Abrar is a mental health counselor with extensive experience working with trauma since 2014. A member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), she is deeply committed to empowering marginalized youth and women through trauma-informed care. In 2021, she was recognized as an Honorary Woman of Distinction for her contributions to community well-being.
Born in Hamilton and raised in Aleppo, Syria, Abrar remained in Syria during the civil war to volunteer and work with SOS, UNICEF, and UNHCR—supporting children and their families with trauma-informed mental health care amidst crisis.
She is the Founder & CEO of ABRAR Trauma and Mental Health Services, established in 2020, where she led a national mental health campaign to spotlight the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized youth and advocate for a post-pandemic mental health recovery plan in Canada.
Abrar previously served on the Advisory Committee for the School of Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University and was also a Community Wellness Advisor. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Open Hearts and the Hamilton Festival Theatre Company (HFTco), where she contributes her expertise in mental health, equity, community engagement, and grassroots leadership.
