Founder of Baraka Ontology & Clinical Counselling
Elham Zolfagharinia’s life is a story of soulful exploration—a path shaped by listening deeply, choosing authenticity, and holding space for healing in others.
From early childhood, Elham felt a quiet bond with nature. She spent hours beneath trees, listening to the wind, observing the silent language of animals and the grace of blooming flowers. In those moments of wonder, a spiritual connection with the living world began to blossom—one that would later guide her professional and personal journey.
Her first deep encounter with healing came when she was just 18 years old, through a group therapy circle. Still very young, she joined as a participant—but something powerful stirred in her. The way stories wove together, the strength born from vulnerability, and the light that emerged from shared pain left a lasting impression. It was her first experience of what it meant to truly witness others and be witnessed in return. These moments opened her heart to a new kind of knowing—one rooted in intuition, presence, and deep listening.
Trusting that inner voice, Elham chose to step away from her studies in French literature and instead follow a calling: to walk alongside others on their journeys of growth and meaning. She pursued a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Family Therapy at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, dedicating herself to the art of healing and transformation.
Her work began in Iran, where she explored Jungian psychology, ontology, existential therapy, and the deep symbolic patterns of the psyche. Alongside these, she also developed a fascination with the philosophy of language—a quiet but persistent curiosity that helped her see how words shape meaning, connection, and inner experience. She began working with subtle energy and body awareness intuitively, laying the foundation for what she would later explore more formally.
In 2014, Elham moved to Vancouver, Canada—a leap of faith that opened new doors. Within the city’s vibrant multicultural space, especially among Iranian immigrants, she offered not only clinical counselling but also refuge, guidance, and the warmth of deep understanding. She became a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in British Columbia and expanded her offerings to include workshops, healing circles, and retreats focused on self-awareness and spiritual integration.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, another inner calling awakened—an urge to seek out ancient wisdom and transformative healing traditions. Drawn to the mystery of shamanic practices, Elham searched for authentic teachers who could help her understand how healing had been practiced for generations. But amid the noise of inauthentic paths, it became clear that her own way was different: a path that integrated ancient insight with academic depth.
She discovered that the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy provided this very bridge. Scientific, yet deeply connected to consciousness and soul, it resonated with her search for integrity in healing. Elham enrolled in the graduate certificate program at Vancouver Island University, where she found a vibrant and rigorous community exploring the healing potential of expanded states of consciousness.
Alongside this, she expanded her clinical skills by training in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) with Dr. Leslie Greenberg’s team in Canada, and also trained in the Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy model, deepening her work with emotion, self-worth, and family systems. She is also a certified hypnotherapist, using subconscious methods to work with inner conflict, childhood wounds, habit change, and identity integration.
Elham is currently expanding her knowledge in somatic therapy and energy-based healing. Though still in training, she brings a natural sensitivity to the body’s intelligence and subtle energetic fields, which continues to inform and deepen her therapeutic presence.
Her commitment to growth did not stop there. With years of experience and a heart for mentorship, Elham became an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS)—a recognition that allows her to guide and support fellow therapists, sharing what she has learned and helping others cultivate their own healing presence.
Out of this long and soulful journey, Baraka Ontology & Clinical Counselling was born—not just as a clinic, but as a living expression of everything Elham has learned, lived, and held sacred. It is the fruit of a path walked with devotion, curiosity, and a deep reverence for healing.
In her current practice, Elham offers counselling in areas such as trauma and emotional healing, family and couples therapy, psychedelic integration, anxiety and depression, hypnotherapy, and personal transformation. She also provides clinical supervision for therapists and facilitates group processes and retreats focused on self-discovery and soulful development.
