Serina Islam

If you are considering to begin counselling or making a decision about which therapist might be right for you, I hope this website will be an informative starting point. If you still feel uncertain after reading through the site, we can arrange for a 20 minute phone consultation that is free of charge. 

Whether you are interested in improving your relationships, seeking relief from depression, anxiety or low self-esteem, trying to understand yourself better or improve your life, therapy or counselling can be a powerful tool to help you achieve your goals. 

My approach is to work collaboratively with clients towards specific goals in an empathic, nonjudgmental and safe setting that is designed to make a real difference in their day-to-day lives. I provide focused therapy that meet clients where they are at. Closely looking at the issues/ challenges together it is possible to obtain understanding and devise a wider range of coping strategies. Self awareness can also redirect energies to creating more positive states of mind. In many cases, positive changes can be seen fairly quickly; for others longer term work may be necessary.  Some may prefer more immediate relief from distressing states and can learn more short-term evidence based strategies that resolve and manage the challenges. For some, gaining insight about how the past shapes the present can gradually create a somewhat different way of viewing oneself and relating to others. Length of counselling can be determined by mutual agreement- I adapt to my clients' particular circumstances and needs.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor, with a focus on clinical psychology. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Microbiology from Cornell University. In addition, I have a Master's of Arts in General Psychology  with a focus on cross-cultural psychology and a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from the New School for Social Research in New York City. I have worked for many years in diverse settings in both British Columbia and New York City with individuals (youth and adults), families and couples from various backgrounds. I have experience with clients who have a wide variety of psychological challenges. My original theoretical and training background is cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and family therapy; but over the years I have incorporated other modalities in my practice to tailor my skills and clinical experiences to meet the needs of clients in a more flexible manner.

Therapy Services:

• Managing anxiety, panic and worry
• Depression and low mood
• Controlling anger and impulsivity
• Adjusting to life challenges
• Learning to relax and cope with stress
• Improving self-esteem
• Working with identity issues
• Managing family conflict and parent-child relations
• Coping with challenges faced by 1st and 2nd generation immigrants
• Skills to cope with culture and family of origin issues
• Gain tools to adapt in a diverse and multicultural society