Lotus Integrative

Counselling & Neurofeedback

“Like the lotus flower, we too can rise from the mud, bloom, and thrive in resilience.”

Meet Zareen Ali

Education:

B.A., B.Ed. & Dip.Ed. - University of British Columbia

Master in Counselling - City University of Seattle

Qualifications:

Pre-licensed Counsellor

Areas of Focus

*Anxiety, Trauma, Abuse, Shame, Self-esteem, Parenting support, BIPOC experiences, Relational patterns

Neurofeedback: All ages & needs

Counselling: Women & Parents

My work is specialized in helping people of all ages, backgrounds, and needs to experience greater nervous system regulation, optimal brain function, and resilience with neurofeedback and providing counselling support for women and parents who struggle with anxiety, self-esteem, abuse, shame, BIPOC experiences, trauma, & relational patterns, and seek to do the hard work of healing so they can rise from the mud, bloom, and thrive in resilience.

Though it is not always the popular opinion in the therapeutic realm, I want you to get to know me as a fellow human who wants to walk with you through your journey of discovery and growth. Multiple studies over the years have shown that the most important predictor of success in counselling is the relationship you have with your counsellor. During our work together, you need to become vulnerable and share some of your deepest stories and emotions with me in order to help you work through the issue(s) that brought you to working with me. Part of this work is that you grow to trust me and trust must be earned; this is my chance to start working on earning that from you.

Healing work is very personal for me. I have lived experience as a child of immigrant parents impacted by intergenerational colonial trauma. I am walking the healing path alongside you. I understand the impacts of maladaptive coping skills, patterns, values, and beliefs born in dysfunctional environments.

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a teacher, a counsellor, a friend, and cat mom. Being in nature with loved ones—walking, biking, gardening, reading, playing, cooking & sharing delicious meals together are among my most rejuvenating & nurturing activities.

Being a mother is simultaneously the most challenging and fulfilling thing that I have ever experienced. Despite doing all the things to heal from intergenerational trauma, when I became a mother, my trauma became visceral and overwhelming. I struggled with nervous system & emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, and chronic health challenges.

I had been in counselling for most of my adulthood. I had tried many modalities and tools. It wasn’t until I was introduced to Neurofeedback that I finally began to experience meaningful and lasting change that started with nervous system regulation. My mental and physical health improved. My attention, focus, performance, and resilience grew. I finally experienced stability, safety, and began to enjoy life. Alongside counselling, neurofeedback was the catalyst in fostering lasting change in my life and enabled me to heal so I could thrive in resilience.

This experience was life-changing. Neurofeedback & counselling are the reasons I returned to school and transitioned from a 20-year career in education to counselling.

Today, my passions are helping adults, children, and families experience the regulation, resilience, healing, and optimal brain function that neurofeedback and counselling made possible for my family, and to support women and parents navigate internal challenges and align with their Self to foster inner connection, compassion and confidence.

Services

Counselling

A Medicine Woman’s Prayer

I will not rescue you, for you are not powerless.

I will not fix you, for you are not broken. 

I will not heal you, for I see you in your wholeness.

I will walk with you through the darkness, as you remember your light.

-Sheree Bliss Tilsley

I hold a non-judgmental, compassionate, and anti-oppressive approach and my techniques and modalities are weaved into an evidenced-based integrative approach. I offer person-centred, strengths-based therapy, rooted in the belief that we all have the innate capacity to heal so we can shift from survival mode (fight/flight) to a calm, integrated, and optimal nervous system state (Window of Tolerance). Through the lens of attachment theory and a culturally sensitive & trauma-informed approach, together, we will make sense of your patterns by integrating your past & inner parts to cultivate compassion & confidence. Along the way, learning regulating tools while exploring new, and more aligned ways of thinking, living & being.

My role is to provide a nonjudgmental, compassionate space in which you feel safe enough to unmask and connect with your truths. And it’s your responsibility to show up, remove masks, be honest with yourself and me, as this is how we align and do the work to heal, grow, and thrive in resilience.

Counselling requires a commitment of time, money, and energy, and it is, therefore, important that you feel comfortable with your counsellor. Counselling requires your active involvement and efforts to change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. These changes may at times be swift and easy, but more often than not, they will be slow, frustrating and require consistent effort.

As your counsellor, I will work with you to specify goals and methods of treatment. These will be reviewed periodically and, if necessary, your treatment plan, goals, and method of treatment will be redesigned. If you are not progressing, I may suggest that you see other professionals in addition to our work together. I will fully discuss the reasoning and recommendations with you ahead of time. If at any time you wish to consult with another professional, I am able to assist you in finding someone qualified and will provide them with the essential information needed, with your consent.

  • Therapeutic Approaches: 

    • Somatic EMDR: mind & body integration

    • Internal Family System (IFS): inner parts connection

    • Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT): secure attachment & effective communication

    • Dialectal Behaviour Therapy (DBT): emotion regulation skills

  • Areas of Focus:

    • Counselling: Women & Parents

      • Anxiety, Trauma, Abuse, Shame, Self-esteem, Parenting support, BIPOC experiences, Relational patterns

  • Therapeutic Process:

    • Initially, I expect to see my clients regularly because the research supports, in order for therapy to be as helpful as possible, meeting weekly or at least bi-weekly, allows us to build a strong therapeutic alliance and stay connected to the work we're doing.

    • If I thought, and the research supported, that simply telling somebody that their behaviour is unacceptable and telling them what they need to do to change would work, then I would, but real change, healing, growth, and resilience, occurs more effectively and sustainably when motivated by compassion and understanding then it does with reasoning and fear of consequences.

    • Setbacks are a part of the growth process & relapse is a part of recovery: two steps forward, one step back.

    • Slower is faster & less is more.

Effective therapy requires:

  1. Commitment to the work and change through reflection, self-awareness, & consistency, in between sessions.

  2. Access to actionable information.

  3. Skills & tools to self-regulate.

Neurofeedback

For 20 years, as an elementary school teacher, I had the privilege and honour of working closely with students and their families. I witnessed many children and their families struggle with emotion and nervous system regulation while working tirelessly—trying all the tools, strategies, and therapies—yet continuing to struggle.

When I became a parent, my own family faced similar challenges. Like many families, we tried everything but lasting regulation and stability seemed impossible. It wasn’t until we discovered neurofeedback, that we experienced real and sustainable change: stability, safety, and nervous system regulation. Neurofeedback is the reason I returned to school and transitioned from a two-decade career in education to counselling.

What is Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback)?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6XeCwFQrCA&t=442s

https://www.eeginfo.com/what-is-neurofeedback.jsp

  • Non-invasive training of brain function 

  • Helps the brain and nervous system improve regulation, flexibility, and balance

  • Sensors measure brain activity via EEG

  • Brain receives real-time feedback through sounds, visuals, &/or tactile feedback to support self-regulation (TV & stuffed animal!)

  • Brain’s activities are mirrored to itself

  • Brain gradually learns to self-correct and improve regulation without conscious effort

  • Nervous system become more stable, efficient, and resilient over time, resulting in optimal brain functioning

What is Infra-Low (ILF) Neurofeedback and why is it considered “highly advanced” and the “gold standard”?

  • Based on live, real-time brain feedback training rather than relying on a static qEEG brain map

  • Individualized approach optimized for calming sensitive nervous systems, processing trauma, regulating arousal, and optimizing brain functioning

  • Accesses very low frequencies (0.1Hz-0.0000001) which have been found to be the most calming and regulating

  • Non-diagnostic and relies on an ongoing "symptom-driven" process based protocol, the therapeutic alliance (client & counsellor) and symptom tracking to direct where sensors are placed and to find the client’s Optimal Response Frequency (ORF): the frequency at which the brain is optimally functioning

How does Neurofeedback work?

  • Sensors are applied to scalp to detect the brainwave activity

  • Based on client’s symptoms, sensor placement and Optimal Response Frequency is determined

  • Brain activity is reflected back to the client’s brain by way of visual (TV), auditory, and tactile feedback (teddy bear)

  • Nothing goes into the brain, no stimulation, no electrical currents

What does a session look like?

  • Client and counsellor will discuss client’s symptoms

  • Counsellor will strategically place sensors on your scalp

  • Client will watch a screen 

  • The system subtly adjusts the display based on client’s live brain activity

  • The brain learns to stabilize itself through the real-time, live feedback

Is Neurofeedback supported by evidenced-based research?

What can Neurofeedback improve?

  • Mental health: Anxiety, depression/mood, trauma/PTSD, emotional dysregulation

  • Cognitive, nuerodevelopmental & attention issues: ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities

  • Sleep & relaxation: Insomnia, difficulty falling or staying asleep

  • Physical/somatic issues: Chronic pain, migraines, fatigue

  • Performance & resilience: Stress tolerance, Peak Performance, emotion & nervous system regulation

Peak Performance (athletes, professionals, artists, students, etc.):

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elbarHFHVRM

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/opt_main.jsp

  • Improve focus & mental clarity

  • Increase resilience under stress

  • Enhance brain efficiency & adaptability

  • Strengthen mind-body connection improving accuracy, responsiveness, & consistency

ADD/ADHD/Focus & Concentration:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYLtM0RrIJU&t=1s

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/adhd_main.jsp

  • Improve attention & focus

  • Regulate hyperactivity & restlessness

  • Reduce impulsivity

  • Support emotion regulation

  • Improve sleep

  • Stabilize foundation of nervous system 

Autism:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiHFI36wmzo&t=7s

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/autism_main.jsp

  • Reduce symptom intensity & sensory overwhelm (sound, light, touch)

  • Improve emotion regulation (i.e. reduce meltdowns (intensity, duration, frequency) etc.)

  • Support attention & engagement 

  • Enhance social connection (i.e. eye contact, engage with others, etc.)

  • Improve sleep & overall regulation 

  • Improve speech

Learning Disabilities:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/learning_main.jsp

  • Improve attention & focus

  • Enhance processing efficiency 

  • Support working memory (following instructions, etc.)

  • Reduce anxiety & frustration tolerance

  • Improve regulation & cognitive stamina

Trauma/PTSD:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5UE69o99lo

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/ptsd_main.jsp

  • Reduce “hyperarousal” (fight/flight) nervous system states (anxiety, panic, etc.)

  • Reduce “hypoarousal” (freeze) nervous system states (shutdown, numbness, etc.)

  • Build nervous system regulation

  • Increase sense of safety 

  • Prepare brain for talk therapy via nervous system regulation 

Depression/Mood Disorders:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/depression_main.jsp

  • Lift low energy & shutdown

  • Improve mood stability

  • Reduce rumination & negative loops 

  • Support emotion regulation 

  • Improve sleep & recovery 

Anxiety:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/anxiety_main.jsp

  • Calm “hyperarousal” nervous system states 

  • Reduce worry & racing thoughts

  • Improve stress tolerance

  • Support emotional regulation (reduces panic & reactivity)

  • Improve sleep

Sleep:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/sleep_main.jsp

  • Calm an overactive brain (reduce racing thoughts at night)

  • Support nervous system regulation (improve ability to to relax)

  • Improve sleep consistency (regulate internal rhythms)

  • Reduce anxiety-related insomnia (calm hypervigilence)

  • Enhance overall restoration (deeper sleep cycles)

Addiction:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/addiction_main.jsp

  • Regulate nervous system (help reduce cravings and reactive behaviours)

  • Improve emotional regulation (reduce intensity of anxiety, irritability, triggers, etc.)

  • Reduce impulsivity & compulsive patterns (strengthen prefrontal cortex: decision-making, self-control, etc.)

  • Enhance stress resilience 

  • Support sleep & recovery (cognitive function, emotional stability, etc.)

Aging Issues:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/aging_issues.jsp

  • Enhance brain regulation & neuroplasticity (memory, focus, processing speed, etc.)

  • Improve sleep quality (deeper & restorative sleep: memory issues, mood, healing, etc.)

  • Support emotional resilience (calmer, resilient mental state, etc.)

  • Boost cognitive focus & memory (attention, working memory, learning ability, cognitive decline, etc.)

  • Reduce stress & fatigue (mental clarity)

Chronic Pain:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qocxopS5fc

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/pain_main.jsp

  • Regulate nervous system (reduce pain intensity, etc.)

  • Reduce stress & emotional reactivity (lower emotional amplification of pain, etc.)

  • Improve sleep quality (decrease pain perception, etc.)

  • Decrease muscle tension

  • Enhance pain coping & resilience

Chronic Fatigue:

Research: https://www.eeginfo.com/research/fatigue_main.jsp

  • Balance the nervous system

  • Improve sleep quality

  • Enhance energy regulation 

  • Reduce stress & emotional drain

  • Improve cognitive clarity & focus

  • Support recovery & resilience