Salima Versi (she/her) is a psychotherapist and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. At Rahma she specializes in culturally and spiritually supportive mental health, especially with women & queer folx of colour, particularly Muslims. Her work is intentionally anti-oppressive and draws on anti-colonial and feminist perspectives to support clients on their journeys towards healing. She also has a strong background in parenting and is a certified Parent Educator in the Systematic Training in Effective Parenting (STEP) Method, which focuses on respectful, positive parenting techniques. Salima remains actively engaged in community mental health work and activism in a number of ways, including as a Live Your Life to the Full facilitator and volunteer career-counsellor.
Salima is also a PhD Candidate (ABD) & Assistant Lecturer in the University of Alberta’s Department of History, Classics, and Religious Studies Program. Her general focus is Islamic studies, but her research more specifically examines contemporary Nizari Isma’ilism, particularly in Canada. Salima has been teaching in these and in many other capacities for a number of years, and also holds a certificate in Adult Education from the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development.
Added to these professional qualifications is a commitment social justice and community service. She is actively involved the community at the University of Alberta, her own Ismaili community, the Muslim ummah, and the broader Edmonton community. Within the Ismaili Muslim community, she is an Alwaeza, which is a scholar, preacher, and spiritual caregiver. She is also the co-founder of the Muslim Feminist Collective of Edmonton. She has been a board member for various interfaith, Muslim, and feminist organizations and speaks on and participates in a variety of projects and discussions related to Islam, religion, feminism, social justice, and mental health.
