You don't need to have it perfectly worked out. A sentence or two is enough: what's been feeling difficult lately, and whether you're looking for in-person or virtual sessions. I don't need your full history up front. The first conversation is casual and low-pressure. Many people simply say something like, "I've been struggling with anxiety for a few months and I'd like to talk to someone." That's more than enough to get started.
Ask about their specific training and which approaches they use. Ask whether they've worked with people in situations similar to yours. Ask how they handle cultural context if that's relevant to you. Ask about fees, cancellation policies, and what a typical session looks like. Good questions also include: How do you know when therapy is working? How do you approach it when a client feels stuck? A good therapist will answer all of these directly, without vague reassurances.
It's very common. Most people feel some combination of uncertainty, self-consciousness, or worry about what the conversation will be like. Some people draft the message several times before sending it. Some put it off for weeks. I've heard this from many clients, including people who ended up finding therapy genuinely useful. The nervousness usually has very little to do with how the actual conversation goes. The free consultation call is deliberately short precisely because that first contact is the hardest part.
It's 15 minutes, by phone or video. I'll ask you briefly what's brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to work on. You'll have time to ask me questions about my background, my approach, how I handle specific topics, fees, scheduling, or anything else that matters to you. I'll be straightforward about whether I think I'm a good fit for what you're describing, and I won't suggest booking a session if I don't think it would be useful. At the end you can decide on the spot or take a few days to think it over.
You can cancel or reschedule without charge if you give at least 24 hours' notice. I ask for that notice because last-minute cancellations leave a slot that another client could have used. If something comes up urgently, get in touch as soon as you can and we'll work it out. Changing your mind entirely is also fine. Therapy is a choice you make freely, and at any stage you can decide it's not the right time. There's no contract and no pressure to continue.
"Finding a therapist who speaks Bengali and actually understands what that means culturally is harder than it sounds. I spent years putting this off because I didn't think I'd find someone who got it. Within a few sessions I was covering things I hadn't been able to talk about in English. I recommend Syeda to anyone in the Bengali community who's been sitting on this."
"I'd tried two other therapists before this. Syeda is the first one where I felt like we were actually getting somewhere rather than just talking around things. Three months in, I sleep better than I have in years. The online sessions worked out much better than I expected."
"I came in thinking I needed to talk about my relationship. What we actually worked on turned out to be older than that. Six weeks in, things had already shifted. Syeda doesn't rush you but she also doesn't let you go in circles. I hadn't expected to feel any different this quickly."
The simplest way is to start with a free 15-minute consultation using the booking form on this page, or by calling directly. During that call I'll ask a few questions about what's brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to work on. You'll have space to ask me anything about how I work, what to expect, or whether my background feels relevant to what you're carrying. If we both feel it's a good fit, we'll schedule your first full session from there. First sessions run 50 minutes and the fee is $150. Before we meet I'll ask you to complete a short intake form so I can prepare properly and make the most of our time together. The form is straightforward and takes roughly 10 minutes.
The free 15-minute consultation is a short call where you get to hear how I work, ask questions, and decide for yourself whether you'd like to go ahead. There's no obligation and no follow-up sales messages if you decide it's not for you. I won't chase you for a decision. Some people know within the first few minutes whether they'd like to proceed. Others need a day or two to think it over, and that's completely fine. The consultation exists specifically so you don't have to commit to a full paid session before you've had any sense of who I am. I grew up in Bangladesh and spent more than 30 years in South Asia before immigrating to Canada as a single mother. For many clients, that lived experience is part of what they're looking for. The consultation is your chance to test that directly.
I'm available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3pm to 9pm, and Wednesday from 12pm to 5pm. Those evening slots exist because I know most people can't step away from work or family at 2pm on a Tuesday. I'm a single mother myself, so I understand that childcare and work schedules are real constraints, and I've set my hours with that in mind. If you're not sure whether a particular time might work, get in touch and we'll figure something out. Virtual sessions by video or phone can also make scheduling more flexible if the commute to Whitby is a factor for you.
Both formats are available. In-person sessions take place at 519 Dundas Street East in Whitby, which is accessible to clients across Durham Region, including Oshawa, Ajax, and Pickering. Virtual sessions are available by video or phone to anyone in Canada. Many clients who live nearby prefer coming in person; others across Ontario or further away connect virtually. The therapeutic work is the same either way, and I find both formats effective. You can also switch formats if your circumstances change. If you move, change jobs, or simply want the flexibility of connecting from home for a few sessions, that's easy to accommodate. Just let me know what works for you and we'll arrange it.
The free consultation is designed exactly for this. In 15 minutes you'll get a real sense of how I communicate, what I tend to focus on, and whether my background feels relevant to what you're navigating. I hold an MA in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University (2025) and I'm trained in CBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, DBT, and several other approaches. I grew up in Bangladesh and lived in South Asia for more than 30 years before immigrating to Canada as a single mother. That's not background detail that belongs in a footnote. For clients working through cultural expectations, family pressure, immigration stress, the loneliness of starting over in a new country, or the particular weight of being a parent navigating all of this alone, knowing that I've lived a version of it matters. Use the consultation to ask me directly whether my experience maps onto yours.
Once you submit the contact form or call, I'll respond within one business day to confirm a time for your free 15-minute consultation. After that call, if you'd like to go ahead, I'll send the intake form and we'll set a date for your first full session. The form covers the basics I need before we meet, things like what you're hoping to address, any relevant history, and your preferred session format. You'll never be left wondering where things stand. I reply to all messages personally, and once we're working together I'm available by message between sessions for brief questions. You won't find yourself dealing with a system that promises responsiveness and then goes quiet.
I respond to all enquiries within one business day. If you get in touch on a weekend or outside my listed hours, you'll hear from me on the next business day. When you hear from me, it's me replying directly. I don't use automated acknowledgement systems that promise instant contact and then require a human follow-up later. I want to be clear about one important thing: I'm a therapist in private practice, and I'm available for scheduled appointments and non-urgent messages between sessions. If you need to speak to someone urgently or you're in crisis, please contact Distress Centres of Ontario at 1-866-925-5454, text 45645, or go to your nearest emergency department. I'll always point clients to the right support if what they need in that moment goes beyond what private therapy can offer.
I'm a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Licence #19673, and I hold an MA in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. I grew up in Bangladesh, lived in South Asia for more than 30 years, and built a life in Canada as a single mother. If any part of that history feels like it matters for what you're working through, the consultation is the place to find out.