Saara Kanji

ABOUT ME

I became a therapist because I want people to feel less alone in this world—to have a place where they can put down the burdens and responsibilities of life and simply.. just be.

As a South Asian/East African Muslim woman and daughter of immigrants, I understand the complexities of layered identity and intergenerational expectations.

I’ve also navigated a career change and continue to unlearn perfectionism, which has deepened my understanding of finding your own direction and practicing self-compassion. In sessions, you can expect a warm, curious, and non-judgmental space to slow down, better understand yourself, explore patterns, and feel more at home in who you are.

Healing doesn’t come from perfection, but from acceptance and compassion; that growth comes from curiosity without judgement, and it’s an honour for me to provide that space for you.

MY APPROACH

My practice is integrative, holistic, and individualized, drawing from IFS-informed, CBT, ACT, psychodynamic, narrative, somatic and mindfulness, and EFT-informed approaches depending on what best fits each client.

I incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS) to foster self compassion and curiosity, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to explore connections between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support values based living and psychological flexibility. I also draw on psychodynamic and narrative approaches to explore past experiences, relationship patterns, and personal stories that shape how we see ourselves. Somatic and mindfulness practices help strengthen awareness of the mind and body connection, while Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) supports deeper emotional understanding and processing.

I may draw from one approach or weave several together, always tailoring the work to the individual client, their goals, and what feels most supportive for them.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP)  

• Member of the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association

• Bachelors in Psychology

HOW I FILL MY CUP

Being a cat-mom, getting lost in a good book, and talking about movies and TV shows for far longer than I probably should! I also have a serious soft spot for a good sweet treat (or even a salty one tbh).

I’m a language enthusiast, too, so I’m almost always trying to learn a new language – usually to wherever I am dreaming of travelling to. (You can ask me what I’m learning… just maybe don’t ask me how fluent I am)

Most of all, I love being around the people I care about. Time with friends and family, good conversations, laughing until my stomach hurts, and finding ways to stay connected are some of the things that keep me grounded and remind me to slow down and enjoy the little things.