It was my personal journey through healing my own Complex Trauma that led me to the profound and fulfilling work I do today. Alhamdulillah, it is such an honour to provide therapy to Muslim women around the world. Trauma is at the heart of my work because I have witnessed its profound impact within my own family and because it is so deeply prevalent among the Muslim women I am honoured to serve. It is important to me to provide the most effective and compassionate care to my sisters in Islam. For this reason, I am committed to ongoing training and continually expanding my expertise in this area.
I am deeply passionate about continuing this work, seeking Allah’s guidance, to develop a richer understanding of how Islamic psychology, in combination with Expressive Arts Therapy and other therapeutic modalities, can support trauma survivors. This integrative approach helps them engage with and process their difficult stories in ways that free them from being defined by their past or believing their experiences determine the outcomes of their lives. SubhanAllah, it is a transformative process that reminds us of Allah’s promise: “For indeed, with hardship comes ease.” (Qur’an 94:6)
As we begin this discussion about trauma healing, it’s important to define trauma so we can establish a shared frame of reference. The word “trauma” is now part of everyday language and is often used quite lightly. It’s common to hear people say things like, “That conversation with my boss was so traumatizing,” or “That movie was really traumatic.” I’ve even seen someone refer to their bad hair day as “hair trauma.” Unfortunately, this casual usage diminishes the gravity of its true meaning.
Years ago, I encountered an insightful analogy about trauma: “To define all adversities as traumas is like seeing all collisions as smashes. People collide with misfortune all the time—sometimes it smashes them, but often they merely make contact.” Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a leading psychiatrist in trauma research and treatment, frequently explains how an event might cause trauma in one person but not in another. This variability underscores the importance of understanding trauma beyond its casual use.
The definition I use in psychoeducation and client work comes from van der Kolk: “Trauma is something that overwhelms one’s coping capacities.” Trauma, he explains, is an injury. The word itself comes from the Greek root meaning “wound.” When we think of an injury, we typically see it as something that can heal with the right care and time. Yet many of the clients I’ve worked with feel stuck, believing they’ll never “get back to their old selves” or be able to function again. This belief, while deeply felt, is often untrue. Healing is not only possible but a testament to Allah’s mercy and wisdom.
A trauma is usually the result of an experience so overwhelming that it exceeds one’s ability to cope with or process the emotions tied to it. But it’s critical to remember: trauma does not mean a person is broken. It doesn’t mean they’re weak or incapable. It means something happened to them that exceeded their capacity, and in response, they disconnected from themselves—often as a form of protection. In Islam, we’re reminded that even in our hardships, Allah is with us: “And He found you lost and guided [you].” (Qur’an 93:7). This reconnection—to ourselves and ultimately to Allah—forms the foundation of healing.
Reconnection begins with safety. Without a sense of safety, healing feels out of reach. So, how do we establish safety? True safety begins with recognizing that our ultimate refuge is with Allah, As-Salam (The Source of Peace) and Al-Hafiz (The Preserver). While we work to create a sense of safety within ourselves and our surroundings, we are reminded that no matter how turbulent our experiences may feel, Allah’s protection and peace are always available to us. By anchoring ourselves in this divine reality, we begin to create an inner space where healing can take root.
From this place of divine trust, we can begin to re-establish safety within ourselves. This starts with exploring our physical sensations through the five senses, noticing what’s happening in our bodies. Perhaps we feel tension, constriction, or heaviness. We notice these sensations with curiosity rather than judgment. What are the thoughts that arise? What discomforts or self-critical voices surface?
This gentle noticing invites us to approach ourselves with compassion and trust, echoing the Prophetic teaching: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.” (Qur’an 2:286). By noticing and accepting where we are, we begin to feel safe enough to express. Whether through movement, the arts, or simply being still, this uninhibited self-expression sparks a sense of aliveness. That aliveness reconnects us—not necessarily to who we were before the trauma, but to the most authentic versions of ourselves today, shaped by Allah’s qadr and wisdom.
This journey of healing is not only about reclaiming one’s life but also about deepening one’s submission to Allah. It’s an act of tawakkul—trusting in His plan, even when the path feels uncertain. As we work through our stories and rebuild our connection to ourselves, we also realign our hearts with the One who created us, remembering that His mercy encompasses all things. Ya Rabb, make this journey one of healing, trust, and nearness to You. Ameen.