and safe space where we will find what your next step looks like and provide you with the correct tools and techniques to ultimately attain what brought you to seek counselling.

My primary aim in therapy is to guide and empower clients to enact meaningful changes in their lives with the ultimate goal of reducing suffering and improving quality of life. My approach is collaborative and non-judgemental, with a focus on understanding together how the way we think, behave, or relate to others can sometimes interfere with living a full and meaningful life. I strive to bring my authenticity, humour, and curiosity into my work. I am committed to maintaining a culturally-responsive approach to the work that I do, and welcome clients from racialized and historically marginalized backgrounds.

Seeing a wide variety of clients with mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, or even PTSD, changed me and really made me realize and appreciate just how unique each of us are. We all learn and operate differently, and taking the time and effort to find out what works for each of my clients helps them to make genuine progress in their lives. The bond that we create opens up a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing without pressure, fear of judgement or ridicule. I fully believe this unconditional positive regard and empathy can help one feel full and worthy. This is your ship, let me help guide!

As a registered clinical counselor in Vancouver, I bring over 20 years of experience in dealing with stress-related and functional disorders within the field of medical-psychology and consultation. My expertise extends to chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, migraine, back pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and refractory pains. Additionally, I work closely with clients who grapple with anxiety, depression, and trauma related to their bodily distress and chronic health conditions. I firmly believe in a holistic assessment and approach for managing these complex disorders.

Congratulations on seeking counselling. You might currently be in a dark spot and hesitant to seek help. It is okay, take your time and rest assured that you are not alone in this. It takes courage to seek help and you are on your way there. I have been in your spot before and my healing journey guided me to help others overcome complex trauma. You don't need to be controlled by your past anymore. Our healing journey will help you be your authentic self again, you will feel lighter after processing the past and more in control of your future. Allow us to collaboratively create a non-judgmental space and move to a healthier future.

Hurting people hurt people, but they also tend to hurt themselves in the long run. The need for an unbiased and non-judgemental person to talk to can serve to provide a sense of relief from the stress you may be facing in the moment. I believe that is what we may need in our lives, and I am able to serve you in this area. For whatever your needs may be, I will tailor the treatment plan accordingly and strive to find the best approach to meet them.

Feeling stuck in a never ending cycle of shame, guilt, anger and feeling not enough? You are not alone! My goal is to provide you with the tools you need to adapt to life as it unfolds. I apply evidence based therapies in our sessions so you can unblock what is holding you back. Many of my clients seek support with trauma, addictions and relationship counselling. You can reach out to me via email or phone to see if we are a good fit, I offer a free 15 minute consultation. "We cannot solve problems with the kind of thinking we employed when we came up with them." - Albert Einstein.

As my mentors have helped me in my life, and as they have guided me through difficult points of self-growth and reflection, I have come to learn the value of being there for others to progress through our own difficult times. We need each other. I do believe it is far less problematic to overcome challenges with guidance and direction. Even more so when that guidance is refined through education, experience, and a standardized expectation of practice. I am capable of direct billing for ICBC and CVAP and can be accepted through other insurance agencies (i.e. Sunlife, BlueCross)

I am a Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Counselling Supervisor. My practice is guided by extensive experience working with people coming from various socioeconomic backgrounds as well as many years of serving the most vulnerable communities in Vancouver’s DTES. While my approach is integrative of modern theories and techniques, it heavily relies on Psychodynamic theories and practice. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is a highly individualized treatment whose goal is not only to alleviate the most obvious symptom. It relies on the fact that our personalities are uniquely shaped by several developmental stages.