For our Beyond the Chair series, we've gathered a selection of fun and insightful questions from client suggestions to help humanize the therapy experience. In this series, we'll be showcasing each of our therapists, giving you a glimpse into who we are beyond the therapy room. So, here's a little insight into me—Sabin Naqvi, your therapist—beyond the chair.
Q: What inspired you to become a therapist?
A: I’ve always been drawn to understanding people—their stories, their struggles, and what makes them who they are. From a young age, I was always a listener and found wisdom in the tales of life experiences. Time and time again, I learned that we need each other—to listen, to care, to see us, to hear us, to challenge us, and to remind us that we're not alone. We need someone to witness us. In some ways, I think therapy is just a microcosm of the real world, but perhaps a safer and less daunting place. Some say holding space in this way is challenging work, and often, it is. But really, it's all I know how to do.
Q: What is the best part about your job?
A: The realization that none of us are above it. Just a constant and needed reminder of my own humanity and finding it in others. We're all freakin' flawed and we're all in search of something to help normalize that. There's something decent in all of us, and this work puts me in touch with that. It's my greatest hack in life to access depth and meaning, outside of being a mommy.
Q: The podcast you're enjoying right now...
A: My dear friend recently introduced me to a podcast by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (aka Elaine from Seinfeld—by the way, one of the greatest shows in history, right alongside Everybody Loves Raymond—can we please bring back good sitcoms?). In the podcast, Julia interviews women she considers 'wiser than [her],' and I think it’s such a brilliant concept. It reminds me of how my dad would always say, "You’re not the first person to encounter this. There’s probably a book about it." Why aren’t we tapping into the wisdom of the generations before us—especially women who’ve been there and done that? It’s fantastic, eye-opening, and affirming all at once.
Q: A way to make you laugh…
A: So many ways to make me laugh! I’m all about dark humour, some self-deprecation in small doses, and witty retorts. But what really gets me? When people make me laugh with expressions or body contortions—those childlike, out-of-pocket, silly moments that can’t be captured by words. That’s the funny stuff. You know, the kind of laughter where you’re begging them to stop because you can’t breathe? Yeah, those are the ones that come from the random expressions. Soooooo good.
Q: Your favorite tunes – can we have a peek?
A: I can't even begin to describe how eclectic my Spotify is, but here’s a taste: It spans from Pearl Jam, Bad Bunny, Gyptian, Death Cab for Cutie, and Young the Giant, to Tanya Stephens, Fleetwood Mac, Chappell Roan, Atif Aslam, The Beatles, and a lot of Bollywood tunes. Then there’s Chris Stapleton, Kendrick Lamar, random Irish folk songs, and a solid mix of 90s and early 2000s R&B, Reggae, and some Soca… let’s go! And when I say this doesn’t even remotely capture it, I mean it. My playlist is truly a reflection of the music I’ve curated over the years—the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, and the experiences I’ve had. I’m actually really proud of the range. I love music that takes me somewhere, and so many of these songs hold special, nostalgic memories from different chapters of my life.
Q: Best piece of advice you’ve received?
A: Gosh, I’ve received plenty, but a few have stuck with me. This section may be lengthy, but I feel it’s worth sharing, especially for parents.
The first: "You're not that important." Sounds harsh, right? But it’s actually freeing. People aren’t as consumed with thinking about you or your actions as much as we tend to believe. We all carry worries, self-imposed limitations, and barriers, but the truth is—most people are too busy thinking about themselves. Realizing this takes the pressure off and gives you the freedom to just be.
The second: One of the best pieces of advice I received before becoming a mom came from my husband’s aunt. She cautioned me about the "wait until" people. You know the ones—if you say your baby sleeps through the night, they’ll say, “Oh, wait until they start teething.” If you mention how kind your child is, “Oh, wait until the terrible twos hit.” If things feel manageable, “Oh, wait until you have two or three—one is easy.” These comments aren’t always meant with bad intentions, but they often come from people whose experiences felt different. Her advice? Stay in your lane. Enjoy your own journey instead of bracing for problems that may never come. That simple shift in perspective honestly changed my entire experience of motherhood—I was able to be fully present and truly enjoy it all.
Lastly: The final piece came from my very good friend who always keeps it real and gave me the reassurance I didn’t even know I needed. When I told her I was scared of how hard motherhood would be, she simply said: "You’ve done hard things before. You’ve been exhausted before. You’ve been challenged before. You've been in pain before. It’s just rinse and repeat. What you haven’t experienced is this kind of love. And there is nothing like it." She was right. My gosh, was she ever right.
Q: Something light and fun – your must-have beauty product.
A: I wouldn’t call myself a brand loyalist unless I find something I truly can’t live without. When it comes to beauty, I’m definitely in my take-care-of-my-skin era. This year is all about good nutrition, plenty of sunshine (with a fantastic SPF, of course), staying hydrated, and investing in deep, quality facials and skin resurfacing.
I’m not into injectables—partly because they scare me, but also because I’d love to be a serious advocate for leveling the playing field. Can we all just agree to play fair and age as is? Haha. Honestly, I know myself—I’m not consistent enough (or motivated enough) to keep up with that kind of maintenance. But if we’re talking must-have products? A solid prescription retinol, a kick-ass mascara, and some blush go a long way.
Q: Something you will always find in your fridge:
A: A backup of really good butter for when the one on the counter runs out, fresh coriander and green onions, an impressive lineup of hot sauces and chili pastes, and a bottle of sake—because you’d be surprised how much it can elevate a sauce. Oh, and berries. So many berries. I swear, toddlers survive on berries, hopes, and dreams.
Q: A place that means a lot to you:
A: Maybe it’s the obvious answer, but Pakistan. I wasn’t born there—my parents were—but we spent so much time in Karachi and Lahore growing up that it’s always felt like home. Even though Canada has been my home since I was a year old, there’s something about Pakistan that feels deeply familiar, like déjà vu in the most visceral way. It’s as if I’ve lived a past life there.
I can sense the presence of my grandparents, the streets that watched my parents grow up, the fruit trees my father climbed, and the house my mother grew up in, still standing strong. I think of the terrace where I often stood, watching the hustle and bustle below, feeling both a part of it and an observer. The smells, the people, the food, the music, the clothes, the poetry, the sounds—the sheer aliveness of it all. Nothing, and I mean nothing, makes me feel more like myself than when I’m there. No matter where I go, I will forever be Pakistani. It's in my soul.
Q: Your vice or indulgence?
A: I make pretty decent coffee at home, but if I’m out, I’ll never pass up the chance to grab one—especially if it means discovering a cool new coffee shop. But not the fancy, overly curated spots—just a solid, no-frills place that knows how to brew a great cup.
And then there’s the tasting menu. I’m a major foodie. It totally consumes me. I love following the careers of chefs and pushing myself to try things I wouldn’t normally go for. But more than the food, it’s the experience that matters most. I love sharing these moments with people I care about. There’s something deeply human about breaking bread together—so why not add a little luxury and artistry into the mix? It’s a guilty splurge, but one I’m happy about because, for me, it’s all about the experience.
Q: Let’s end this with something big! Love is…
A: Oof! Okay…We’re going deep.
Love is found in the monotony and in recognizing that it has its epochs—or seasons, if you will. That’s part of the beauty, no? Sure, it's not always exciting, but that's all fleeting anyway. Sometimes, I just want to shake couples and scream: This is not a sign that something is broken! I truly believe we’d all feel more at peace if we could simply accept this and stop overthinking it. Easier said than done, Sabin, I know.
This was fun! I'm grateful to everyone who helped us come up with the questions, and I truly hope this deepens our experience together.
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