Summaya N. Syed
Clinical Director
Hons BA, SSW, BSW, MSW, MA, RSW, RP
Hi! I’m Summaya…
…and I absolutely hate writing about myself.
I know most professionals begin with their credentials—and I will share those—but before anything else, I think it’s important for anyone considering working with me to know this: for me, this isn’t just a job.
I’ve dedicated much of my life to mental health care because I’ve always felt a deep, quiet pull toward it—a passion for holding space, for listening, for gently showing up where and when I can.
My ongoing journey through education and training has simply been about gathering more tools for my therapeutic “toolbox.” As a social worker and psychotherapist, I remain wholeheartedly committed to deepening my practice and meeting each person with care, curiosity, and compassion.
“I now know that some people feel unhappiness the way others love: privately, intensely, and without recourse.”
– Khaled Hosseini, And the Mountains Echoed
Founder & Clinical Director
Running virtual mental health services and overseeing quality of care and operations.
Clinical Supervisor
Fostering the professional development of other mental health clinicians.
Clinical Mental Health Therapist
Providing psychotherapy and counselling services while also engaging in mental health advocacy.
— The “toolbox”
Designations
- Registered Social Worker (RSW)
- Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
Memberships
- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
- Ontario College of Social Workers and Social service Workers (OCSWSSW)
- Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
- Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
Certifications
- Clinical Supervision Certificate from Wilfrid Laurier University.
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) certificate from Wilfred Laurier University.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR Therapy) certificate from The Trauma Institute & The Child Trauma Institute
- SafeTalk (suicide risk assessment and prevention) certified.
- Child Protection: Children’s Rights in Theory and Practice certificate from HarvardX (an online learning initiative of Harvard University).
- Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in a College Classroom certificate from ColumbiaX (an online learning initiative from Columbia University).
- First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultural Safety Training certificate.
- Certified in Mental Health First Aid.
- Certified in Emergency First Aid with CPR & AED.
Education
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (graduated with distinction) from Yorkville University. (2024).
- Master of Social Work (health-based, graduated with distinction) from Renison University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo. (2023).
- Bachelor of Social Work (advanced standing program, graduated with distinction) from Toronto Metropolitan University. (2022).
- Social Service Worker Diploma (graduated with high honours) from Centennial College. (2017).
- Honours Bachelor of Arts (double major in sociology and philosophy) from the University of Toronto. (2015).
