Farhat Mohammadi

About Me as a Human…

When I am not in therapy-land, you can find me:
Exploring anywhere where nature is, listening to the latest health or psychology podcast, teaching what I learned to my loved ones as if it's my own Ted Talk, or cooking up a storm based on recipes from my feed or making them up as I go.

Self Care:
I prioritize sleep hygiene, fuel my body with nutrient-dense foods, move with intention, and make it a point to nurture my closest relationships every day.

For Fun:
I love analyzing and predicting the behavioural outcomes of reality TV show characters—and I still get a thrill every time I read them right.

For Growth:
I like to problem-solve in two steps. First, I clearly identify and define the issue; then, I develop a tailored action plan to address it—drawing on research, intuition, video resources, conversations with trusted sources, and guidance from mentors. And yes, I apply this same process in my own life, too.

Something unique about me is:
I’m deeply curious about the what, why, how, and so what of the issues that shape our everyday lives. I like to break things down—identifying what the problem or cause is, why it happens, how it unfolds, and why it matters in a practical sense. I’ve been wired this way for as long as I can remember—my formal training has only sharpened and refined these instincts.

What are your academic credentials?

I hold a Master of Social Work (High Distinction) from the University of Toronto, where I focused on clinical therapy and specialized in children and their families. Prior to that, I earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary, during which I contributed to a published research study on trauma-informed, transdiagnostic CBT for children in residential care. I also hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours) from the University of Regina.

Before I was in the mental health field

With over 15 years of experience supporting youth and marginalized communities, I’ve worked across a wide range of roles—from providing care in group homes for high-risk youth, to facilitating psychoeducational groups and intentional dialogue. My background also includes tutoring children with academic challenges, mentoring youth to build self-esteem, and volunteering at community centers that offer inclusive, culturally responsive programming tailored to the unique needs of local families.

The most impactful thing about my experience here was:

Making me realize that I’ve always had a natural inclination toward supporting children and youth—ever since I was one myself. Over time, that passion has expanded to include the systems that surround them - their families and communities.

Three things you are currently obsessed with and why:

1. Microbiome/gut health: More and more research reveals its profound connection to both mental and physical well-being. Those little buggers (literally!) are smarter than we think and more helpful than we realize. :)
2. Functional training: This means training in movement patterns that mimic everyday movements. This strengthens our natural movement patterns and eliminates chronic pain by reversing unnatural movement patterns that are, unfortunately, all too common today.
3. Cooking. I love it: It's therapeutic in and of itself; the rhythmic, soothing movement patterns, the level of control over the activity, the act of perfecting a skill that has practical benefits such as enjoying the product with loved ones, the opportunity to practice creativity by experimenting with different recipes, and the sense of satisfaction when even the pickiest of eaters go, "wow, this hits/slaps" (slang for this tastes good, apparently).

The most helpful book I have read is

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Even now, I find myself internalizing its teachings whenever I face a challenge. Take the StairMaster, for example—just three minutes in, I'm ready to call it quits. But then I remember James' words and remind myself: "I’m an athlete. I’ve done things like this before, easily. Athletes keep going and make it look effortless—so I will too." And just like that, I push through and hit 20 minutes every time. 😉

The most interesting article or book I have read is

The article, "Effect of exercise for depression: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials" from 2024.

URL: https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-075847 - Although the dance-related studies involved fewer participants than other exercise studies, researchers still found dance to be one of the most effective antidepressants—even outperforming SSRIs alone! That said, due to the small sample sizes and other limitations, they officially concluded that exercise in general is an effective treatment for depression, with activities like walking or jogging, yoga, and strength training ranking as especially beneficial when performed at higher intensities.

Still, the findings suggest that dance’s mood-boosting potential is worth exploring further. So, if you ever need a quick pick-me-up, put on your favourite song and let the music move you!

My favourite podcast is

Currently, it's Diary of a CEO.

The host features fascinating and relevant specialists on their show, and their insights have been nothing short of thought‑provoking.

What's one quote that you like and why?

"Never let yesterday use up too much of today."

This reminds me to let go of the past and focus on what I can do to move forward in the present.

Specialty and Specific Interest Areas:

Client populations:
I’m open to working with clients of all ages and backgrounds. While my long‑term goal is to specialize in therapy for children, youth, and couples, for now I’m eager to build my experience with anyone who feels a connection to the bio you’re reading right now. :)

Clinical concern:
Clients experiencing mood disorders, ADHD, interpersonal or relationship challenges, trauma, and stress.

Non-clinical concern:
Children, adolescents, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), those who prefer a gentle, attuned therapist who adjusts the pace to match their needs; clients curious about understanding the “why” behind their behaviours; and those who describe themselves as introspective.

Expertise and Additional Areas of Study:

I have the following additional courses / workshops / training:

1. (Currently being trained in) Dialectical Behavioural Therapy - Adolescents (DBT-A) course with the Association for Psychological Therapies (APT Canada).
2. Supervised training in Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP), which prioritizes clients’ physical and emotional safety, fosters trust and autonomy, encourages collaboration, and is both strengths‑based and culturally sensitive.
3. Crisis intervention training through Mental Health First Aid certification, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), equipping me to de-escalate psycho-behavioral crises and implement effective safety planning.
4. Experience successfully integrating techniques from narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, emotion-focused therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, and attachment-based therapy into clinical practice under supervision.

Some of the clinical orientations, methods, and theories I integrate with ShiftGrit’s therapy protocol:

Some of the clinical orientations, methods, and theories I draw from are:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) & Psychoeducation: Teaching clients how their specific patterns of thoughts, beliefs and behaviours influence each other to maintain unhelpful patterns, and teaching practical coping skills to replace them with healthier alternatives.
2. Psychodynamic theories: How a significant amount of our thoughts, feelings and emotions stem from early childhood experiences that shape our subconscious perceptions and influence our behaviour.
3. Attachment-based therapy: How our early experiences with caregivers shape our views of ourselves and others.
4. Narrative Therapy: To help clients reframe their life stories and view themselves in a more empowering way.
5. Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT): For focusing on strengths and solutions rather than problems.

People like working with me because...

I've been described as gentle, intuitive and resourceful.