Culturally sensitive online psychotherapy for newcomers to St. Catharines, whether you came to study at Brock, to work, or to join family. Sessions in English and Farsi, online across Ontario.
Roya is booking now. Ghazal is booking by waitlist (3–4 weeks).
About one St. Catharines resident in five was an immigrant at the 2021 Census, compared with roughly three in ten across Ontario. That can make being a newcomer here feel more visible and, at times, more solitary: there may be fewer people nearby who share your language, your holidays or your story. Meanwhile the practical load of arriving, from paperwork and rent to a first job and perhaps a return to school, leaves little room for the emotional side of the move. It is common to look settled from the outside long before you feel settled inside.
Ghazal immigrated to Canada from Iran and has worked with immigrants and refugees from all over the world: the Middle East, South Asia, East Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and beyond. She doesn't just understand the theory. She knows the loneliness of starting over, the grief of distance, and the quiet courage it takes to build a new life.
Therapy that respects your cultural background, family values, and the complexity of navigating two worlds, without pathologizing your experience.
Sessions in English and Farsi (فارسی), or a mix of both. Express yourself in whichever language feels right.
Schema therapy, CBT, and emotion-focused techniques, grounded in research and tailored to your unique story.
Talk about what brought you here, ask questions, and see if it feels right. No pressure.
Together, we'll identify what's weighing on you most and build a path forward using proven therapeutic approaches.
60-minute online sessions from anywhere in Ontario. Consistent, confidential, flexible.
Insurance receipts provided. Many extended health plans cover psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist. Ghazal holds the Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) designation, so please confirm your plan covers it.
Free 15-minute consultation available. Receipts provided after each session for submission to your extended health insurance plan.
Book a free 15-minute consultation and join from home, between classes or shifts. No commitment, no pressure.
Or call (647) 699-5142 · WhatsApp · Email
Calls and messages aren’t monitored for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7.
NoorMinds provides virtual therapy for immigrants to residents throughout Ontario. Select your city to learn more:
St. Catharines has welcomed immigrants for generations. In the 2021 Census, the most common birthplaces among all immigrants across the St. Catharines–Niagara area were the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States, many of them people who arrived decades ago and built families and businesses here. Among those who came between 2016 and 2021, the picture changes: the top countries of birth were India, China and the Philippines. Arriving now means joining a city with a long immigrant story, though not necessarily one that looks like yours, and the older networks may not be the ones that understand what you are going through.
Brock University adds another group: its international students. For many, the path runs from a study permit to a work permit and, they hope, to permanent residence, and every step comes with deadlines, fees and the fear that one missed form could undo years of effort. That kind of long, rule-bound uncertainty wears on sleep, mood and relationships, and it is rarely talked about openly, least of all with family back home who are proud of you and waiting for good news.
Work brings its own strain. If the job you are qualified for is in Hamilton or Toronto, getting there without a car can turn a commute into a long day of connections. Others work whatever is available while their credentials are assessed or they retrain. Online sessions are one way to make therapy fit around that: there is no extra bus to catch, and you can join from a quiet corner at home.
Ghazal Sheikhtaheri, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO, immigrated to Canada from Iran and offers sessions in English or Farsi, drawing on Schema Therapy and emotion-focused work. Settlement help and therapy do different jobs, and it is common to need both: one for the forms, the job search and the first lease, the other for the grief, the doubt and the question of who you are becoming here.
These are independent organizations, not affiliated with NoorMinds, that many newcomers find useful alongside or between sessions.
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