HOUDA EL-HASSAN

My name is Houda El-Hassan, and I’m a 28-year-old Muslim Lebanese woman, who was born and raised in Australia. I have a Bachelor and Masters in Psychology, and I’m the Co-Founder and Principal Psychologist at Guiding Light Psychology, a private practice in Sydney.

Growing up in a Middle Eastern community, I was never really educated on anything relating to mental health. However, I witnessed, and I experienced a lot of mental health issues. I also witnessed and experienced the negative stigma and misconceptions that surrounded mental health, and the lack of resources and education our community had access to. 

If I’m being very honest, I never knew what a psychologist was. I remember sitting with my career advisor in my final year of High School and telling her that I’m really interested in human behavior, I love listening to people’s stories, and that I want to help others. I expressed to her that I had a strong desire to leave this world, knowing that I have helped someone. She told me that I should look into becoming a psychologist, and that is exactly what I did.

The more I became educated in mental health, the more I felt the need to create a safe space for those in my community to access therapeutic support that was culturally sensitive. I figured I would be the person I wish I had access to growing up because I understand that life is not always easy. I also understand and believe that seeking support for mental health is necessary and should be viewed as a sign of strength. A moment that really inspired my journey in mental health was when I listened to an Islamic lecture by Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhury. He was talking about a beautiful Surah from the Holy Quran, my favorite Surah, Surah Ad-Dhuha. He explained the meaning of this Surah and the reason why it was revealed. He explained that Surah Ad-Dhuha was revealed at a time when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had not received any revelation for six months, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was depressed and stressed believing that Allah was displeased with him and that He had forgotten him.

I really connected with this lecture and Surah because knowing that the most beloved person to God and the greatest man to walk this Earth had experienced similar emotions, thoughts, and situations to me, provided me with the solace and reassurance I needed. I have heard so many people say that depression and other mental health issues were things that “bad” Muslims or “crazy” people only experience. However, this Surah and its meaning clearly rejects all these stigmas and misconceptions because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the best example of Muslim and he was completely sane. This motivated me to spread awareness and help those who were facing mental health issues. 

I was blessed enough to meet someone who shared similar experiences, values, and beliefs. I met my business partner and closest friend in university. We connected over our love for psychology, food, culture, and God. We always talked about opening a private psychology practice of our own, and alhamdulilah, by the will of God, we were successful in doing so.

 We understood that our community is from diverse cultural backgrounds and may have unique experiences and challenges that require specialized support. We also noticed the lack of support and limited access to good quality and affordable mental health services within the local area. With these reasons in mind, we worked extremely hard and combined whatever money we had into creating Guiding Light Psychology, a clinic that provides accessible, compassionate, and individualized mental health care services to those within our community. 

 We became an award-winning business just under two years after opening, we formed a team of experienced professionals that have the knowledge and expertise to address a wide range of mental health issues, and we have been blessed enough to provide top-quality and affordable psychological support for over 1000 individuals, couples, and families. Our approach is grounded in the belief that mental health care should be accessible to all, and we work tirelessly to make that a reality for our clients. We believe that therapy does not only heal what is broken; it strengthens what is best. 

 I will admit that there have been many challenges along the way, all of which I'm extremely grateful for because they have strengthened my character and have allowed me to grow in ways I never thought were possible. I believe that nothing good comes easy and there have been many times where I thought it’d be easier to quit but I remind myself that struggle is necessary, and it is an important part of growth. 

 A major part of my success has been having supportive people who have helped me so much throughout my journey. Firstly, my amazing husband who is always understanding and patient with me. Secondly, my loving family who have invested so much in supporting me throughout my education and career. Finally, my loyal business partner who has worked so hard into making our dreams and vision a reality. I am so grateful that I have these people in my life.

 My plan for the future is to connect with as many Muslim and ethnic communities as possible to help break the stigma around mental health. Also, I plan to continue investing in Guiding Light Psychology so that we can continue to provide high quality and affordable mental health support to those in need. 

 People often ask me how I managed to reach this point in my career, and I always answer by saying: I put God first, at every business or life decision I have made, God always comes first. I have wrestled with fear and anxiety my entire life, but I didn’t let it win. I chose faith instead of fear and trusted that wherever I went, God will always be with me. I surrounded myself with like-minded people who supported me and always pushed me to be the healthiest version of myself. I refused to let my fear hold me back from living my life and stepping out boldly into the world. I did not let the pain harden my heart. Instead, I chose to use my pain for good, knowing that it serves a great purpose. I’ve learnt to share my truth and use my story to help others to feel less alone in theirs.