Syed Saad

About me

Hello and welcome! My name is Syed Saad, and I am a Provisional Psychologist. I work with adults and young adults, and I am passionate about supporting clients through life’s challenges by creating a space where they feel safe, understood, and empowered.

Outside of work, I love traveling, exploring new cultures, cheering on the Oilers and spending time with family and friends. I believe traveling is one of life’s best experiences, as it broadens your perspective and deepens your cross-cultural awareness. In addition, I enjoy many outdoor activities including: hiking, snowboarding and various sports like pickleball. I also find balance through mindfulness practices, being active and being in nature — activities that keep me grounded and reflective.

My approach at ShiftGrit:

I help clients work through concerns such as trauma, depression, anxiety, and major life transitions. I have training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy, trauma-focused and mindfulness practices. My approach combines these strategies with the ShiftGrit Core Method, which allow clients to identify unhelpful patterns, challenge limiting beliefs, and build practical tools for resilience and growth. I love that the ShiftGrit Core Method™ offers a structured but flexible therapy plan for clients, as I believe flexibility is key for all clients.

When these therapies are combined with the ShiftGrit Core Method™, these approaches don’t just provide short-term relief — they empower clients to transform how they see themselves, their challenges, and their future.

Clinical Orientations, Methods, and Theories

CBT: I help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier, more balanced perspectives. This brings clarity and gives clients practical tools to manage daily stress.
ACT: Benefits clients by building psychological flexibility and learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings, while staying committed to actions that align with their values. It empowers clients to live more meaningfully, even in the face of challenges.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Highlights a client’s existing strengths and resources. This approach shifts the focus from “what’s wrong” to “what’s possible,” helping clients build confidence and momentum toward meaningful goals.
Mindfulness: I use various practices such as breathing exercises to help support grounding and self-regulation of the client. These strategies help clients connect with the present moment, calm their nervous system, and reduce the overwhelming feeling that can come with trauma or high stress.
Behavioural Activation (BA) Therapy: A simple, yet effective technique that helps target low motivation, low mood, and avoidance behaviour, particularly for those with depression.

What are your academic credentials?

I hold a Master of Counselling degree from City University of Seattle and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta. My education emphasized evidence-based and trauma-informed therapy, which pairs well with the ShiftGrit Core Method. This allows me to bring structured, research-backed strategies to sessions while staying flexible and client-centered. In addition to my counselling training, I bring years of clinical research experience, where I co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in journals such as BMJ and JAMA. This background has reinforced my commitment to evidence-based practice and critical thinking in therapy. I am also a registered member of College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP).

What inspired me to do this work:

My decision to become a therapist was shaped by my experience working with immigrant and refugee populations during my practicum at the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative (MCHB). Seeing the profound impact of culturally responsive counselling inspired me to dedicate my career to helping people navigate challenges in ways that honor their unique identities and backgrounds. I believe therapy should be a collaborative journey toward healing and self-discovery.

My therapy style and goals:

I have been told that I bring both warmth and empathy into sessions. My goal is to help clients feel at ease while also guiding them to make meaningful change. Clients can expect me to be compassionate, curious, and collaborative — but also willing to gently challenge them when it helps move things forward.

Some common goals include:

• Reducing anxiety and managing depression
• Healing from trauma and difficult life experiences, such as grief and loss
• Building healthier coping strategies and boundaries
• Increasing motivation and focus
• Developing greater emotional regulation and flexibility
• Strengthening self-worth and identity
• Improving communication and conflict resolution skills
• Creating balance between personal, work, and family life
• Navigating cultural adjustment and transitions

The clients I support:

I primarily work with adults (18+), including newcomers, immigrants, and people navigating cross-cultural experiences. I also work with clients facing challenges related to trauma, anxiety and depression.

During my counselling practicum at MCHB, I had the privilege of supporting refugee claimant and immigrant clients navigating complex transitions. Many of my clients were adjusting to a new country while managing trauma, uncertainty, and systemic barriers. This experience deepened my commitment to culturally responsive counselling, where therapy is not just about addressing symptoms but also about respecting identity, resilience, and lived experiences. Working with this clientele reinforced my belief that therapy must create a safe, affirming space where clients feel both understood and empowered to rebuild their lives.

My passion for therapy:

I am passionate about therapy because I see it as a space where people can finally be fully heard, understood, and supported. Watching clients move from feeling “stuck” to discovering their strengths and taking control of their lives is incredibly meaningful. It’s an honor to walk alongside clients as they build resilience, break old patterns, and create new possibilities. For me, therapy is not just about reducing symptoms — it’s about helping people create lives that feel meaningful and authentic to them.

How I am expanding my skills:

I am currently focused on advancing my skills in trauma therapy to better support clients with complex trauma histories. I also continue to deepen my integration of the ShiftGrit Core Method with mindfulness and CBT, so I can offer clients the best of both structure and flexibility. In addition, a future specialization I am looking to pursue is Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) training.

My motivation:

I am inspired by people’s ability to adapt, persevere, and grow, even when facing incredible challenges. It takes incredible strength to show up, open up, and work through the patterns and beliefs that keep us stuck. I find it inspiring to watch clients reclaim their voices, rediscover their resilience, and begin to see themselves in a new light. I believe every person has the capacity to rewrite their story no matter where they are in life, and I am motivated daily by the privilege of helping clients uncover that strength within themselves.

Free Form:

Being a first-generation Pakistani Canadian who speaks fluent Urdu/Hindi, I know what it’s like to navigate different cultures and identities. In therapy, I want clients to feel they don’t have to leave any part of themselves at the door. My hope is to create a space where people feel truly seen for who they are, while also discovering new ways to grow and thrive. If you think we’ll be a good fit, please feel free to reach out!