Aqsa Ibrahim

MA, PhD Candidate

Aqsa is a Ph.D. student in the Counselling and Clinical Psychology program at the University of Toronto. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals, university settings, and community-based settings, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University Health Network, and the University of Toronto Health & Wellness Centre.

Aqsa works with adults experiencing a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, psychosis, emotion regulation difficulties, eating and body-image concerns, substance use, interpersonal challenges, and adjustment to major health or life changes. She has experience providing both individual and group therapies, as well as comprehensive psychological assessments to individuals with diverse and complex clinical presentations. Her training has included cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis, dialectical behaviour therapy, schema therapy, and other evidence-based, emotion- and recovery-focused approaches.

In therapy, Aqsa strives to create a warm, genuine, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel understood and supported. She takes a collaborative and individualized approach, recognizing that clients are the experts on their own experiences. Aqsa works with her clients to develop a shared understanding of the patterns contributing to their difficulties, identify meaningful goals, and build practical strategies that support lasting change. 

Aqsa is particularly attentive to how culture, religion, identity, relationships, and broader social experiences can influence mental health and the therapy process. Her doctoral research examines stigma and discrimination related to schizophrenia-spectrum and other psychotic disorders, including how racial and gender identities may shape clients’ experiences with healthcare providers. She has published and presented extensively on psychosis, stigma, cultural adaptation, personality, and psychological assessment.

Aqsa’s goal is to help clients better understand themselves, recognize their existing strengths, and develop the confidence and skills needed to move toward lives that feel meaningful and fulfilling.

Outside of her clinical and academic work, Aqsa enjoys painting and spending time with her loved ones. She loves being outdoors, whether hiking, biking, or exploring a scenic trail. Aqsa is also an avid traveller who enjoys discovering new places, cultures, and experiences, and is always on the lookout for a great latte along the way.