About Shafik
Shafik was previously a teaching professor and/or invited speaker at several universities including: the University of Guelph-Humber; University of Toronto and McMaster University. He was involved in supervising & training the medical residents, social workers and psychology interns.
Shafik has worked in a variety of settings, including family health teams (primary care), has extensive training in Motivational Interviewing (MI), exposure based therapies (prolonged, cognitive processing), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic/ psychoanalytic, Primal Scream, Psychodrama, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Gottman Method, couples therapy, family therapy, sex therapy, existential therapy and narrative therapy.
Shafik has authored several scientific research publications and book chapters in the areas of: love triangles, jealousy, playground politics (bullying, peer relations, social hierarchies), narcissism and shame, mate attraction, mate competition, mate poaching (“homewrecking”), Machiavellianism, extra-dyadic romantic unions from the perspective of the interloper, unrequited love, countertransference int therapy, projections, cognitive distortions, defense mechanisms, therapist self-disclosure, psychoanalysis, clinical supervision, multi-cultural counselling, social media addiction, intimate partner violence, aggression, status striving, hormones (testosterone, oxytocin, cortisol), jealousy, the neurobiology and evolutionary roots
of addiction, the sociobiology of crime, psychopathy and psychotherapy techniques. Working with Shafik can involve insight into repeat relational patterns, processing old emotional wounds that resurface, and enhancing interpersonal communication with those we love. With over 15 years of experience. Shafik has worked in hospitals, primary care facilities, medical insurance and disability, forensics & corrections (federal prison) and private practice. Shafik takes a warm, compassionate and in-depth approach with clients. He thrives on finding the humour and the irony within our complexity. Sometimes these paradoxes and contradictions express themselves in fascinating and intriguing ways. Honouring, cherishing and savouring the facets to our unique personality constellation may help, sometimes, with our suffering(s).
* Not accepting clients for therapy / counselling
Shafik currently provides oversight of the clinic including case consultations, clinical supervision, grand rounds and works closely with Shantel Persaud in psychological assessments, psychological testing, risk assessments and psychological diagnoses.
Outside of the Happy Tree he supervises students in their master’s degree practicum at the university. Shafik also enjoys beaches, BBQs and music.
Shafik has also been an invited guest on various podcasts, media channels and newspapers to comment on Pedophilia, Covid-19, Trans-gender concerns and Traditional / Alternative/ Complementary Healing Methods (e.g., rituals, ceremonies, symbols, Djinns, exorcisms, hypnosis, herbs, Voodoo, Qi, Ayurveda, Morita, Jumbie etc.,).
Shafik works with two charity organizations. Firstly, Shafik is on a medical committee to assist the logistics of screening for PTSD in 40,000 refugee families coming to Canada from Syria and Afghanistan and helping guide the team of front-line therapists to connecting them with appropriate services. Secondly, he also partners with big Canadian corporations to investigate the feasibility and implementation of universal basic income including examining pilot projects, inquiring about consolidating social assistance services and investigating the optimal point between ‘livable’ income without compromising financial incentives to labour force participation. These committees are intended to help inform policy and future federal government initiatives and legislation.