Denize Shah-Hosseini

As a queer, neurodivergent, disabled Iranian woman, I know what it’s like to carry stories, identities, and wounds that don’t get the space they need to breathe. My own healing journey began during a time of deep personal loss, when I found a radical, anti-colonial therapist who stood beside me, not above me. That experience didn’t just help me get through; it changed my life. It showed me what’s possible when therapy is rooted in compassion, dignity, and understanding, and it’s the kind of space I now strive to offer my own clients.

I work from an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, culturally-attuned lens, offering space for folks navigating trauma/intergenerational trauma, displacement, grief, identity, life transitions, and relationship struggles, and the many ways these show up in our lives: anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, body image concerns, spiritual disconnect, codependency, burnout, and more. I go beyond quick fixes or surface-level coping tools, helping you get to the root of what’s happening with care and consent. I’m intentional about challenging therapy models that ignore cultural context, collective trauma, and systemic oppression, and am committed to a vision of healing that is communal. As a therapist, I don’t just focus on your inner world in isolation- I also work with you to strengthen your connections to community, collective care, and the relationships that can sustain your healing beyond our sessions.

I hold a Master of Social Work from York University and a Master of Arts in Socio-Legal Studies from York University, as well. I have also completed additional training in Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, somatic therapy, trauma-informed care, and anti-oppressive practice, combining them all into my own eclectic style of therapy. My background in law and social justice informs the systemic lens I bring to therapy, while my clinical training allows me to integrate evidence-based, holistic approaches with creativity, compassion, and care.

I’m especially passionate about working with BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, neurodivergent (this includes those with BPD!), disabled, immigrant, and newcomer communities- and with anyone who feels unseen in traditional therapy spaces. In our work together, you can expect warmth, honesty, and a focus on what truly matters to you. My hope is that you leave therapy not just feeling a little better, but transformed: more grounded, more confident, and more connected to the parts of yourself you’ve long been waiting to reclaim.