Faiza Haroon, MACP, RP

A little Authenticity & Vulnerability

Authenticity is essential to me and requires vulnerability. So let me take a moment to be authentic with you and share parts of me and my life that make me human.

Authenticity is a daily practice.
Living authentically means cultivating the courage to be emotionally honest, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable.
Mindfully practicing authenticity during our most soul-searching struggles is how we invite grace, joy, and gratitude into our lives.

Dr. Brene Brown

My Healing Journey

My name, Faiza, is of Arabic origin and translates to “holder of wisdom and knowledge.” I have been called an old soul for as long as I can remember.

Born in Pakistan with a deep sense of empathy for humankind and human suffering, I witnessed trauma, poverty, and systems of oppression – patriarchy, exploitation, physical and sexual violence, powerlessness, and marginalization.

Thankfully, my family moved to Canada in an attempt to begin a life in a just and democratic society. Unfortunately, trauma moved with us.

As an adolescent, I faced the unique struggles faced by children of first-generation immigrant parents, dangling between two opposing cultures – individualism and collectivism.

Finding characteristics of both within, I began working through the traumas and carving a path for myself. In some ways, this was the beginning of my healing journey. Of finding and consolidating my identity. These early life experiences nurtured my desire to heal.

I nurtured my sense of kindness, empathy, and compassion for others while healing my Self. Over time, this evolved into a passion for doing something meaningful with my life—to make a difference.

It took intentional time and effort to begin putting the pieces together, healing, creating self-awareness, and learning and unlearning parts to include in my identity and sense of Self.

Why I became a Therapist?

As a person, I find myself instinctively drawn to ‘seeing’ people, gently peeling the layers, and unearthing the Authentic Self. I enjoy this process. It makes me happy.

My life has been filled with moments of warm curiosity and nonjudgmental intrigue—foundational blocks of my counselling style. These are moments when strangers have openly shared their life stories with me—stories of adversity, courage, strength, and resilience.

Listening to people’s stories is a profoundly gratifying experience for me. I am amazed and honoured by people’s courage to trust and show their vulnerabilities. I become deeply engrossed in the process of listening—empathizing, observing, being present with thoughts and emotions, noticing patterns, connecting dots, cultivating space and awareness, leading to precious moments of clarity and realizations.

As an intuitive person, I am drawn to meaningful self-reflection and intellectually stimulating conversations that seek to penetrate the surface to the depths of the human psyche, hoping for insights and personal growth. So naturally, these parts of my persona permeate my counselling style.

I love observing and noticing with the gentle eyes of kindness and compassion while providing a secure base for people to begin their journeys of healing and self-exploration.

Having worked as a therapist for 16 years, I understand how difficult it can be to reach out for help. Therefore, I try to make the process as comfortable and safe as possible. I draw from various treatment modalities and tailor sessions to your unique needs using an integrative approach. Grounded in authenticity and genuineness, my therapeutic style is naturally warm, empathetic, and compassionate. I believe therapy can be life-altering when there is a good fit.

My journey of healing trauma began when I was a teenager. In essence, I have been on this journey my whole life. One of the gifts this journey has brought me is the ability to slow down, a moment-to-moment awareness, and an attunement to emotional layers within me. I love to share these gifts my journey has brought me while holding space for you to discover your unique gifts as we embark on your journey together.

My work is more than a career for me; it is a calling. I love doing what I do! It brings me comfort and joy to know I helped make a difference, however big or small, in someone’s life.

My areas of therapeutic interest include:

• Holistic healing – Mind, Body, & Soul
• Women’s issues, particularly South Asian women or BIPOC women
• Trauma – Acute, Complex, Attachment, and Intergenerational Trauma

As a work in progress, I enjoy learning, so much of my time is spent attending training, listening to podcasts, reading research, psycho-educational material, and self-help books.

When I’m not working, I love spending time in nature—hiking, kayaking, canoeing, capturing moments, or simply walking. This nurtures my mind, body, and soul, restores my sense of balance, brings comforting inner peace, and rejuvenates me.

Looking back, I am grateful I was able to follow my dream by listening to my inner voice, which guided me on this path of healing. This has undoubtedly led me to this rewarding career and to live a life aligned with my sense of purpose and core values.

My Hope

I share my struggles here to normalize whatever you may be going through. As a survivor of traumatic experiences, I hope to remain grounded in my authenticity, raise my voice for awareness and advocacy, end the stigma, shatter the shame surrounding trauma, and instill a sense of hope. I hope this humanizes me, making it easier for you to reach out for support.

My journey began as a human being going through these struggles, feeling stuck, healing on my own and in therapy. I believe this is a lifelong journey of self-awareness and healing that I happily embark on daily. My journey of healing and fulfillment has allowed me to learn and grow as a human and impart this knowledge to others through the years.

I believe we can be empowered to find our own answers. I think we all have an intuitive voice and inner wisdom guiding us. As a therapist, my role is to support you in finding it, voicing it, and living it. I believe there is always hope, especially when it feels like there is none. So please know that you can make it through no matter how difficult things may seem. I believe all you need is a little support and guidance.

Allow me to walk with you as you embark on Your Healing Journey!