Our Team

Mohammed Bemat memorized the Quran at a very young age. He then followed his dreams to pursue formal Islamic education from which he attained multiple ijazaa and a Bachelor of Arabic and Islamic Studies in 2014 from Darul ‘Uloom Zakariyyah. Upon returning to Canada, he began serving the Hamilton Muslim community as an Imam and youth counsellor. He felt the need to contextualize his knowledge of Islamic Sciences and Spirituality with modern day spiritual care and psychotherapy. This led him to do his Masters in Pastoral Studies with a specialization in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy at the University of Toronto.

Imam Bemat currently serves as the full-time Psychotherapist and Imam at ISNA Canada. Imam Bemat’s clinical experience includes working at Trillium Health Partners, North York General Hospital, the University of Toronto and the Ontario College of Arts and Design.

Hobbies and interests: Spending time with family, hiking, camping, travelling

My name is Hussain Hussaini Syed Mohammad. I am a Masters student in Counselling Psychology and I am excited for my practicum to become a licensed psychotherapist. I’m passionate about supporting people in navigating their mental health with attention to culturally relevant factors. Some of my areas of interest include existential dread, anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties. With a thorough understanding of systematic inequalities, home life, and cultural factors impacting people’s experiences, I am committed to providing an integrated and client-centered approach. Some of my hobbies are ink sketching, watercolour painting, and video games.

This is my third year at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, in the Master’s of Psychospiritual Studies program, and I am super excited to be an intern at ISNA Cares! I have been focusing on learning various mindfulness, and contemplative modalities, including Muraqabah, to bring specific spiritual and culturally sensitive skills forward for supporting Muslim mental health, Insha’Allah. I have benefited so much from ISNA’s presence growing up here in Canada, and blessed to continue learning from esteemed teachers.

 I am also a student of Islamic Psychology, having graduated from Cambridge Muslim College, and this last year expanding knowledge and practice of Islamic Psychology with The Shifaa Method taught by Dr. Abdallah Rothman at Dar Al-Shifaa. Art therapy, teaching  Islamic art and geometry is my passion because I believe bringing beauty and creativity into our lives cultivates deeper contemplation, wonder and presence, which are subtle, yet powerful aspects of wellbeing.

My name is Nesrine Said, and I have been working in coaching and consulting for the past five years. My work combines my studies in Qur’anic interpretation and theology (Islamic faith/belief) with training in Positive Discipline, where I completed all three levels for parents and educators. I also hold Levels 1 and 2 certification from the Gottman Institute and am currently a student therapist in training.

Over the years, I have delivered lectures and workshops on parenting and relationships at several Islamic centres across the GTA. I bring a faith-based and practical approach to supporting families and individuals, and I am excited to continue this work as part of ISNA Canada.

Aden Ahmed is a Master of Education student in Counselling Psychology and Global Mental Health at the University of Toronto’s OISE. With a BA in Psychology from the American University of Beirut, he is deeply committed to advancing mental health equity for refugee and immigrant communities. Aden brings frontline crisis support expertise to his roles in student mental health research and community care. He currently serves as a student advisor with InLight Student Mental Health Research at UofT and a Mental Health Case Manager for Fred Victor, supporting African, Black, and Caribbean populations in Toronto.

Rabeea is a Licensed Therapist at ISNA Cares, with a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. With extensive experience working with diverse populations in community and clinical settings, she is committed to integrating a client-centered perspective in her practice. Rabeea focuses on providing individualized care, recognizing the unique experiences and needs of each person she works with. Her approach emphasizes collaboration and open communication, fostering a supportive environment for individuals’ growth and healing.

Hobbies: Reading, long walks, painting

Muhammad is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), currently completing his Masters in Counselling Psychology. He graduated from the University of Guelph with a B.A. in Psychology and Genetics. Under the tutelage of Sh. Abdullah Hasan in the U.K., he spent 1 year earning a post-graduate diploma in Islamic Psychology. He is a proponent of merging traditional Islamic sciences with data-driven therapeutic care.

Muhammad works with a wide range of clients, with a particular focus on youth, people struggling with their faith, ADHD and neurodivergence, pornography addiction, school related stress, relationship concerns, and anger management. Muhammad uses multiple modalities during sessions, including Solutions nFocused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). He is a firm believer that everyone possesses the solution to their own problems.

Muhammad is a member of the Association of Islamic Mental Health Specialists (AIMS) and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). He also works with Earth Steps, a local grassroots organization that focuses on all-day outdoor Islamic education for home-schooled children.

Danish Sheikh is a Registered Social Worker and Mental Health therapist. She currently works full-time at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board as a school social worker. Through her various employment opportunities as a counsellor, mental health support worker, and family support worker in child welfare and at the school board, Danish has been able to obtain vast experience in working with children, young mothers, and families in the community. In her practice, Danish uses a strengths-based, client-centred, and an intersectional-lens approach, where she engages with clients to identify their strengths, potential barriers, and oppressions that they may face in society, while considering their unique social locations and lived realities. She is committed to working with clients, being a part of their journeys, and making a difference in the lives of families. As a mother of two children, Danish strongly believes in empowering the Muslim community, especially young mothers, addressing barriers and oppressions faced by marginalized populations, and advocating for social justice.

My name is Madiha, and I’m a passionate psychotherapist dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges. I understand that reaching out for support can feel vulnerable, which is why I strive to create a warm, safe, and culturally sensitive space where you can feel truly heard and understood. I approach therapy with empathy, openness, and a commitment to honoring your unique story.

My therapeutic style is collaborative and client-centered. I specialize in parenting concerns, couples communication, and family dynamics—supporting clients through transitions, conflict, and emotional disconnection. Whether you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed, a couple seeking reconnection, or a family working through generational patterns, I’m here to walk alongside you. My approach is direct, compassionate, and culturally attuned. I believe that therapy should feel like a conversation, not a diagnosis—and that change begins when we feel safe enough to be honest. I understand the complexities that come with navigating identity, tradition, religion, and modern expectations. I bring this lens into my work.

Sumayya Bemat is a Resident Therapist at ISNA Canada, currently completing her Masters of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Sumayya has a vast amount of experience working with children, youth and families in various contexts. She has a BA in Child and Youth Studies, and is also an Ontario Certified Teacher who has been working with TDSB for the past five years. She has completed an internship with Children’s Aid Society, and done advocacy work with NCCM.

Sumayya is an active member of her local community and is passionate about empowering Muslim youth and supporting families to gain the tools needed to advocate for themselves. Sumayya prioritizes client centered care and draws on various therapeutic modalities to best support each client.

Hobbies and Interests: Baking, travelling, and hiking

Duha is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), currently completing her Masters in Pastoral Studies from the University of Toronto. She has experience working in both community and hospital settings as a spiritually-integrative therapist. Her aspiration when working with clients is meeting them where they are, giving them space and working together towards the clients goals. Duha has experience working with clients dealing with anxiety, depression, academic-related issues, relationship difficulties, spiritual yearning and those seeking religious or cultural connection.

Hosam Helal is registered marriage officiant with the government of Ontario and an Imam and Educator at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Canada. He is also member of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab, an Associate Muslim Chaplain at Brock University, and a spiritual care leader at McMaster University. After completing several BA and MA degrees in Arabic, Islamic Studies, Health & Disease, Sociology, Religious studies, and Tafsir at Al-Azhar University and at University of Toronto, he is currently pursuing his PhD in the intersection between evolutionary biology and Quranic exegesis at the University of Toronto. Imam Hosam completed several licenses (Ijazat) in Quranic recitation (and related disciplines) and memorized the Qur’an at an early age with his mother’s help in Asyut, Egypt — where he was born. Imam Hosam now resides in the GTA with his wife and two children. Imam Hosam is fluent in English and Arabic, with language training in Turkish, French, and Russian.

Usman Qamar was born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario. He began his Quranic studies while in high school and finished memorization of the Quran when he was 16. He spent the following seven years in the UK and South Africa studying traditional Islamic sciences. He has completed a double major in psychology and philosophy at the University of Waterloo.
He serves as religious educator at ISNA Canada, alongside having founded Wijhah Initiative, a not-for-profit organization that facilitates social and spiritual events that are welcoming, meaningful, and nurturing and foster a sense of community for young adults and youth.

Zakariyya Momla is a dedicated psychotherapist in training, offering a distinctive approach that integrates Islamic principles with mental health practices. Having served as an imam in Toronto for three years, he possesses a unique blend of spiritual and therapeutic insight. Zakariyya’s commitment to understanding and supporting others is evident in his work, where he combines cultural sensitivity with therapeutic proficiency. He approaches each client with empathy, respect, and a profound appreciation for their diverse backgrounds and life experiences, striving to foster healing and personal growth in every interaction.