Muslim Therapists in Central Toronto, Toronto, ON

Sarah Yousuf is a registered social worker and psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. Aside from her secular studies, she received her Ta’leem Al Quran Certificate from Al Huda Institute Canada where she studied the Tafseer of the Quran. Wanting to pursue her religious studies further, she moved to Egypt to study Arabic and Islamic Studies. Her goal in therapy is to combine both the secular and religious knowledge she has acquired to create a powerful mode towards psycho-spiritual well-being for clients, that is rooted in the Quran and Sunnah.

If you’re considering therapy it might feel like you have to have all the answers before you start, but your desire for change is enough. As a queer therapist, I'm dedicated to serving our 2SLGBTQ+ communities. I also have a passion for supporting healthcare providers, high-performance athletes, and members of the Muslim community. Therapy is a powerful tool that can help you navigate life's challenges. By exploring the interplay of comfort and discomfort, we create a space for transformation. Together, we'll work on amplifying your strengths, deepening your self-awareness, and challenging perspectives that may be holding you back.

Greetings! I am a Muslim, queer-allied, trauma focused therapist. No matter where you are in your journey, I welcome you to explore, reflect on, and create a compassionate relationship with your inner world. I draw primarily from a dialectical behavioral and attachment framework, as well as parts work and psychodynamics. These frameworks are useful for anyone grappling with trauma, depression/anxiety, ADHD, grief, relationship challenges, and others. My goal is to empower clients to build internal capacity and strengthen their relationship with their internal landscape to better cope with the realities of the world.

Over the past 15+ years in the field, I have worked with children, youth and adults in community, legal, child protection, corporate and university settings. I have focused my practice on supporting Survivors of violence along their healing journeys (including gender based, domestic, intimate partner, sexual, family, intergenerational, spiritual & community violence). I have extensive experience working with Muslim, racialized and Queer-identified communities in both Canada and the USA, as well as Pakistan and Zanzibar. I also conduct sexual violence prevention at UofT where I work with faculty, staff & students.

For many years, I have successfully formed therapeutic relationships with individuals/couples, to understand their issues, and offer support to manage stressors & remove barriers. Your issues may arise from an inability to cope with the present, due to stress, depression and anxiety; or from life transitions, sexual orientation, sexual dysfunction, grief, and substance use. I work from a person-centered approach, to help you to find balance and resilience to improve your ability to function better. I use my training and knowledge to create with you a solution to reflect your lifestyle choices.

Sarah Ahmed completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Masters of Social Work degree from University of Toronto, specializing in Mental Health and Addictions. Sarah has worked with a diverse clientele within a multitude of clinical inpatient and outpatient settings. Sarah provides individual and group counselling to individuals suffering from mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, coupled with co-occurring substance use issues. Additionally, Sarah also provides support for loved ones on how to sustain healthy relationships and manage life stressors.

Accepting New Clients! Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, challenging relationships, and loss of a sense of self that affects your day-to-day life, relationship, work and career? Do you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, frustrated, lost by relatable problems, just getting through the day, and thought that there is no light at the end of the tunnel? Do you question that life could be better? Being a Muslim, immigrant Mom, I also have been through these challenges while going through the acculturation process. My expertise in the mental health field has been helpful for me to overcome my struggles.

Have you been dealing with big changes in your life, trauma that are causing stress, anxiety, sadness, or feeling overwhelmed? I'm here to empower you by working together to overcome these challenges and teach you new ways of thinking to make positive changes in your life. My safe, non-judgmental space is here to support you on your journey towards healing and a better quality of life. As an immigrant Muslim woman who has lived in multiple multicultural countries, and my unique background as a doctor greatly impact how I can support you.

With over a decade of dedicated experience in the realm of social work, I pride myself on a compassionate and client-centric approach, specializing in psychotherapy services catered to a diverse clientele. Over the course of my career, I have adeptly assisted individuals across a spectrum of backgrounds, addressing challenges ranging from life and career transitions, familial and marital issues, to self-esteem challenges, anxiety, and depression. My educational foundation is solidified with a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Not Accepting New Clients. Need a therapist that can understand your identity, beliefs, culture or the lived experience that makes it that much more challenging to deal with your mental health? Being a person of colour, a person of faith, a first-generation professional, a single-parent, a step-parent or an intersectionality of multiple identities can make it difficult to address issues of anxiety and depression with someone who's never been in your shoes. You want your therapy session to address your mental health issue, but you want the therapist to have a good grasp of the context in which these issues arise.

Marital issues can weigh heavily on our heart, leaving us feeling lost, confused, and disconnected from the partner we once cherished. Perhaps communication has become strained, leading to unresolved conflicts and increasing emotional distance. Trust may have been broken, leaving wounds that are yet to heal. You are longing for more intimacy, both emotional and physical, but find yourselves stuck in negative patterns that seem impossible to overcome. These challenges are slowly eroding the foundation of your relationship, leaving you with a sense of dissatisfaction, loneliness, and unmet needs.

Hesitating to reach out to a therapist? Everyone is deserving of being seen, heard, and understood in a safe, validating, and non-judgemental therapeutic space. I am a registered clinical psychologist (PhD) with registration in working with adults, adolescents, children, & families. As both an adult and child/adolescent psychologist I provide a unique lifespan approach to the work we do together. I offer virtual psychological services to adults across Ontario with a range of mental health presentations. I also provide parenting and coparenting support to parents/caregivers (children 0+). Email me to schedule a free intake call.

***NOW ACCEPTING CLIENTS FOR PHONE/VIDEO*** When our thoughts get the better of us and we feel overwhelmed, I believe there is always hope to reach the peace for which we all yearn. Through psychotherapy, I support clients struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, identity, and relationships. We all have times when we aren’t sure where we stand in our lives and with others, so I offer a safe and welcoming space where clients can express and find themselves. We are complex individuals with our own unique stories made up of our experiences. Therapy is an empowering space where we can explore these without judgment.

I have a profound respect for the therapeutic process. I acknowledge that every human being has a story, some parts painful, and other parts hopeful. I hope to draw on that hope with you, help you discover your existing resilience, strength, and ability to cope through the hard times and discomfort. I use a tailored approach for all people, because each individual is unique and deserves to be seen as such. Your feelings are valid and I can help you tap into them in a safe space where you will be heard and not judged.

In navigating life's challenges, we often construct defenses that, while once protective, now leave us feeling stuck and isolated. Together, we will work to chip away at these accumulated layers and begin to articulate a more authentic and comfortable way of being in the world. My approach is rooted in compassion and understanding, offering a safe haven for healing while encouraging you gently to your full potential. Together, we'll shift from the shadows of criticism, fear and shame to a path illuminated by self-discovery and growth.

You have tremendous power. The power to define your world, your relationships, your life. The power to be your true self. Yet, life can bring challenges that make us feel powerless. Passion can turn into doubt, fear, and anger. Love and joy can become pain and emptiness. For many of us, no single event alone changes us, but at some point, we find ourselves lost. I believe in the power of hope. I believe you can rediscover your strength, purpose, and sense of control. You can reclaim yourself—your courage, confidence, clarity, creativity, and compassion. I have hope that you can be who you want to be, no matter what comes your way.

Accepting clients! Having been in counselling myself, I know what a relief it is to find someone with whom you feel comfortable to help sort out some of the stressors and troubles of everyday life. Perhaps you would like to chat about a number of issues that are piling up and you don’t know what to do. Or, maybe something really big has happened and you feel overwhelmed and like nothing in your life will ever be the same again. No matter what your concern, I'm driven to help you reach a life of peace and to no longer feel victimized by your struggles.

I help adult survivors of emotional and physical abuse find relief from their pain. One of the greatest ways that trauma impacts us is making a mess of our relationships and emotions. We struggle to feel safe with and to trust others. We may find ourselves bending over backwards and getting nothing in return or we're isolated because our attempts to keep ourselves safe have pushed everyone away. Often we feel misunderstood and out of control of our emotions with intense anger, shame, guilt, and sadness. Other times we feel numb and struggle to feel them at all. It doesn't have to be this way forever.

During the COVID-19 pandemic; I am meeting new and old clients online. I am accepting new clients for June 2021. I provide one-on-one counseling to people that seek me. I work from a relational perspective, meaning that I will work firstly with the relationship between you and myself. I do this with the assumption that relationships and connections are key for maintaining and nurturing mental and emotional well-being. I have experience working with a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.

We are home to a team of psychotherapists and social workers who help those feeling stuck in all kinds of mental health, emotional and relationship challenges overcome their challenges, align with their goals and values, and live a more intentional and fulfilling life. Together, we will explore your concerns, discuss your goals, explore how you can influence change and supply you with the tools and resources to do so. We will collaboratively develop a treatment plan that suits your needs and preferences. We offer sessions in-person, by video or telephone.

During the decade I spent working as a social scientist, I heard stories of strength, resilience, and courage. I also heard stories of humiliation, abuse, and grief. Throughout, what I have found most compelling is the storytelling. If you are here and are considering reaching out, I cannot wait to hear your story. My own journey with therapy has led me here. For most of my life, I felt I was walking in the dark, often stumbling and getting hurt. When I began therapy, it felt like someone switched a light on, allowing me to finally see the obstacles I had been running into. My goal is to help each client to turn on their own light.

Having spent numerous years abroad, I have garnered a profound appreciation for diverse worldviews, a perspective that significantly informs my practice. As a Palestinian-Canadian, I am deeply passionate about guiding individuals through the delicate dance of straddling two cultures. I believe that embracing this duality can lead to profound personal growth and empowerment. I primarily support clients from cultured backgrounds with navigating identity, family dynamics, and symptoms of anxiety.

Welcome to your space for authentic self-exploration, emotional healing, and self-discovery. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and MA in Counseling Psychology student under clinical supervision, I commit to creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for you. I specialize in supporting clients dealing with trauma, relationship challenges, depression, addiction, and identity crises.

I have a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toronto, and a certification in Mental Health and Addictions, as well as specialized training in several therapeutic interventions including cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, solution focused brief therapy, emotionally focused therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness. I have been fortunate to work with youth, adults, couples, parents, and families, as they cope with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stressful events, relationship conflicts, grief, and life transitions, among others.