Aqsa Iqbal

Oversee the overall program operations, community collaboration amongst other Mental Health service providers, and promotion of the Centre for Refugee Resilience, with the aim of building resilience with refugees and immigrants who have experienced trauma. Leading, supporting, and supervising a team of Clinical Therapists and Social Workers in providing front-line holistic services to newcomer immigrants and refugees, including adults, families, and youth.

Leading, supervising, and providing case consultation to a team of 7 front-line Social Workers/Case Coordinators who support refugees and immigrants who have experienced trauma pre/post migration to Canada. Building capacity amongst internal and external community partners to better address crises through a trauma informed and culturally competent lens. Supporting staff through debriefing, group supervision, and preventing burn out through teaching vicarious resilience and vicarious trauma. Leading case consultations, providing psycho education and performing risk assessments with internal/external community partners to support and expand their capacity of understanding immigrant and refugee mental health and trauma.

Created, facilitated and delivered workshops and professional development trainings focused on refugee mental health and resilience, along with teaching about trauma informed care practices for clients, professionals, and community members working with Refugee and Immigrant population.

Social Worker with newcomer refugee youth. Conducted assessments, provided counselling, psychoeducation and case management support through goal setting, advocacy, and resource navigation for newcomer youth and families. Collaborated with school, healthcare, settlement and mental health professionals to provide enhanced support.

Advocated for and provided one-on-one counselling support to Immigrant youth aged 10-24 who were at risk of offending or reoffending, due to difficulties they experienced at home, school or in the community. Supported youth with navigating family relationships and the legal/justice system. Provided case management through case planning involving: crisis resolution, accessing basic needs, employment, academic, recreational opportunities and financial support.