Carmel Firdawsi
Registered Psychotheraipst (Qualifying)
Languages: English
Types of Therapy: Teens and Adults
Pronouns: She/Them
Rate: $180
I grew up in the 90s in suburban Ottawa as a queer mixed-identities person. I struggled throughout my childhood at school and at home, because I did not fit in and felt very isolated. I coped with my anxieties by creating art and reflecting deeply on nature and my place in the world. Growing up, my creative and spiritual pursuits evolved and supported me through the challenges I faced in my early years.
In 2015, I impulsively registered for a yoga teacher training in search of something meaningful after my grandmother passed away. I was transformed by this yoga teacher training, and it was where I realized the value of meaningful interpersonal connections. A few years later, I found the confidence to go back to school to become a psychotherapist so I could continue to support others through meaningful therapeutic connection.
I attended Saint Paul University and completed a BA in Human Relations and Spirituality as well as the MA in Counselling and Spirituality. During my Master’s I elected to write a thesis titled: People-place bonds on campus: An exploration of student experiences within spiritual spaces on their university campus. This process deepened my theoretical knowledge, helped me develop an understanding of the relationships between people and places, and strengthened my analytical and critical thinking skills.
My early childhood shaped who I am today and, through both my lived experience as well as my professional pursuits, I have learned about the influence those early years have on a person’s development into adulthood. For these reasons, my special interests lie in trauma, including developmental trauma (or childhood trauma) and complex PTSD. Additionally, I support clients struggling with: anxiety; eco-anxiety; intersectional identities (2SLGBTQ+, people of colour, etc.); life transitions; spirituality, religion, and/or existential issues; systemic and power issues; social media use; and creativity. My integrative approach to working with individuals is informed by humanistic, relational, psychodynamic, attachment, mindfulness-based and trauma-informed theories. I believe in building a stable therapeutic relationship which becomes the basis from which we can explore and address the concerns brought to therapy.