My Training

My education includes an Honors Bachelors of Social Work at York University in Toronto and a Masters of Social Work at the University of Toronto where I specialized in a collaborative Mental Health and Clinical Counselling for Addictions Program.
I have additionally completed trainings in Narrative Therapy, Somatic Experiencing and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

My past experience includes working as a clinical counsellor and program coordinator at a Health Centre in downtown Toronto and as a clinical counsellor and Case Manager at a women’s inpatient/outpatient drug treatment facility.
​I bring with me practice experience working with diverse segments of the population.

I am a first generation Canadian of South African Indian ancestry, raised in a Muslim household but considering myself to be more spiritual and wholistic in my perspective of the world now. I spent much of my life balancing between the culture of my family and the culture of Canada, trying to honour both within myself simultaneously.

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My Story

At a young age I was named a sensitive person, my sensitivity caused me to be prone anxiety and high emotions. I always used creativity and athleticism as a means to discharge my anxious energy, but I never really had the tools to cope with and consider the roots of my feelings.
At the age of 18 I had an incredibly painful injury in my lower spine, I was in a lot of pain, both emotionally and physically.

When I went to the doctors they told me I was a young and healthy person, they did not seem to take my pain seriously, instead they prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications and sent me home. Over the months my condition worsened and I recognize now I was not receiving the help that I needed.

The doctor I was seeing made me think this was going to be my life forever. I was left with zero hope that I would recover, both physically and mentally.
It was not the doctor’s fault, old science did not know what science today has led us to understand. I am sure some of you are nodding to yourselves knowing you have been there with a doctor before or perhaps with that feeling of hopelessness before.

I have done a lot of work to heal what was happening for me emotionally, which was directly impacting my body. We store our trauma in the body, regular practices such as meditation can help to create a calmness in the mind that reflects in the body.

Since then I made it my mission to study everything I could to get me to optimal health. I realized I needed to eat better so my body could be stronger. I began a light yoga practice that slowly strengthened my body. I think the biggest thing that changed for me, however, was I began meditating which helped to quell my anxiety. I believe that I stored my anxiety in my lower spine, which caused my injury. Many years after that if I ever felt incredibly anxious about something, I would feel that pain in my spine all over again.
It has been 16 years since that defining moment of my life. The way I eat, practice yoga, think, deal with my emotions, everything has changed, and I am still on my journey healing. I have hope now. Not just for myself but for every person out there.
We can all live fully healthy, happy lives. We can all heal from chronic pain, depression, anxiety, we can figure out ways to live better.

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