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About Dr.Sevgi Arslan
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Home
About Dr.Sevgi Arslan
What I Offer
Counselling Services
Academic Portfolio
Contact
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  • Home
  • About Dr.Sevgi Arslan
  • What I Offer
  • Counselling Services
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  • Home
  • About Dr.Sevgi Arslan
  • What I Offer
  • Counselling Services
  • Academic Portfolio
  • Contact

Dr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSW

Dr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSWDr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSWDr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSW

Supporting mental health journeys through counseling and advocacy, while advancing social work with impactful research

Contact for Inquiries

Dr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSW

Dr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSWDr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSWDr.Sevgi Arslan PhD MSW RSW

Supporting mental health journeys through counseling and advocacy, while advancing social work with impactful research

Contact for Inquiries

About Dr. Sevgi Arslan

Mission

I am dedicated to providing compassionate counseling services to individuals and families navigating mental health challenges. With over eight years of experience, I specialize in supporting youth and adults dealing with addictions, ADHD, anxiety, life transitions, and the unique experiences of refugee individuals. Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Approach

My practice is rooted in a harm-reduction and trauma-informed approach, using a variety of evidence-based techniques, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices. I believe in a holistic approach to mental health, addressing both the mind and body to help clients overcome negative thought patterns and behaviors. This integrated approach ensures that I meet each client where they are, tailoring support to their unique needs and strengths.

Philosophy, Research, & Advocacy

In addition to my counseling work, I hold a Ph.D. in Social Justice from the University of Toronto, with a specialization in anti-racist and anti-colonial education. My research focuses on refugee youth education, exploring ways to create inclusive and equitable learning environments that empower marginalized communities. I am deeply committed to advancing the social work field by challenging mainstream practices and knowledge, striving to foster more inclusive and transformative approaches that better serve diverse populations. This academic foundation informs my practice and advocacy, enriching my ability to support clients and contribute to systemic change.

What I Offer

Counselling Services

Academic Contributions

Academic Contributions

  • Individual therapy tailored to your youth and adults.
  • Specialized support for addiction recovery, mental health challenges, ADHD, anxiety, and life transitions.
  • Advocacy and counseling services specifically designed for Turkish-speaking individuals, providing culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible care.

Academic Contributions

Academic Contributions

Academic Contributions

  • Research and publications focused on social justice, anti-racist education, and refugee youth empowerment.
  • Collaborative opportunities to advance knowledge and practices in the social work field.

Public Speaking

Academic Contributions

Public Speaking

  • Workshops, seminars, and keynote speeches on topics including mental health, addiction, social work, and refugee experiences, and anti-racist education.
  • Tailored presentations for organizations, conferences, and community events.

Counselling Services

Expertise

I provide compassionate and evidence-based counseling services to youth and adult navigating a wide range of mental health challenges, including addictions, ADHD, anxiety, and life transitions. With a special focus on advocacy and culturally sensitive care, I offer specialized support for Turkish-speaking individuals to ensure accessible and inclusive services. My approach is rooted in harm reduction and trauma-informed practices, incorporating techniques such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness to help clients achieve meaningful change. In addition to counseling, I offer public speaking engagements and workshops on mental health, addiction recovery, and social justice, as well as academic collaborations and consultations.


My standard fee is $120 per session, with sliding scale options available for those experiencing financial hardship. Referrals from medical professionals, community organizations, or self-referrals are welcome. Please feel free to contact me to discuss how I can support your needs.

Academic Portfolio

Academic Background

My academic journey culminated in a doctoral degree from the Department of Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, providing me with a nuanced understanding of the intersections between coloniality, race, racism, and social justice. Under the guidance of Prof. George Dei, my doctoral thesis investigated the production of race logic and resistance mechanisms in education, examining perspectives from both teachers and students. My research endeavors have focused on critiquing systemic and institutionalized forms of oppression using critical frameworks to analyze the social, emotional, and political challenges faced by racialized students. 


Throughout my academic and professional trajectory, I have actively engaged in teaching, research, and community-based initiatives aimed at advancing social justice within racialized communities. As a practitioner-scholar, I have designed and implemented courses and programs that critically examine issues of race, racism, and social justice, creating spaces for dialogue, reflection, and action. Grounded in engaged pedagogy, my teaching approach empowers learners to challenge prevailing narratives, interrogate power structures, and envision alternative futures rooted in social justice principles. Consequently, I am enthusiastic about collaborating with graduate students interested in exploring diverse aspects of contemporary social work through various theoretical perspectives (e.g., affect, anti-racist, anti-colonial, decolonial, social justice, resistance, liberatory) and methodological approaches (e.g., participatory action, community-engaged, visual, mixed methods).


Furthermore, my experiences as a social work practitioner have afforded me a profound understanding of the complexities of social inequality and the critical importance of centering marginalized and racialized youth in educational and clinical settings. Whether conducting individual counseling, leading classrooms, or engaging in community-based interventions, my aim has consistently been to foster inclusive and affirming environments that honor the diverse lived experiences of youth and communities through trauma-informed, harm reduction, and post-structural lenses. Beyond my work in the addictions field with marginalized youth in Toronto, my private practice counseling with refugee youth has provided firsthand insights into their resilience and strength in adversity. Through diverse therapeutic modalities, I have supported refugee youth in processing their experiences, reconstructing their identities, and navigating the complexities of resettlement in new environments. I have also collaborated closely with parents, organizing workshops and support groups that address parenting strategies, cultural adjustment, and community resource accessibility, recognizing the pivotal role of family dynamics in shaping the well-being of refugee youth.


In addition to my academic and professional credentials, I bring a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning. I am eager to engage in meaningful dialogues with colleagues and students, fostering collective knowledge creation and enriching the intellectual community at your institution. Moreover, I am committed to interdisciplinary collaboration beyond the department, partnering with schools and social service organizations in the community to bridge theory and practice and ensure that our educational offerings remain responsive to real-world needs.

Curriculum Vitae

  

EDUCATION

2023 Ph.D. Social Justice Education

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education / University of Toronto


2015 Master of Social Work

York University


2014 Bachelor of Social Work

York University


2012 Women’s and Children’s Counselling and Advocacy

George Brown College 


2010 Bachelor of Arts - Political Science

Brock University


CERTIFICATES

2023 Teaching in Higher Education

University of Toronto

2023 Engaging with People with Lived Experiences in Research

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness

2022  Opioid Use Treatment Certificate 

Centre for Mental Health and Addictions

2021  Advanced Clinical Trauma Skills & Practices: Level 2 Trauma Certificate 

The Sick Kids Learning Institute

2021 Trauma Counselling for Mental Health Professionals: Level 1 Trauma Certificate 

The Sick Kids Learning Institute
 

2021 Centering Black Youth Wellbeing: A Certificate on Combatting Anti Racism

 Youthrex / York University


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

2023-Present Trauma-Informed Refugee Support Counsellor

Private Practice

2020-Present Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor

For Youth Imitative and Satellite Opioid Clinic  

Breakaway Community Services


2018-2020 Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor

Toronto Harbour Light Treatment Centre


2015- 2017 After School Academic Program Coordinator

Toronto Foundation for Student Success 

2014 -2015 Social Worker


Pathstone Mental Health for Children and Youth

2010 – 2012 Support Worker


Niagara Regional Native Centre

2008-2010  Community Diversity Peer

 Brock University - Human Rights and Equity Services 


TEACHING EXPERIENCES

2018 – 2022 Learning Circle Facilitator

Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies / University of Toronto


2018 – 2019   Teaching Assistant - Critical and Creative Research Methods

  University of Toronto/Scarborough 


2018 – 2019 Teacher - Civic Engagement

Beverly Heights High School


2016 – 2018 Program Facilitator

Toronto Foundation for Student Success


2012 -2014 Collaborative Learning Facilitator

York University


INVITED SEMINARS, LECTURES AND PANELS

2024  Panel Chair, “The International Conference on Mental Health, and Addictions”

Panel: Substance Use and Harm Reduction in Pandemics
Algoma University


2024 Panel Chair, “The Black/African Feminisms Conference (BAFC) 2024”

Panel: Critical Reflections on Mobility and Migration
University of Toronto


2024 Guest Speaker, “Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Resources in Toronto”

Canadian Kurdish Community Centre


2023 Panelist, “Anti-Racism and Refugee Education”

University of Toronto

2022  Guest Speaker, “Decolonizing Mental Health”

Breakaway Community Health Services


2021 Guest Lecturer, “Anti-Racist Education”

George Brown College


2020   Guest Lecturer, “WhyExperiences Matter in Anti-Racist Theorizing”

Centennial College


PUBLICATIONS

Arslan, S. (2017). "Breaking the Silence: Effects of Colonial Education on Identity and Mind" In Ayan Abdulle and Anne Obeyesekere (eds.), New Framings on Anti-Racism an Transgressive Pedagogies. Sense Publishers.


Arslan.S. (2019). "Civic Resistance: Towards A Conceptualization of An Anti-Racist Civic Engagement" In Anila Zainub. Decolonization/Decolonial/Anti-Colonial Theory: Shared Lineages and Contestations. Brill & Sense


Arslan, S. & Kempf, A. (2023). Teachers’ Anti-Racist Engagements: Braiding Critical Race Approaches with Perspective Taking Race Bias Mitigation Approaches in International Handbook of Anti-Discriminatory Education.


Arslan, S. (2024). Navigating the Depths of Bias: Therapists' Responses to Oppressive Language and Biases in Clients. The Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy.


CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Arslan, S. (2024). Therapeutic Approaches to Addressing Social Justice Issues in the Pandemic Era. Presented at The International Conference on Mental Health and Addictions. Algoma University. 


Arslan, S. (2023). Production of Race Logic and Resistance. Presented at The Department of Social Justice Education Colloquium. OISE/ University of Toronto.


Arslan, S. (2022). White "Postures" of Racial Self-Location in Race Talk: Implications for Antiracism Education. Presented at the American Educational Research Association Conference, San Diego.


Arslan. S. (2018). Resistance and Gender: The Kurdish Women's Transformation Beyond State. Presented at Historical Materialism Conference in May 2018.


Arslan, S. (2016). Colonial Resistance: Unbecoming a Colonial Subject through Reclaiming. Presented at Decolonizing Conference, OISE, Toronto.


Arslan, S. (2015). The New Opportunities for Innovative Student Engagement. Presented at Inclusion Day Conference. Centre for Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion, York University.


RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

2019 – 2020 Research Support Coordinator

Department of Social Justice Education / University of Toronto


2018 – 2019 Research Associate

Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning / University of Toronto


ACADEMIC COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

2022  Planning Committee Lead

 International Decolonizing Conference


2022  Director of Internal Relations

University of Toronto Graduate Union’s Race and Ethnicity Caucus


2022  Co-Founder 

ournal of Integrative Anti-Racism Studies


2020 Author 

Department of Social Justice Education Student Handbook


2019 Constitution Committee Chair 

OISE Graduate Student Union


2018  Internal Vice President 

Department of Social Justice Education Student Association


2018  Planning Committee Lead 

International Decolonizing Conference, University of Toronto


PROFESIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers 


LANGUAGES

English
Turkish

Kurdish

Contact

Message

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Let's Connect

If you'd like to connect for public speaking, book a counselling session, or explore research collaborations, please feel free to reach out. I’m here to support your mental health journey and contribute to the social work field.

Dr. Sevgi Arslan

M4R 1E3, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Phone: (416) 820-2269 Email: contact@drsevgiarslan.com

Hours

Mon

09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

Tue

09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

Wed

09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

Thu

09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

Fri

09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

Sat

Closed

Sun

Closed

Copyright © 2024 Dr. Sevgi Arslan - All Rights Reserved.

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