Yaqeen Sikander

16/10/2025

Sometimes, healing doesn’t look like journaling or deep therapy sessions. Sometimes, it looks like falling back into a pit of foam cubes — laughing, breathing, and remembering that life was never meant to be endured in constant seriousness.

In Islamic psychology, the self (nafs) seeks tawāzun — balance. Not just between work and rest, but between the adult who carries responsibilities and the child within who still needs play, joy, and lightness. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Your body has a right over you.” (Bukhari) — and that includes its need to unwind, laugh, and release.

We often talk about healing through prayer, reflection, or therapy — but sometimes, healing begins the moment you give yourself permission to simply have fun again.

Here’s your reminder: you’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to play. You’re allowed to feel joy without guilt because joy too… is an act of ‘ibadah — a form of gratitude for the life Allah gave you.



Should we normalise taking out time to relax?

11/10/2025

On this World Mental Health Day, I had the honour of speaking to teachers about their own mental health — the quiet battles they face behind the classroom doors.

Teachers hold the emotional climate of a generation in their hearts, yet they’re often the most neglected when it comes to care and compassion.

As we talk about mental health, let’s not forget the vulnerable communities across the world — from Gaza’s classrooms to refugee camps, where children learn under trauma and teachers teach through grief.

Mental health is not a privilege; it’s a right.

30/09/2025

✨ PUBLICATION ALERT ✨

I am grateful to share that my academic book review “Restoring the Sacred in Psychotherapy” has just been published in the journal Spiritual Psychology and Counseling.

In this review, I reflect on how faith-based perspectives—particularly within Islamic psychology—are reshaping the discourse on psychotherapy. The piece emphasises the importance of restoring the “sacred” in our understanding of the human psyche, moving beyond purely secular frameworks to approaches that integrate spirituality, culture, and meaning-making.

This work resonates deeply with me, as it links my ongoing research in Islamic psychology to wider discussions on enhancing the holistic, inclusive, and globally relevant nature of mental health.

📖 You can read the full-paper in Volume 10, Issue 3 of Spiritual Psychology and Counseling athttps://spiritualpc.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/07_Sikander.pdf

23/09/2025

Compass 4.0—2-Day Personal Growth Retreat is back!

We’re excited to announce the 4th edition of Compass—our annual retreat that brings together people from across a wide spectrum to pause, reflect, and rediscover direction in life. I will be co-facilitating this event along with Dr. Farhat Umar

📍This year, Compass is happening at a beautiful resort in Kashmir, surrounded by mountains, forests, and serenity.

🗓️ October 4–5, 2025 (Sat & Sun)

🎟️ Limited to only 20 seats

What to expect:

- World-class growth sessions

- Deep connections and lifelong friendships

- Soulful adventures in nature

- Surprises and keepsakes to take home

- Luxury stay, premium travel & delicious local flavors

Our 2025 Compass Theme is:

Belong. Bloom. Become. 🌸

💬DM us for details & registration—seats are filling fast!

18/09/2025

On 20–21 September 2025, I will be serving as the Chief Facilitator at the National Mental Health Workshop, organised by SIO of India.

This 2-day training will bring together 150 participants from over 20 states of India, representing diverse academic and professional backgrounds, all committed to strengthening community mental health.

The workshop focuses on Community Mental Health First Aid through the lens of Islamic Psychology. This perspective integrates spiritual, psychological, and cultural dimensions of well-being, offering practical tools for resilience and preventive care.

Key areas of the programme include:

1) Recognizing, responding to, and referring individuals in distress
2) Contextualizing mental health challenges within community realities
3) Learning from Prophetic models of empathy, compassion, and healing
4) Designing grassroots frameworks for preventive mental health care

In a time where mental health challenges are growing rapidly, this initiative is an important step in building capacity at the community level. By equipping young people, educators, and leaders with mental health first aid skills, we can collectively create a culture where psychological support is accessible, stigma-free, and rooted in values of empathy and responsibility.

I look forward to contributing to this important dialogue and learning from the diverse perspectives of participants.

05/08/2025

Every Summer, when I visit home - Kashmir, I also do a limited number of face-to-face consultations at our Srinagar office, 4th year in a row now!

We are back in 2025 too and all details are provided on the registration page. If you are in Kashmir between 15th August to 15th October, 2025 and wish to see me for a 30 Minute Consultation face-to-face, please register at

https://pages.razorpay.com/ys2025consultations

All details are provided in the link above.

#2025

20/06/2025

As I reached for the ripe apricots closest to my hand, I felt the quiet lesson it carried: life always begins by inviting us to gather the “low-hanging harvest” — the languages we already speak, the skills we’ve practiced, the wisdom that lives in our communities and families.

But when my fingertips stretched for the fruit just out of reach, I needed a sturdy stick to bridge the gap. That simple tool became a reminder that higher branches demand deliberate investment: seeking mentorship, reading voraciously, enrolling in that course we keep postponing, daring to ask better questions of ourselves.

The tree itself stood firm in the breeze, patient and generous, whispering that our outcomes (the fruit) are never separate from the roots we nourish and the effort we’re willing to extend upward.

What “stick” will you choose today to climb beyond comfort and taste the sweetness waiting above? Start from what you have today to reach what you are missing...

02/06/2025

“Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy; rather ask Allah for safety” (Muslim).

This clip was recorded before the ceasefire, yet its plea is timeless: we must resist the seductive poetry of war. Islam’s prophetic ethic frames battle as a grim last resort, never a stage for spectacle. The Qurʾān reminds us, “If they incline to peace, then you too incline to it” (8:61), while ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib warned that “victory at the cost of mercy is the seed of future defeat.”

When rhetoric turns conflicts into myths of honor and revenge, it blinds us to the shattered futures of children across borders who inherit the smoke. True courage is not in waving flags over cratered ground, but in mending the social fabric before it unravels.

As Tagore wrote, “The world has kissed my soul with its pain, asking for its return in songs,” and our song must be one of justice without blood-lust, resolve without rancor. May this conversation soften hearts, disarm tongues, and remind us that the most ennobling jihad is the struggle to preserve life, dignity, and the quiet miracle of ordinary days.

10/05/2025

Recorded a short podcast on the ongoing violence between India and Pakistan where we Kashmiris are suffering due to this warmongering and romanticising of violence on both sides.

May peace and sense prevail, Amen.

21/04/2025

Excited to do this interactive program at our campus on Thursday afternoon. Feel free to join if you're around and wish to explore more about your career and purpose. Thanks to our clinic for being a co-organiser.

07/03/2025

Finally, I’ve got a few slots open for online therapy—get yours before they’re gone!

Let’s create a plan that honors your journey and supports your growth. DM me or send a WhatsApp Message +91 9541 71 4655 for details & appointments.

Life can be tough, and sometimes we all need a little extra support. Whether you're struggling in life or relationships, with stress, depression, anxiety, or past-trauma, I'm here to provide a warm, non-judgmental, and empathetic space where you
can process your emotions at your own pace.

You deserve peace of mind, emotional clarity, and the tools to navigate life with resilience. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—NOW is the time to invest in your mental well-being.

In our work together, we’ll set goals collaboratively and tailor our sessions to meet your unique needs. I’ll help you explore your strengths, reframe challenges, and develop strategies to move forward with confidence. Through a compassionate, experiential approach, we’ll work through difficult emotions and help you heal from trauma at a pace that feels right for you.

If you're new to this page, I’m Yaqeen, a Kashmiri Muslim Psychotherapist based in Istanbul, Turkiye, and a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology. I provide a warm, non-judgmental, understanding and empathetic space where we can work together to process your emotions, overcome challenges, and foster healing. My journey of last 15 years has taken me to over 35 countries and in the process, I developed a deep intercultural understanding of human nature and suffering. I am grateful for being able to help thousands of individuals in finding their path to healing in over 20 countries. I speak fluent English, Urdu, Kashmiri, Turkish & Hindi. I am also familiar with formal Arabic & some Bahasa. I love traveling, reading, research & finding the best in others.

Ready to feel better? Spaces are limited and filling up fast! Let’s start your healing journey today.

05/03/2025

Overcoming Self-Doubt: My Personal Journey & 5 Ways to Build Confidence

Self-doubt can be paralyzing, holding us back from opportunities, growth, and the life we truly deserve. As a psychotherapist, I’ve not only helped others navigate self-doubt—I’ve faced it myself. In this video, I share my personal journey with self-doubt, how it shaped me, and the five powerful strategies I use (and teach) to move through it.

In this video, you'll learn:
- The real impact of self-doubt and how it manifests
- My personal experiences and challenges with self-doubt
- 5 ways to overcome self-doubt and build self-trust
- Practical tools to shift your mindset and take action

💡 If self-doubt has ever held you back, this video is for you. You are capable, worthy, and enough—sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves how to believe that.



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Overcoming Self-Doubt: My Personal Journey & 5 Ways to Build ConfidenceSelf-doubt can be paralyzing, holding us back from opportunities, growth, and the life...