SELF-ESTEEM COUNSELLING FOR MUSLIM WOMEN

IN EDMONTON, AB & ACROSS ALBERTA, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA, NUNAVUT AND QUEBEC, CANADA

Confidence and Self-Love are within reach, Alhamdulillah

You’ve been feeling insecure for a very long time.

Growing up, you’ve dealt with being criticized and
let down by important people in your life. When you were younger, you could not really verbalize what
you were going through, but the way that you see yourself today has been affected by
others’ words, the way you were treated and the way you’ve seen other Muslim women like you be treated, to the point of feeling very much down on yourself at times.

Although the criticism you are subjected to is different now that you are an adult, it continues. 

While you have been receiving support from others around you, they don’t truly get the
extent of the suffering you have been experiencing and you’ve been feeling very much alone.

You’ve tried speaking up. However, the struggles continue and you’re feeling
discouraged and tired.

You are aware of your accomplishments and generally know you are worthy, but somehow in stressful moments, that
critical voice always seems to win. It’s very hard not to compare yourself to others and escape the pressure
to be a “people-pleaser”, even when this ends up negatively impacting you.

Although you never seem to be happy with yourself, you would really like to show up authentically and
confidently so you may stop constantly questioning your decisions, and honour, be happy with and just LIKE
yourself more.

As Salaam Aleykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatouh. I’m Audrey Kodye, Registered Psychologist.

You already have what it takes to be confident. Let’s work together to uncover and realize your potential!

Blue, heart-shaped piece of glass against a pink background. The glass has an ethereal look like the self-esteem of Muslim women when they initially seek counselling with Audrey Kodye, Registered Psychologist.

MY APPROACH TO SELF-ESTEEM COUNSELLING FOR MUSLIM WOMEN

As we begin your therapy journey, my initial aim will be to offer you a non-judgmental environment where you can feel comfortable being yourself. I’ll regularly check in to ensure you feel secure enough to openly express your thoughts and emotions.

In our first few sessions together, I’ll gather details about your background, including when you first began to notice self-esteem issues, difficult events you may have been through (if you’re comfortable sharing them) and how these have changed over time. I will give you space to speak freely about whatever has been weighing on you, especially elements of your story and struggle that you may have been hesitant to share with others for fear of being judged or dismissed, and feel safe enough to share with me.

We’ll only move forward with the active part of therapy when you feel ready. This will begin with describing a specific moment when you felt down on yourself. By examining this event, along with the emotions and thoughts you experienced at the time, we can better understand how low self-esteem manifests for you, allowing us to customize the therapy to meet your unique needs.

Self-esteem counselling for Muslim women in my approach looks different for every Sister and incorporates a variety of methods tailored to each individual. I’ll draw from over a hundred therapeutic tools to find the ones that resonate with you and will support your long-term healing from low self-esteem. 

Some commonly used techniques are techniques that take the form of role-playing exercises, where we’ll bring self-defeating thoughts and beliefs to life, allowing you to actively challenge and respond to them. This approach makes the techniques particularly impactful and effective.

Islamic teachings used in Self-esteem Counselling for Muslim women

Self-esteem counselling with me as your Muslim counsellor, integrates teachings from the Qur’an, Ahadith, and Seerah as a core part of the therapeutic process

We will insha’Allah work to reinforce pre-existing knowledge or new Islamic notions that support your self-worth, and fully integrate them into your belief system so you may overcome your self-esteem issues.  

What works for someone else, may not work for you. At the same time, I have found that reflecting on the following may be helpful, In Sha Allah: 

Allah ﷻ is Al-Hakeem (the All Wise) and Al-Jaleel (the Majestic One). The fact that He decided that we were worth creating and sustaining means that we are inherently worthy, Alhamdulillah. 

Ready to stop second-guessing yourself and reclaim your self-worth, insha’Allah?

for self-esteem counselling for Muslim women in AB, NB, NS, NU & QC, with Audrey Kodye, Registered Psychologist

Heart-shaped, blue piece of glass lying on a pink surface. The blue colour of the glass is solid like the self-esteem of Muslim women after they see Audrey Kodye, Registered Psychologist, for self-esteem counselling insha'Allah.

FAQS

Frequently asked questions about self-esteem counselling?

My fees are $235 per 50-minute session. Longer sessions are available at the same rate. 

Being in private practice, my fees are not covered by government-funded public health insurance, such as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, the New Brunswick Medicare program, the Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance program, the Nunavut Health care plan and the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.

However, since I am a Registered Psychologist, if your private insurance plan includes coverage for mental health, therapy sessions with me will usually be covered. 

You may contact your insurance provider to find out how much coverage you have per year.

It may also be beneficial to ask whether you have a health spending account that may be used toward therapy sessions. 

I direct-bill the following insurance companies:

  • Aga financial group
  • Alberta Blue Cross
  • belairdirect
  • Beneva | SSQ
  • BPA
  • C.C.W.U
  • Canada Life | Great-West Life
  • Chambers Plan
  • CINUP
  • Coughlin
  • Cowan
  • Desjardins
  • Equitable Life of Canada
  • First Canadian Health
  • G.M.S
  • Group health
  • Group Source
  • iA Financial Group
  • Johnston Group
  • Local 183
  • Manion
  • Manulife
  • Maximum Benefit
  • MDM Insurance Services Inc.
  • People Corporation
  • RWAM
  • Simply Benefits
  • SunLife
  • TELUS Health
  • The Public Service health care
  • Union Benefits
  • UV Insurance

My fees may be claimed under tax deductible health care expenses on your income tax return.

If you are eligible for these programs, please note that I also have an agreement to provide services under: 

  • the NIHB (Non-Insured Health Benefits) program which provides eligible First Nations and Inuit clients with coverage for various benefits, including mental health counselling. Through this program, eligible clients can receive up to 22 hours of counselling a year.
  • the Bigstone Health benefits program which provides benefits to members of Bigstone Cree nation.  Through this program, clients can receive up to 22 hours of counselling every 12 months.
  • federal programs such as the Interim Federal Health program (IFHP) administered under Immigration, Regufees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); this program provides limited, temporary coverage of health care benefits for specific groups of people who don’t have provincial, territorial, or private health care coverage. I also direct-bill federal programs such as programs for members of the Canadian armed forces (CAF), Royal Canadian Mounted police (RCMP), and Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC).

I also have a partnership with Sisters Dialogue that allows Muslim women residing in Alberta to see me free of charge, for 5 sessions with the possiblity to extend coverage.

You may email me at audrey@overanxietypsych.com or schedule a free 15-minute consultation here