Aliya Esmail

BA, MA - RCC #24894

Aliya Esmail is not accepting new clients.

Hi, my name is Aliya (she/they) and I’m a registered clinical counsellor (RCC). I’ve completed my Master’s of Mental Health Counseling and have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. I’m a queer, bicultural, curious human who is learning to navigate the complexity of human existence, like many of you.

I often work with clients who have faced trauma but are unsure where or how to start, those who have felt like a black sheep or like they don’t quite fit in, and those who are ready to get curious about themselves. I also focus on working with clients who have disordered eating, complex trauma, and those navigating familial complexity.

Value On Client’s Unique Stories

I come from a background in journalism, which means I understand the value in hearing a person’s story and being able to discern what makes them unique. Stories create us, shape us, and impact the way we view the future and ourselves. I believe that there is innate knowledge in the ways clients have developed to keep themselves safe, even though they may no longer be serving them.

I place value on examining the messaging that clients have been fed, through patriarchal culture, cultural values, and systems that they’ve encountered, and seeing how it has informed their beliefs and worldview. Helping clients understand and unlearn stories they’ve been told and help re-author the story that informs the way they live is incredibly meaningful.

Empathetic and Collaborative Counselling, Highlighted By A Feminist, Intersectional Lens

I’m adaptable, kind and warm, and consider myself to be someone people can trust to explore, together, those deeper, more scary parts of themselves. I make every effort to make sure you feel safe in therapy, bringing deep empathy and attunement into every session and gently challenging old patterns when helpful. I believe in full humanness, that laughter sometimes helps when things feel heavy, in celebrating the small wins, and offering honest reflection with kindness and care.

While I find experiential models of therapy to be incredibly transformational, I also draw from skills-based and psychoeducational approaches to support self-understanding in a way that feels accessible and meaningful.

My approach is collaborative, and we’ll move at a pace that feels safe for you while working towards the growth and freedom you want. As I work with you, I will adopt anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, humanistic and strength-based approaches.

Culturally Responsive Therapy

I bring a culturally informed, socially conscious lens to therapy – I’m East Indian, was raised in Canada, and spent my childhood in Kenya. I’ve also lived in England and Germany. This layered cultural background gives me a deep respect for the complexity of identity and how culture, community, and systems impact how we view ourselves and others.

Professional Training & Experience

I’ve dedicated my time to the Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) crisis line, did my practicum at Looking Glass Foundation For Eating Disorders, and have worked in community housing. If it resonates with you, I have lived experience and knowledge with emotional abuse, disordered eating, cPTSD, feeling othered, intergenerational trauma, and living as a queer individual.

When I’m not counselling, I love watching horror movies, painting, ingesting tidbits of pop culture, and drinking coffee with my partner.

If you’re curious about working together or feel like we could be a good fit, please don’t hesitate to book in for a free consultation/call here, or you can email me directly at aliya@aliyaesmailcounselling.com

I offer individual sessions at accessible pricing. $95/ 50 Minute session and $143/75 Minute sessions.

You can view my Informed Consent form here.

Approaches Used

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Oppressive, Attachment Informed / Attachment Based Therapy, Bowen Family Systems Therapy (BFST), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Creative and Strength Based, Critical Race Theory / Culturally Informed / Culturally Competent, Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Experiential Approach, Family Systems Therapy (FST), Feminist Intersectional Therapy (FIT), Group Therapy, Harm Reduction Based, Humanistic / Person-Centred Therapy / Rogerian, Humanistic Approach, Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Parts Work, Interpersonal Therapy, LGBTQIA2S+ Affirming, Mindful Self Compassion (MSC), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Neurodiversity Affirming, Non-Pathologising Approach, Polyvagal Therory, Queer Theory, Relational Therapy, Sensorimotor Therapy, Sex and Kink Positive, Sex Worker Positive, Somatic and Body-Centred Approaches, Strengths Based Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, Weight-Inclusive Therapy

Specialties and Areas of Practice

Accessible Counselling, Accountability, Addiction, ADHD, Alternate Relationship Structures, Anxiety, BIPOC and Cultural Issues, Body Image, Boundary Setting, Break-Ups, Burnout, Childhood Trauma, Chronic and Life-Limiting Illness, Communication Skills, Couples Therapy, Creative Blocks, Dating, Depression, Dissociation, Domestic Violence, Eating Disorders, Emotional Abuse, Emotional Regulation and Anger, Family Conflict, Family Counselling, Goal Setting, Harm Reduction, Identity, Immigrant Experience, Interpersonal Challenges, Kink and Sex Positive, LGBTQIA2S+, Life Meaning and Purpose, Life Transitions, Marriage Therapy, Minority Issues, Motivation, Neglect, Nervous System Regulation, Neurodivergence, Panic Attacks, Perfectionism, PTSD / Complex PTSD, Queer Relationships, Relationship Issues, Religious Trauma, Self Worth and Personal Growth, Self-Development and Coaching, Self-Esteem, Sex Worker Allied, Sexual Trauma, Sexual Violence, Sexuality and Gender, Shame, Stress Management and Stress Reduction, Student Support, Substance Use Issues, Transgender / Nonbinary / Gender-Nonconforming, Trauma, Youth / Young Adults 14+

Aliya Esmail is not accepting new clients.

How Much Counselling Will I Need?

It depends on what you want. Most clients fall into one of three categories:

One (or two) and done – I just want some advice to move forward on a problem. Cool, just let me know that so I can make sure the session will be focused.
Acute issue – I need some support to resolve an issue, but I don’t want to be in counselling forever. This usually takes 8-12 sessions but could be shorter or longer based on your needs (time, financial, issue complexity). We create the ideal structure together.
Long-term therapeutic relationship – I need a safe space to process life events. Sessions are often booked up to a year in advance so you can count on the structure and support. The topic often changes session to session, but relates back to an overarching theme of self-development, relationship management, or something of that nature.

I can’t tell you which issues fall into which bucket, or guarantee results, because each client is unique. It’s best to let me know which category you think you might fall into, we can check and adjust as needed.

What is your favourite thing about working closely with people every day?

My favorite thing about working closely with people every day is easily the level of connection that occurs. Getting to know people, at their core, feels so incredibly special and I am so lucky and privileged to get to experience it on a daily basis.

What have you learned from your work?

I’ve learned the importance of being curious, the courage it takes to get curious (both with ourselves and with others), and the importance of finding joy in the small things.

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Last Updated: August 26, 2026 Created: September 2, 2025

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