‘I wanted to help people write new chapters for themselves and their families’

Can you tell me a bit about your background and what spurred you to pursue a career in psychology?

I am a second generation British Pakistani Muslim who grew up in a working-class environment. To answer this question fully, I would have to take you back to 1947, a year marked by the Partition of India and Pakistan, a moment that shaped nations and countless lives including my own family's trajectory. My great-grandparents, and grandparents, were directly affected by the chaos, violence and forced displacement. Growing up, I observed how this historical event subtly shaped my family's functioning and relationships. I saw how unresolved grief and struggles for survival transcended generations, affecting dynamics and behaviours in ways that often went unspoken. For a long time, I thought this was unique to my family, a single narrative tied to our history. It was only until my adolescent years where I began to understand that this was a collective experience where many families, like mine, carried similar invisible burdens that rippled through time.

This is what motivated me to pursue psychology. It was to understand, connect and support others who carry similar intergenerational legacies. I wanted to make sense of these patterns, break cycles where possible, and help people write new chapters for themselves and their families.

What has your experience of navigating a career within clinical psychology as a South Asian Muslim man been like, both pre and post qualification? Have there been any challenges?

It has been a journey filled with both rewards and challenges. Initially, pursuing psychology as a career felt like swimming against a tide. Family members and friends would often raise their eyebrows because they viewed traditional careers like medicine or law as more acceptable paths. In fact, they conceptualised it as a vague and impractical choice, but this was rooted in their limited understanding of its scope and relevance. It is only now as a qualified clinical psychologist that they respect the value of this path and can witness the positive impact that psychology can have on individuals and communities. 

The journey through undergraduate and clinical training presented its own unique set of obstacles. I was often the only person in the room who looked like me and that came with its own pressures. I felt the weight of having to conform to an environment that did not reflect my cultural identity; a mould that felt at odds with who I truly was. I vividly remember being told by a lecturer during my undergraduate degree that the chances of me getting onto clinical training were 'slim'. I was aware of the statistical difficulties, and the disproportionate rate in which Pakistani Muslim males entered the profession, but there was an undertone of 'it is not for you'. That was a pivotal moment for me. I came from a family where education was highly valued. My grandparents were economic migrants who prioritised education, my father is a successful businessman, and my mother ironically studied psychology and statistics at a prestigious university in Islamabad. It was the first time I faced such doubt. 

This initial doubt became a catalyst for reflection and growth, but it was far from the only challenge I encountered. As I progressed through clinical training, I began to grapple with a deeper, more complex philosophical struggle: the cognitive dissonance between the frameworks I was being taught and my own worldview. There were times where others, including lecturers and guest speakers, could not see or understand my perspective due to their own onto-epistemological position. I found myself navigating the balance between honouring my faith and identity while working in a field that did not appreciate or accommodate these nuances. This pushed me to seek external spaces where I could integrate both my professional role and cultural beliefs. I decided to enrol on to a short course at the end of my first year of clinical training in Counselling from an Islamic Theoretical Orientation at Istanbul Zaim University through the International Association of Islamic Psychology. This allowed me to integrate my professional training with a framework that resonated with my cultural and religious beliefs, helping me reconcile the dissonance between the dominant models of psychology and my own understanding of the Self.

Despite these hurdles, my passion for psychology never wavered. It was during these moments that I realised my cultural identity was not a barrier but a strength! It gave me a unique lens through which I could connect with people from similar cultural and religious backgrounds. I could offer them a sense of relatability that they had not experienced before, and that realisation became the cornerstone of my clinical practice. In many ways, the challenges I faced have shaped the psychologist I am today. 

What do you think needs to change to make the profession more inclusive?

It requires changes at many levels. Integrate cultural competence and humility into every aspect of the curriculum rather than treating it as a special topic. I believe psychology courses, and its teaching teams, have a duty to critically review their materials and teachings, ask who the theories are validated by and which cultures they apply to. This would ensure that all students, not just those specialising in cultural issues, are equipped to work effectively with diverse populations. 

We must also address the lack of representation in the field. There is still a significant gap in the number of psychologistsfrom culturally diverse backgrounds, and for those of us who do enter the profession, there is often a struggle with feeling isolated or unsupported. This leads to the point of psychological safety. We need to create environments where all trainees and psychologists, especially those from minoritised backgrounds, feel safe to express their experiences, challenges and perspectives without fear of being marginalised. Finally, we need to challenge the systemic and institutional biases that exist in clinical settings, particularly in how assessments and practices are applied to families from different cultural backgrounds. 

It is the responsibility of the entire profession to ensure that it reflects the diverse world we live in and meets the needs of all communities, not just practitioners from culturally diverse backgrounds. 

You currently work with adults, children and families across a number of different services as a Principal Clinical Psychologist. Tell me about these roles?

I am often asked how I manage to balance the roles I hold across different services, and the truth is, I do not find myself asking how or when. I see it as a duty and responsibility, one that is tied to the position I have found myself in and the purpose that drives me. It is all part of a larger story I have been working to build, both for myself and for the communities I serve.

I should mention at this point that my primary experience lies in working with children and families from culturally diverse backgrounds. I spend most of my time working as a Principal Clinical Psychologist and Training Lead for Just Psychology CIC, a social enterprise that aims to support children and families from culturally diverse backgrounds with a focus on cultural competence, cultural diversity and social justice. For the last four years, I have been providing clinical direction and leadership to an innovative project that has been at the heart of my work: The Family Reunion and Parenting Project. This project is designed to support families and children who have experienced family separation and reunification following serial migration. Our approach is rooted in empathy and connection, achieved through the co-production of parenting courses, family reunion groups using the Tree of Life methodology and peer mentoring. I have had the privilege of partnering with community organisations and learning from our advisory group which includes representatives from the British Red Cross and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit. Each day, I see the real-world impact of our efforts on families who are rebuilding their lives in a new, and often unfamiliar, environment.

But my work at Just Psychology does not stop there. I also lead the training service. It is a dynamic part of what we do, where we are commissioned by NHS services and third-sector organisations to deliver training on key cultural issues. It is about building awareness and understanding in those working with culturally diverse populations so they can offer more inclusive and sensitive support. We also provide consultations, offering our expertise to help organisations address the inequalities that exist within their services, particularly when it comes to marginalised communities. The work is meaningful, and I often feel a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that we are helping public services better meet the needs of the people we serve.

I also work as a Principal Clinical Psychologist at Ihsaan CIC, a Bradford-based Community Interest Company that provides psychological therapies that align with an Islamic understanding of the Self. Ihsaan was founded to address a gap in the Muslim community where people were seeking psychological support that was more culturally and religiously aligned with their beliefs and practices. In this role, I offer therapy and supervision whilst contributing to training and service development. It has been a fascinating journey as it has allowed me to engage with culturally specific issues that are rarely addressed in public services or are sometimes pathologised within a Eurocentric paradigm. 

Finally, I have the privilege of working with Freedom from Torture, a UK-based charity that helps survivors of torture to heal and rebuild their lives. My role here focuses on delivering trauma-focused interventions, typically in the form of Narrative Exposure Therapy. This is a service for people who have experienced unimaginable trauma, and I have seen the impact that our work can have on people's ability to process their experiences and re-establish trust in themselves and others. It is difficult, no doubt, but it is something that I feel deeply connected to and proud to be a part of.

Taken together, these roles have allowed me to explore the full spectrum of psychological work from early intervention and prevention to the deep, trauma-focused interventions that are required when working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds including refugees. What stands out most for me is how these roles align with my commitment to working in the third sector for charities and not-for-profit organisations. For me, this was a conscious decision, driven by my own experiences and understanding of how these environments offer the freedom to work more creatively. Here I am not bound by the same barriers you tend to encounter in public services. I am gifted with opportunities to serve diverse communities every day, make a positive difference and to live out the values that led me to clinical psychology in the first place.

I have heard that you are collaborating on editing a book. 

Yes, that's correct! I'm co-editing a book with Dr Iyabo Fatimilehin, our CEO and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Just Psychology CIC. It will be published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. The book focuses on cultural issues and culturally competent approaches when working with children and families. It aims to provide practical insights and frameworks for practitioners to deliver inclusive and effective care. We are drawing on our combined experiences, as well as contributions from other experts in the field, to create a resource that bridges the gap between theory and practice. It has been a rewarding process, and we are excited about the impact it could have on culturally sensitive therapeutic work. The book is expected to be published by the end of 2025.

Can you share a piece of work or research that has really changed or shaped your practice?

The Dilemma of a Muslim Psychologist by Malik Badri, a Sudanese Psychologist. His exploration of the tension between Western psychological frameworks and Islamic values resonated with me as I navigated the cognitive dissonance between what I was learning in clinical training and my own spiritual and religious beliefs. His work provided me with the theoretical grounding to reconcile these differences, encouraging me to integrate Islamic principles into my psychological practice. This integration has not only aligned my work with my personal values but has also enhanced my ability to offer culturally relevant and spiritually informed therapy for people from similar backgrounds.

What advice would you give to aspiring or early career psychologists from a minoritised background on either navigating or pursuing a career in psychology?

Embrace your unique identity as a strength. Your cultural identity and lived experiences offer valuable insights that can enrich your clinical practice. Seek out mentors and role models who understand your journey, whether from a similar background or those who have navigated similar challenges. Build connections with people who share your experiences can offer both guidance and solidarity. Along the way, remember that setbacks are part of the process. Do not let moments of doubt or rejection define you; instead, use them as opportunities for growth. Be patient with yourself and trust in your path, knowing that every step, no matter how difficult, is contributing to your growth both personally and professional.

Finally, choose your battles wisely. There will be moments when you need to stand firm in advocating for yourself and others, but it is equally important to recognise when to focus your energy on the things that will bring the most impact in the long term. Not every challenge needs to be fought at once, and sometimes, stepping back to conserve your energy for the right moments can be just as powerful!