Hi, I’m Manal. I was born in Abu Dhabi and immigrated to Ottawa when I was six years old. From a young age I knew what it was like to feel separate, as though I was on the outside looking in. I longed for connection, yet at the same time I was afraid of it. Wanting closeness but fearing it created a quiet ache that shaped much of my early life. I believe many of us know this feeling in one way or another, whether through childhood experiences, work, or relationships. For me, it became the thread that led me to study psychology and begin asking deeper questions about what helps us feel safe, connected, and truly seen.
I went on to complete my Master’s in Counselling Psychology, where I had the privilege of working with people from many backgrounds and life experiences. But like so many women, I eventually burned out. The old voice of shame crept in, and I realized I couldn’t care for others without first tending to my own healing. I left the stability of my job and entered one of the hardest seasons of my life, a season that in the end gave me the gift of rediscovery. I travelled, reconnected with my faith, and finally made space for the emotions I had carried quietly for years.
Now I bring those lessons into my work through the Deep Care Therapy Model, a trauma-informed and spiritually grounded approach to healing. I trust that beneath protective patterns and survival strategies there is a steady, resilient core that has helped you endure more than you realize. In our work together, I focus on creating enough safety for you to slow down, understand your nervous system, and gently process the emotions that have been carried alone. My hope is to support you in reconnecting with clarity, dignity, and a way of living that feels grounded and whole.
Outside of therapy, I love early morning walks, poetry, and watching K-dramas. One of my favourites, Our Blues, shows how ordinary people carry extraordinary pain and still find ways to heal in connection with others. That message mirrors my own journey and the work I do with clients: even in seasons of exhaustion, there is always the possibility of renewal, connection, and beginning again.
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