I recently had the incredible opportunity to join The Signal | Live from CPA 2025, The event brought together leading psychologists, scientists, and practitioners from across Canada, all gathered in St. John’s for the Canadian Psychological Association’s 86th Annual National Convention.
Watch the full interview below and get a glimpse into the exciting discussions happening at CPA 2025!
The Signal | Live from CPA2025
Ms. Zuraida Dada, Psychologist, Immigrant Mental Health Advocate
Groundbreaking Voice on the Psychology of Immigration and Identity Transformation
Zuraida Dada is a Canadian-based psychologist, educator, and passionate advocate for immigrant mental health. Originally from South Africa, Zuraida immigrated to Canada and brings both personal lived experience and clinical expertise to her work. Her unique perspective enables her to connect deeply with newcomers navigating the complex emotional, cultural, and psychological realities of resettlement.
She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking metaphor: “Immigration is grieving the death of an identity.” First published in the Calgary Herald in January 2007, this powerful framing of the immigrant journey received accolades from the Psychological Association of Alberta for its emotional clarity and innovation in articulating the hidden losses that accompany migration.
Her signature talk, “The Psychology of Immigration and Integration: Supporting Newcomers Through Change, Transition, and Transformation,” has been adapted into a formal training module by the Alberta International Medical Graduate Association (AIMGA). It forms part of AIMGA’s Career Readiness for Health Program (formerly the Career Transition Program), a self-led modular program designed for Internationally Trained Physicians transitioning into healthcare roles in Canada. The talk has also been adapted and accredited as a professional development webinar through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
Whether through public speaking, clinical practice, or community outreach, Zuraida creates compassionate, empowering spaces for immigrants to reflect, heal, and grow. She believes that immigration is not just a change of geography—it is a transformation of identity, and ultimately, a courageous act of becoming.
The Ontario Psychological Association invited practicing psychologists, graduate and undergraduate students in psychology to submit a poster related to research and/or innovative practices in the field of psychology as part of our 77th Annual Conference.
The Conference’s poster presentation is a great way for students to showcase their research and for each university to show pride in their students’ accomplishments.
3rd Place Winner:
The Council consists of ten voting members: five registered psychologists elected by the membership and five public members appointed by the provincial government. CAP officials and one recording secretary also attend meetings.
Meet Zuraida Dada, psychologist and clinic owner of Invictus Psychology based in Alberta, Canada. Established in 2003, Invictus Psychology’s collaborative approach to mental health care is helping people reconnect with themselves and strengthen their resilience, so they can live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling.
Self-care refers to the intentional activities and practices that individuals engage in to nurture their physical, mental, and emotional health. Joining us today to help us understand the importance of self-care is Psychologist and Human Resources Consultant at Invictus Psychology and Consulting, Zuraida Dada. Zuraida is a seasoned psychologist specializing in adult individual therapy. She is known for her ability to create a warm, safe environment and provide empathetic, solution-focused care. Her main objective is to aid clients in reconnecting with themselves, strengthening their resilience, and enhancing their coping strategies. In our conversation, we uncover the importance of self-care through the lens of her personal and professional experiences. We unpack the negative stigmas of mental health, the value of psychoeducation, her positive psychology approach, and the causes of mental health issues. We also talk about safe places and the role of supervisors in mental health and hear invaluable advice on creating healthy work environments. To hear all this and more, tune in now! Available at your preferred podcast platform now, or visit: https://hubs.la/Q01YDMCd0 #CDNDiversity #CCDIPodcast #LeaderTalks #CCDI #InternationalSelfCareDay2023 #SelfCare #MentalHealth #Podcast
We’re going to Toronto! The City of Toronto’s motto is “Diversity, Our Strength”.
Join counselling and psychotherapy colleagues from across the country to unpack our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and their influence in the counselling relationship and professional development. Be inspired and encouraged to move towards equity and justice in the healing process.
It’s the end of a long day. You arrive home hoping to put on your comfiest clothes, plop down in front of the couch with the box of takeout you picked up and binge the newest season of your favourite show. You're set for a perfectly relaxing evening after a stressful day. Sadly, that fantasy comes to a screeching halt as the stale reality of your cluttered home greets you upon entering the door.
"They're in Canada now, why don't they just adapt?" This has to be the most common thing I hear when I talk to people born in Canada about the increasing number of immigrants in Calgary.
Registered Psychologist Zuraida Dada provides an inspirational account of the influence that Nelson Mandela had on her personal and professional life.She emphasizes the inherent worth of all and the profound impact every psychologist can make on the lives of others. She offers a values based approach to the humanness of others that is consistent with our shared ethical code and professional obligations to respect the dignity of others.
Richard J. Spelliscy, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Registrar & CEO
College of Alberta Psychologists
Zuraida shares her experience growing up in South Africa and how she was treated with segregation and racism.
Self-compassion can be transformative. A psychologist shares why and tips for practicing self-compassion.
When you make a mistake how do you treat yourself? Do you beat yourself up? Perhaps you feel angry, ashamed or guilty. I know I’ve made mistakes in the past and those feelings lingered with me for days afterwards, maybe even weeks. But it isn’t helpful or healthy. We need to let those feelings go and practice self-compassion.
It can be difficult to know if you’re in a codependent relationship. A psychologist shares 9 signs to look out for.
Do you find yourself making decisions based on your partner’s needs and not yours? Is your happiness reliant on your partner’s? If this dynamic is happening in your relationship, you may be in a codependent relationship, says psychologist Zuraida Dada.
Zuraida Dada is a psychologist in Alberta who grew up under the apartheid system in South Africa. She was an activist despite the danger, a scholar despite the odds, and was part of the intelligentsia that rebuilt the country as it became a democracy.
