Our Services
At ABRAR Trauma and Mental Health, we offer a range of free, trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and culturally safe mental health supports for immigrant, refugee, and newcomer communities.
Services are available in Arabic, Dari/Farsi, Urdu, Hindi, and other languages based on need.
we do our best to match clients with linguistically and culturally appropriate support.
One-to-One Counselling
We provide free, confidential, trauma-informed counselling tailored to the needs of newcomer youth, women, and families.
Languages offered: Arabic – Dari/Farsi – Urdu – Hindi – and others upon request.
Brave Spaces (Support Groups, Psychoeducation & Healing Circles)
Brave Spaces are trauma-informed, identity-affirming group programs that promote healing, belonging, and collective care. Co-facilitated with community members, these groups are adapted to the specific needs of participants and grounded in culturally safe practices.
Key initiatives under Brave Spaces:
[ Dil Ba Dil - Brave Space Pilot - Coffee & Friends ]
We also offer:
- Psychoeducational Workshops
Interactive, trauma-informed sessions designed to build skills, awareness, and resilience around mental health and identity for newcomer communities.
- Healing Circles
Community-centered spaces to process collective grief, celebrate resilience, and support one another during times of crisis.
Examples of past Healing Circles:
- Healing Circle for All Syrians (Dec 2024):
In response to emotional reactions surrounding released detainees in Syria. Co-facilitated by Dr. Nahla Sarraj, Lina Saadeddin, and Abrar Mechmechia.
- Grief & Art Expression Circle for Turkey & Syria Earthquake Survivors:
A space for mourning and collective expression following the 2022 earthquake.
- Healing Space for Gaza & Palestinian Communities:
Offered during times of escalated violence and loss, focusing on collective grief, resilience, and identity-based trauma.
Creative Spaces (Therapeutic Arts-Based Programs)
Creative Spaces are arts-based healing programs rooted in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices. These programs emphasize creativity, storytelling, and community-building to support emotional healing.
Projects under Creative Spaces:
- Needles & Narratives
- Giving Art
- Land, Place & Home
- Cooking & Healing
Trainings & Consultations for Service Providers
We offer customized trainings and consultations for organizations and service providers working with immigrant, refugee, and newcomer populations.
Offerings include:
1. Trauma-Informed Care Training:
These trainings provide a foundational understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals and communities. Each session can be tailored to the specific needs of the service providers and the demographics they support. We emphasize approaches that prioritize safety, empowerment, and healing while avoiding re-traumatization.
Examples of previous trainings include:
- Trauma-Informed Care Training for BDC-funded frontline staff (City of Hamilton)
- Enhancing Well-Being and Support for Newcomer Youth from Adverse Backgrounds – delivered to SWIS workers via SAISIA across Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan
Research & Conferences
We actively engage in advocacy, research, and knowledge sharing across Canada.
Key contributions include:
- In This Together: A national campaign exploring the mental health impact of racism and COVID-19 on marginalised youth.
- Environmental Scan: Conducted with McMaster Research Shop to explore culturally competent mental health care services across Canadian cities.
- Theory of Change (ToC): Developed in collaboration with McMaster to outline the challenges we address, the interventions we lead, and the systemic impact of our work.
- Regular participation in local and national conferences, panels, and collaborative research projects.
