The land knows you, even when you are lost.
— Robin Wall Kimmerer
Who (Am I)
My name is Carmel (Kar-MeL) Firdawsi (Fur-Doe-See) and I am a queer, mixed-identities person born and raised in suburban Ottawa. I have spent most of my life as an outsider, as someone who didn’t think (or always behave) like everyone else. For most of my life, I have struggled with this role I felt was unfairly assigned to me. In my early years, these struggles led me towards art-making and spiritual pursuits (ie: yoga, reiki). More recently, I have found healing in being of service, as a psychotherapist, and making connections with other folks who are struggling with the pain and uncertainty of being a human.
Where (I’ve Been)
For the first 30 years of my life, I was dedicated to the world of visual arts and design, and I worked in various roles, including self-employed artist & maker, designer, and studio manager. I learned about the transformative power of creativity, but more importantly, I realized that I was most fulfilled by supporting others. At 33 years old, I returned to university and completed a BA in Human Relations and Spirituality and an MA in Counselling and Spirituality at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario. In 2024, during my time in university, I began to work as a psychotherapist at the Counselling Centre on the Saint Paul University campus and had my first experiences with clients – this was when I knew I was on the right path!
I also fell in love with research and decided to write a Master’s thesis to dive deeper into the world of academia. The process of writing a Master’s thesis was challenging but rewarding, and I cultivated a deep knowledge of place attachment and people-place relationships in my thesis, People-place bonds on campus: An exploration of student experiences within spiritual spaces on their university campus. I hope for more research opportunities in the future.
Why (I’m Here)
I am here, working as a psychotherapist, for a few reasons. Firstly, I believe in being of service to others; I want to care for, support, and collaborate with people through the ups and downs of life. Secondly, I have experienced the healing power of the therapeutic relationship and know the difference it can make. As people in the Western world, so many of the challenges we face are relational: trauma, isolation, identity, heartbreak, grief, loss. When we have someone to consistently turn to, who provides us with a sense of safety and supports us in a way that maybe no one else does, we can begin to rebuild how we see ourselves and change how we relate to and connect with others. Lastly, I know that the large-scale social, cultural, and global issues we are experiencing can be overcome - and this work starts with examining oneself first. Each therapy session is an opportunity to practice compassion, curiosity, connection, unconditional acceptance, vulnerability and authenticity; tools that can reshape one’s worldview.
What (I Hope For)
I hope that, together, we can safely explore and validate your pain, joy, anger, grief - and any other dimensions of your humanity - to help you feel whole, worthy, and supported so you can move through life with a little more peace and ease.