Akbar Safari, RCC

Senior Counsellor
He/Him/His

Akbar Safari (he/him) is a Farsi-speaking Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with more than 20 years of experience supporting adults, youth, and families in both private practice and family service agency settings. At Hollyburn, Akbar works exclusively with Farsi-speaking clients, providing the opportunity to receive counselling in the language in which they feel most comfortable expressing themselves.

Akbar specializes in individual and substance use counselling and supports clients experiencing concerns such as addiction, stress, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, parenting challenges, and emotional distress. His approach is integrative and client-centred, drawing from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Therapy while adapting counselling to the individual needs and experiences of each client.

As a Farsi-speaking counsellor, Akbar understands the important role that language, culture, family, and lived experience can play in mental health and the counselling relationship. He is passionate about increasing access to culturally responsive mental health services and creating a warm, respectful environment where Farsi-speaking and Persian-speaking clients can discuss difficult experiences without the added challenge of having to translate their thoughts and emotions into another language.

Akbar holds a Master’s degree in Personality Psychology and is registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). He also maintains a Specialized Business License with Psychology and Counselling Organizations in Iran. His extensive professional training includes adolescent substance use intervention using the Matrix Model, Clinical Hypnosis through ISSCH, and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy through the Tehran Psychoanalytic Institute (TPI).

His commitment to mental health extends beyond the counselling room. Akbar has participated in training and workshops focused on reducing stigma surrounding mental health, substance use, chronic pain, and medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).

Above all, Akbar is committed to building trust, supporting meaningful change, and helping clients feel seen, heard, and understood. He provides counselling exclusively in Farsi for clients seeking culturally responsive, first-language mental health support.