Our Therapists

“The stories we tell ourselves are not just words, but they shape the lives we live and the futures we imagine.” — David Epston

You may be someone who has spent a lot of your life being what others needed you to be: the responsible one, the easygoing one, the one who keeps the peace, meets expectations, and tries to get things right.

Maybe, from the outside, things look fine. But inside, you find yourself questioning what you actually want. You may struggle with setting boundaries without guilt, feel pulled between your own needs and the expectations of family or society, or find yourself caught in cycles of overthinking, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or self-doubt. And perhaps you're tired of simply managing these feelings. You want to understand yourself more deeply—to feel more grounded in who you are, have relationships where you can be fully yourself, and make choices that feel aligned with your values rather than driven by fear, guilt, or the need for approval.

This is the kind of work I hope to create space for in therapy. I see therapy as a collaborative space where we can slow down, become curious about the stories and experiences that have shaped you, and explore the ways you have learned to relate to yourself, others, and the world around you. My approach is relational and grounded in Narrative Therapy, with attention to the influence of family, culture, relationships, and broader social contexts on our sense of self. I am particularly interested in the space where individual identity and belonging meet—how we can develop a stronger sense of who we are without feeling that we have to disconnect from the people, communities, and cultures that matter to us. I also included tools from other modalities such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. I also like my approach to be strength- and future-focused; meaning we will look at your past to understand how it affects your present and how we want to move forward differently in your future.

For clients who would like their faith to be part of their therapeutic journey, I aim to offer a space where psychological and Islamic perspectives can sit alongside one another thoughtfully and respectfully. This may include exploring Islamic concepts, values, and practices when they are meaningful to the client, while also being mindful that every Muslim's relationship with faith is unique.
My goal is not to tell you what your healing should look like, but to walk alongside you as you explore it for yourself. Whether you are navigating questions of identity, relationships, family expectations, perfectionism, anxiety, boundaries, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, therapy can be a place to pause and listen to what has been asking for your attention.

If something here feels familiar, I invite you to reach out. We can start with a brief, free 20-minute conversation to see whether working together feels like the right fit for you.

I hold a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from Adler University in Vancouver and a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

My academic and clinical background spans trauma-informed care, multicultural counselling, and individual and couple therapies. With my foundational training in human movement and physiology through Kinesiology, I bring an integrated understanding of the mind-body connection into therapy, allowing me to naturally incorporate somatic, body-based perspectives alongside evidence-based talk therapies.

• Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 1
• Motivational Interviewing
• Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
• Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Bingeing, and Body Image
• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Currently training for The 4-Step Model of Group Therapy

• BIPOC and MENA individuals
• Islamic counselling
• Anxiety/OCD/Perfectionism
• Immigrants/Children of Immigrants
• Unhealthy Family Dynamics
• Trauma

I identify as a Cisgender Egyptian Woman. I was born and raised in Egypt and moved to Vancouver solo when I was 18 years old. Hence, I have personal experience in the process of acculturation and discovering oneself amidst the cultural/societal beliefs and standards.

I am an individual who has spent an extensive amount of time trying to answer the question ‘What is the meaning of life’. I have come to realize that there is no universal answer to this question, and that each individual needs to explore their answer. Through this journey of understanding myself holistically, I have come to develop an appreciation for having a sense of purpose, which I believe can greatly contribute to one’s mental wellbeing.

Recently, I have been interested in exploring the psychological principles of Islam. Similar to how meditation was introduced to the field of psychology by studying Buddhism, I believe that studying the psychology of Islam can add to and ameliorate the existing psychological principles we live by.

Apart from psychology, I have a deep love for basketball and for sports in general. My go to place for revival is the beach (especially if it is the Mediterranean). I find so much joy in dancing and reading. Last but certainly not least, I am a foodie so you will find me with friends exploring different restaurants all over Metro Vancouver.

**Use the BOOK NOW link to book a free 20-minute consultation and to see rates!**

Salma offers virtual counselling in BC, Ontario, and other provinces across Canada.

LANGUAGES: ENGLISH & ARABIC

SERVICE LIST:

• Individual Counselling
• Extended Individual Counselling
• Couples & Relationship Counselling

AGE GROUP: Adolescents, Adults, Mature Adults