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About
Summaya Syed
Summaya is a down-to-earth therapist with over a decade of experience as a counsellor working with culturally and socio-economically diverse people. She specializes in supporting people experiencing emptiness, hopelessness, self-destructive behaviours, polarized thinking, intense emotions, unstable relationships, and difficulty communicating in their interpersonal relationships. Respecting her clients’ perspectives, needs and abilities, Summaya employs various therapeutic interventions including DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy), trauma-focused CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and talk therapy. She is currently training in EMDR and also has expertise in facilitating group therapy. She ensures a safe and non-judgmental space so that clients can heal, build resiliency and “grow through what they go through”.
A life-long lover of learning, Summaya holds a BA (Hons.) from the University of Toronto, a BSW from Toronto Metropolitan University (with distinction), an MSW from the University of Waterloo, a diploma (High Hons.) in Social Service Work from Centennial College, and is currently completing her MA in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. She is a proud first-generation Canadian of South Asian heritage and mother of two young children. She enjoys arts and crafts including crochet, reupholstery and furniture refinishing.
Service Overview
If you’re not sure how therapy works or which therapy service you need, you can book a 90-minute consultation to establish your needs and your goals, and to make a plan. We’ll ask questions and listen deeply and compassionately to your responses. The results may include a BPSH (biological, psychological and social history) write-up; results of clinical measures and social work diagnosis; a recommended treatment plan with me or another practitioner; and a vision for your health and healing that helps you feel empowered, not overwhelmed. We will also discuss what other advocacy and resources you’ll need, and the changes you can make in your life right away.
Many people are afraid to try therapy because of social or cultural stigmas, because they’re afraid of how they’ll feel, because they believe that their trauma is too big to overcome, or that healing might dishonour past loss. But the truth is, therapy is about working through trauma so that you can stop reliving painful experiences and instead be able to remember what happened with reverence and respect. You will gain insight, find your voice, learn to communicate in new ways and take the reins of life. In other words, you'll learn to let your negative experiences shape your life without controlling it.
Using EMDR, talk therapy, storytelling, self-compassion and forgiveness exploration among other interventions, I will help you to move from surviving to thriving by working together to define and achieve your mental health goals. We'll encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone in order to achieve results, but never outside your safety zone. You’ll move from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth, giving you hope (and a plan!) for the future you deserve. No one is ever broken beyond repair.
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Many people are afraid to try therapy because of social or cultural stigmas, because they’re afraid of how they’ll feel, because they believe that their trauma is too big to overcome, or that healing might dishonour past loss. But the truth is, therapy is about working through trauma so that you can stop reliving painful experiences and instead be able to remember what happened with reverence and respect. You will gain insight, find your voice, learn to communicate in new ways and take the reins of life. In other words, you'll learn to let your negative experiences shape your life without controlling it.
Using EMDR, talk therapy, storytelling, self-compassion and forgiveness exploration among other interventions, I will help you to move from surviving to thriving by working together to define and achieve your mental health goals. We'll encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone in order to achieve results, but never outside your safety zone. You’ll move from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth, giving you hope (and a plan!) for the future you deserve. No one is ever broken beyond repair.
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Often, when people enter couples counselling, or family therapy, the experience ends up being little more than "arguing in front of someone". With a background in restorative justice and dialogue, and experience working in small communities where everyone knows everyone, we approach things differently. We speak with each member of the couple, family or group first to establish needs and goals (sometimes we all meet together). From there, we work with each individual to prepare to enter healing and restorative dialogue so that each person is equipped with skills to talk about their feelings, knowledge of what those feelings are, and be able to meet together in a productive way. When each participant is ready, we come together in dialogue--first establishing a contract for safety, confidentiality and communication.
