Salma is a graduate from the University of Toronto, where she received an Honours Bachelor of Science specializing in Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Salma devoted her time outside the classroom as a psychology researcher and paraprofessional student affairs staff. As a researcher, Salma performed developmental and cognitive experimental studies with children as well as contributed to a meta-analysis project on emotional regulation. As a student leader and mentor, she pioneered various creative projects and programs to empower and engage fellow peers in their academic journeys…all of which earned her a Principal’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership Award.
Her interest in healthcare administration started in her final year, after which she completed a course practicum at a psychology clinic. She received clinical training on various therapy modalities (e.g., CBT, IFS, DBT) and administrative tasks. Her passion towards community engagement also led her to facilitate mental health workshops in the community.
As the Intake Coordinator at the Toronto Psychology Clinic, Salma aims to improve equity and access to mental health resources by navigating and connecting clients to suitable support. She leads her work with empathy, trauma-informed principles, and passion towards improving the wellbeing of the community. As an aspiring psychologist, Salma believes the first step in creating psychologically healthy and safe environments is to simply listen. She aims to pursue post-graduate studies focusing on exploring BIPOC identities and experiences.
Languages
Salma provides services in English and Arabic (Egyptian dialect).
Personal Background
Salma spent her entire childhood and teenage years near a salty body of water. She was born in Alexandria, Egypt and raised in Saudi Arabia. As a third-culture kid herself, she takes great interest in learning about and understanding the lived experiences of multicultural identities. Her diverse upbringing informs her inclusive approach to community building, fuelled by the inherent value of each member of the community.