Our Team

Abdullah James Harris, PhD  | President

Kadra A Good  | Executive Director

Kadra is a community developer, mental health professional, and advocate with over 25 years of experience in social services. She has supported individuals and families through counseling, parental coaching, crisis intervention, and community‑based programs. Since 2011, she has contributed to multiple community projects in Ottawa, advocating for equity, safety, and the well‑being of diverse communities.

Her international work has been recognized nationally in Bahrain. In 2007, she received an award from UNDP Bahrain for creating the first youth hotline in the Middle East. In 2009, she received a second national recognition for leading the initiative to establish Bahrain’s first shelter for women experiencing domestic abuse.

From 2018 to 2024, Kadra worked at REPFO, where she supported families and played a key role in anti‑racism advocacy, particularly in advancing the well‑being of the Black community through culturally informed, trauma‑aware services. She continues this advocacy at MFSO, working to address discrimination and promote equity.

Kadra has since stepped away from clinical practice and now serves as Executive Director of the Muslim Family Services of Ottawa (MFSO), where she focuses on leadership, community development, and advancing equity, safety, and social justice. She speaks English, French, and Arabic.

Fouad Khan | Clinical Head Supervisor

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Shamso Manyozo-Scoggan, MSW, RSW | Therapist, Social Services, and Supervised Access Coordinator

Shamso Manyozo-Scoggan is an MSW‑ and RSW‑registered clinician providing counselling and coordination services at MFSO as a Therapist, Social Services, and Supervised Access Coordinator. Her clinical practice is culturally sensitive, culturally responsive, and trauma‑informed, integrating evidence‑based and evidence‑informed approaches including attachment‑informed practice, strengths‑based interventions, and narrative and relational frameworks.

She brings extensive experience supporting pregnant and parenting youth, and women who have experienced abuse, including immigrant and refugee women navigating complex social systems and community resources, and has developed and facilitated therapeutic support groups for women impacted by violence. She works with individuals, families, youth, and children—including clients referred by the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CAS)—using an anti‑oppressive and equity‑oriented lens that recognises the impacts of systemic barriers, racial trauma, intersectionality, and the social determinants of health on mental wellbeing.

At MFSO, She is committed to ensuring service users accessing the Supervised Access Programme, Social Services, and Therapy services feel welcomed, respected, and supported in a non‑judgemental and unbiased environment, and she welcomes constructive feedback to strengthen MFSO services.

Nawal Bentobbal | Clinical Psychotherapist

Nawal is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach, working with adults experiencing emotional distress and a wide range of personal, relational, and psychological challenges. Nawal has experience supporting women, refugees, vulnerable individuals, and people from diverse, minority, and marginalized communities, while recognizing the impact of trauma, violence, systemic barriers, culture, identity, and intersectional experiences on emotional well-being. Nawal strive to provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, reconnect with their strengths, and develop greater clarity, resilience, autonomy, and self-compassion to regain a sense of empowerment in their lives.

Her clinical areas of interest include anxiety, depression, trauma and complex PTSD, stress and burnout, anger management, shame, guilt, self-esteem difficulties, attachment wounds, relationship challenges, emotional regulation difficulties, self-harm, suicidal ideation, grief and loss, life transitions, migration-related stress, childhood abuse, domestic violence, and violence in all its forms.

Nawal uses an integrative therapeutic approach tailored to each client’s needs, incorporating Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, strengths-based interventions, mindfulness, and emotional regulation tools.

Nawal offers services in French and Arabic and work primarily with women, adults (18+), refugees, and individuals from diverse and minority communities.

Houda Basti | Mental Health Counselor

Marc Wabafiyebazu | Spiritual Counselor

Ustad Abdul Hay works in the mental health field through spiritual counselling with the Muslim Family Services of Ottawa, alongside chaplaincy work in schools, correctional facilities, and universities. Since embracing Islam in 2016, he has dedicated himself to mentoring Muslim youth through counselling, education, and faith-based initiatives. He holds a B.A. in Linguistics from Carleton University and is the founder of the Institute of Quranic Arabic (IQA), where he teaches Qur’anic Arabic. He also founded Al-Ihsan Jiu-Jitsu, a youth program teaching self-defence and discipline rooted in Islamic values. Over the past decade, he has studied Islam locally with various teachers and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Counselling and Psychology alongside a Master’s specialization in Islamic Psychology.

Yasmine Mohamed | Emotional and Spiritual Counselor

Yasmine Mohamed is a dedicated emotional and spiritual counselor with several years of experience supporting individuals through personal, emotional, and life challenges. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, she connects naturally with clients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Committed to continuous professional growth, Yasmine is continuing her certification in the field of coaching, strengthening her ability to offer compassionate, client‑centered guidance.

Her counseling approach is deeply rooted in Islamic values, focusing on helping individuals find peace, balance, and emotional wellbeing through remembrance of Allah and strengthening their connection with their Creator. Yasmine believes that Islam is a faith of balance emotionally, spiritually, and physically and she integrates this holistic understanding into every session.

Her sessions provide a safe, respectful, and supportive space where individuals feel heard, encouraged, and empowered to take meaningful steps toward healing and personal growth. Yasmine’s gentle presence and faith‑aligned approach make her a trusted support for those seeking emotional clarity, spiritual grounding, and renewed strength.

Soukaina Bouchafra | Clinical Psychotherapist

Soukaina Bouchafra is a master’s student in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about mental health, community involvement, and helping others. She has experience in research, volunteering, and supporting children and older adults through community programs. She speaks French, English, Arabic, and Italian.

Nasra Hassan | Supervised Access Program Supervisor

Nasra Hassan is a dedicated professional in social services and outreach, and a Supervisor with the Supervised Access Program (SAP), committed to supporting children and families through safe, structured, and compassionate care. With a strong background in community service and family support, she brings professionalism, empathy, and cultural sensitivity to her role.

In her position as a SAP Supervisor, Nasra oversees supervised visits, ensuring a safe and respectful environment where children can maintain meaningful connections with their families. She is skilled in observation, documentation, and works closely with parents and partner agencies to promote the well-being of every child involved.

Lolita Nseya | Youth and Family Support Worker

Lolita is a dedicated and passionate bilingual advocate for the well-being of vulnerable individuals. With several years of experience working with children, she has also worked with refugees in camps in Africa, where she supported families facing extreme hardship and trauma. These experiences have allowed her to develop a strong capacity for adaptation, intercultural sensitivity, and a deeply human approach. She possesses solid skills in psychosocial support, needs assessment, and referral to appropriate resources. Known for her active listening, empathy, and professionalism, Lolita easily builds trusting relationships with those she supports. Driven by a strong social commitment, she continuously pursues professional development to offer respectful, effective, and tailored support to each individual’s unique circumstances.

In her position as a SAP Supervisor, Lolita oversees supervised visits, ensuring a safe and respectful environment where children can maintain meaningful connections with their families. She speaks English and French.

Ghislaine N. Pierre | Supervised Access Program Worker

Ghislaine N. Pierre is a trained administrative professional, graduating in Secretarial Studies with six years of experience as an Office Secretary in Haiti. She also brings thirteen years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the United States.

Ghislaine has been a dedicated volunteer with the Supervised Access Program (SAP) at Muslim Family Services of Ottawa (MFSO), where she supports and supervises families during visits. Her calm presence, professionalism, and strong sense of responsibility make her a trusted support for parents and children navigating challenging family situations.

She is fully bilingual, speaking French, English, and Haitian Creole, allowing her to connect with and assist families from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Ghislaine is committed to serving the community with compassion, respect, and integrity, and continues to expand her skills through ongoing training and hands‑on experience with families.

Fozia Adem | Interpreter

Fozia Adam brings strong linguistic and community‑support experience to MFSO. After previously training in the field of dental hygiene, she has been serving as an interpreter at MFSO since 2024, supporting clients in Arabic, English, and Eritrean dialects.

Fozia is a dedicated and reliable team member known for her professionalism and compassionate approach. She contributed significantly to the 2025 Summer Program with children and continues to support MFSO through volunteer administrative assistance.

Ghislaine N. Pierre | Youth and Family Support Worker

Bintia Toure est une comptable qualifiée comptant plus de quinze ans d’expérience, avec un parcours solide au sein de divers organismes communautaires à Ottawa. Engagée et professionnelle, elle a soutenu MFSO avec dévouement en tant que bénévole au service de préparation des déclarations de revenus en 2024–2025, contribuant de manière essentielle à l’accompagnement des familles. Elle se distingue par son sens du devoir, sa fiabilité et la qualité constante de son travail au service des familles.

Avec plus de vingt ans d’implication dans le secteur communautaire, Bintia est reconnue pour son sérieux, sa rigueur et son profond engagement envers les clients qu’elle accompagne.

Eya Kooli | Administrative Assistant

Eya is currently working in administration at MFSO while pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Development at the University of Ottawa. Eya is passionate about issues of social justice, discrimination against minorities, and creating more inclusive and equitable communities.

Nalan Kurnaz | Web Developer

Nalan Kurnaz is a computer science professional and community contributor with experience in web development, software engineering, and nonprofit technology projects. She has worked on building digital platforms that support community organizations and improve accessibility to services. Nalan is also involved in initiatives focused on education, mental health awareness, and social impact. She brings a strong interest in using technology to support meaningful community development.