Panel date:  October 28, 2020; 6:00-7:30 pm ET

Panel title: The Costumes We Wear: A Panel for Counsellors and Psychotherapists Who Identify as BIPOC

Panel description:
This facilitated panel discussion will create a brave space to honour our lived experiences as CCPA members who identify as being who identify as being Black, Indigenous or a person of colour (BIPOC). Panellists will explore  themes of identity and the intersectionality of accessibility for services of BIPOC identifying clients. This is the first part of a series, a follow-up event will be presented for everyone, including non-BIPOC members.

Participants: CCPA members who identify as BIPOC (If you consider yourself to be a Black person, an Indigenous person, or a person of colour).

Panellists:

• Dr. Melissa Jay, Registered Psychologist, CCPA Indigenous Director

Dr. Melissa Jay (she/her) integrates ancient healing traditions and modern psychology. As a Métis-Cree woman, Dr. Jay's work as a registered psychologist, assistant professor at Athabasca University, and Indigenous Director of the CCPA is dedicated to creating paths to reconciliation through good relations.

• Saira Sabzaali, RCC, CCC-S

Dr. Saira Sabzaali works with adults from diverse cultural backgrounds who are looking for a new approach to mental health and want to incorporate their cultural values and spiritual beliefs into therapy. She specializes in depression, anxiety, burn-out, and family harmony. She also runs support groups for women and newlyweds, has a free podcast (Sabzi Life), and provides teaching videos through Dragonfly Wellness TV on YouTube. Dr. Saira has delivered two TEDx talks and teaches in the Counselling Therapist Program at Stenberg College. She enjoys reading, writing poetry, and volunteering in the community, and spends her down-time watching family movies or hanging out on the patio with her husband and two kids.

• George Maringapasi, CCC, CCPA Nova Scotia Director

George is a former standout Olympic Solidarity and NCAA Division 1 Scholar Athlete for his native Zimbabwe and for St. John’s University in New York. After his track and field career, he spent over 15 years providing collaborative, culturally-responsive, community-based services to diverse populations including First Nations, African Canadians and Newcomers to Canada in a broad range of settings from remote northern First Nation communities, to rural, urban, and inner-city settings.  Since coming to Canada in 2006, George’s work has spanned the lifespan, including facilitating anti-bullying workshops, FASD work, family support, and community-based case management. Currently, he is a Clinical Therapist in private practice in New Glasgow, NS.  George believes in leadership through service and can be often found volunteering his time to learners, mentoring young athletes, participating in local festivals, and coaching. George completed education and leadership preparation programs at St. John's University and Acadia University.

• Rabeea Siddique, RP (qualifying), CCPA Ontario Anglophone Director

Rabeea graduated with a B.A in Psychology from Ryerson University and a M.A in Counselling Psychology from McGill University. She has experience working as a counsellor in high school settings, doing generalist/crisis counselling with Employee and Family Assistance programs, and is currently practicing community-based therapy in the non-profit sector. Rabeea sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association as their Ontario Anglophone Director. Her passions include organizing and participating in community education, conducting anti-stigma work for mental health in minority populations, and providing mentorship to new grads.

Zoom Moderator: Margot Mutombo, Membership Administrator with CCPA

Facilitator: Kara Ko, RCC
Kara Ko is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver, BC with a background in emotion management, respectful and assertive communication, and mediation. She has more than 15 years of experience working with individuals, families and organizations and more than 10 years as co-host and co-producer of "It Takes a Village" parenting and family radio program. She holds a Masters in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT and received her training in mediation and anger management at the Justice Institute of BC.