Meet Dr. Azarshahi

Dr. Azarshahi is a researcher, educator, and published author, with a background in counselling psychology.

She completed her Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia (UBC). Her academic interests focus on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), access and engagement in mental health care, culturally responsive practice, and the experiences of racialized communities within psychological services.

Her doctoral dissertation, Mental Health Treatment Engagement of Racialized Participants: A Descriptive Study, explored the experiences of racialized individuals accessing and engaging in specialized OCD treatment, with a focus on the cultural, systemic, and interpersonal factors that can shape pathways to care and treatment experiences.

Her broader academic work is grounded in an interest in producing research that is both rigorous and relevant to real-world mental health care. Through research, writing, guest lectures, and educational presentations, she aims to contribute to conversations about equitable mental health services, evidence-based practice, and the translation of psychological research into meaningful change.