Our
Team
Our team is here to listen, support, and provide non-judgmental care.
Get to Know Our Team
Our team is here to listen to you, assist you, and refer you to appropriate resources if needed. It can be difficult to ask for help when you need it, especially given the stigma around seeking counselling. We want you to know that we’re here for you and our services are completely confidential and non-judgmental.
ISNA Cares Team
Mohammed Bemat
Registered Psychotherapist & Imam
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
Enas Elsayed ElBedawy
Counsellor and Art Therapist
Enas Elsayed ElBedawy is a dedicated Mental Health and Family Counselor and Educator at ISNA Canada. With a Bachelor of Applied Arts, she’s pursuing a master’s in Family and Educational Counselling, delving into Addictions and Mental Health at Algonquin College. Enas is also a certified Therapeutic Arts Life Coach and skilled technical writer focusing on mental health and parenting.
Passionate about empowering Families and women, especially mothers of children with special needs—her master’s thesis focus. Enas studied Islamic Studies at the Higher Institute of Islamic Studies and blends Islamic traditional psychology with modern counseling and expressive arts in workshops across Canada. As a member of CACCF, she enriches her expertise in addiction counseling.
Outside work, Enas, a loving mom to two, finds solace in journaling, crafting, fashion and jewellery design, and therapeutic arts like dance and drama. Cooking for family and loved ones is another way she expresses creativity and care.
Rabeea Mazhar
Licensed Therapist (MSW, RSW)
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
Sobia Mahmood
Licensed Therapist (RP Qualifying)
Sobia Mahmood is a Licensed Therapist at ISNA Canada, She has completed her Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling at the University of Toronto. Driven by her passion for helping individuals navigate their mental health journeys and serving the Muslim community, Sobia has accumulated experience in the field as a counsellor and mental health support worker. She practices a person-centered and eclectic approach, drawing from various therapeutic modalities to provide individualized care tailored to her clients’ unique needs. Her approach to therapy is deeply rooted in the belief that every person is the expert of their own story. Sobia places a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration within the therapy room and values the feedback and insights of her clients, recognizing their expertise in their own lives.
Hobbies and interests: Photography, painting, biking, plants, interior design, and spending time with family
Sumayya Bemat
Licensed Therapist, MSW,RSW
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
Faysal Garad
Licensed Therapist, MSW, RSW
Faysal is an Licensed Therapist at ISNA Canada. He has completed his Masters of Social Work at UofT. He has a varied work background, spending time with the Partner Assault Response and the TDSB. He aims to reduce the gang activity that plagues the Black and Muslim communities.
Duha Alnadvi
Licensed Therapist (RP Qualifying)
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.
Selma Lachemi
Licensed Therapist, MSW, RSW
Bio coming soon.
Madinah Mohammed
Behavioural Therapist & Psychotherapist in Training
Madinah is a skilled Behavior Analyst, with a focus on assisting individuals with special needs and mental health disorders. She demonstrates exceptional proficiency in implementing the Applied Behavior Analysis treatment method to craft personalized behavior intervention and educational strategies. Madinah goes beyond individual therapy, offering family-centered behavioral consultations equipped with evidence-based techniques to address challenging behaviors and learning obstacles in children. Dedicated to her field, she strives to blend psychotherapy with behavioral intervention, fostering transformative shifts in the lives of her clients and their families, empowering them to attain significant milestones.
Hosam Helal
Imam
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
Imam
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.
Zakariyyah Momla
Therapist and Imam
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.
Salwa Yaghi
Resident Therapist
Bio Coming Soon