Living in the USA or Canada while your family, language and sense of home are still tied to Pakistan can feel like carrying two lives at once. The Meeting Matters offers confidential online therapy for the Pakistani and South Asian community abroad, with Ms. Alya Riaz, a Certified Humanistic Integrative Therapist with over 15 years of experience, who works mostly with clients in the USA and Canada.
Session fees at The Meeting Matters are set in Pakistani Rupees (PKR 5,000–15,000, with a 20% student discount) — for clients paying in GBP, USD or CAD, that typically works out to a fraction of local therapy costs, without compromising on qualified, evidence-based psychologists who understand your cultural background firsthand.
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Many Pakistanis abroad describe the same pressures: balancing traditional values with modern life, meeting family expectations from thousands of miles away, and working out where they belong. Therapy with someone who already understands this context means you spend your sessions on the problem, not on explaining your culture.
Ms. Alya Riaz holds a diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling from CPCAB in the UK and also works with a hospice hospital in Toronto. Her approach is compassionate and client-centred, drawing on Person-Centred Therapy, Gestalt, CBT techniques and mindfulness-based practices, shaped around what each client needs.
Emotional well-being, trauma, grief and bereavement, life transitions, personal growth, cultural adjustment, identity, relationship challenges, stress and emotional regulation. Grief at a distance, such as losing a family member in Pakistan while you are abroad, is one of the experiences she knows well.
Sessions are held by secure video call, in the evenings Monday to Saturday, so they fit around work and family. Fees are set in Pakistani Rupees, which usually works out well below local therapy costs once converted to US or Canadian dollars. Message us on WhatsApp and we will confirm your appointment request within 30 minutes.

Humanistic Integrative Therapist — Trauma, Grief & Life Abroad
Ms. Alya Riaz is a Certified Humanistic Integrative Therapist with over 15 years of experience and a CPCAB (UK) diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling. She works with clients mostly in the USA and Canada on trauma, grief and bereavement, life transitions, cultural adjustment and relationship challenges, using Person-Centred, Gestalt, CBT-informed and mindfulness-based approaches.
What Alya helps with:

Founder & Lead Psychologist — Couples, Marriage & Relationship Counselling

Teenage Counselor & Educational Remedial Therapist

Clinical Psychologist — Anxiety, Panic Disorder & BPD
“I had a really great experience at Meeting Matters Clinic in F-11. The therapists here are highly professional aur unka ravaiya bohat supportive hai. It’s not easy to find a safe space for mental health, but yahan ka mahol bohat pur-sakoon aur welcoming hai. They genuinely listen to your problems without any judgment. Highly recommended for anyone looking for good counseling in Islamabad.”
Subhan A. · Google Review
“I am truly grateful to Ms. Tasmiya Asghar and the team at Meeting Matters. I reached out during one of the most difficult periods of my life while dealing with grief and trying to be the best parent I could be for my children. Ms. Tasmiya's kindness, empathy, and guidance helped me navigate emotions that often felt overwhelming. She helped me understand my feelings, regain perspective, and think through practical ways of supporting my children and myself. I always felt respected, heard, and comfortable during our sessions. I would wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Tasmiya Asghar and Meeting Matters to anyone going through a challenging time and looking for professional support in a compassionate environment.”
Hashir K. · Google Review
“Have noticed alot of changes within myself because of the sessions I've had. My therapist is extremely kind and helpful. I've never once felt uncomfortable feeling like I'm talking to a stranger. My Dr has made me feel as if she's my own and has helped me a lot.”
Shagufta K. · Google Review
The Meeting Matters has been providing professional counseling, therapy and training since 2010 — over fifteen years of clinical experience supporting individuals, couples and families across Pakistan and around the world. Our psychologists are trained in evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, EMDR and psychodynamic therapy, delivered through confidential online counseling and online therapy as well as in-person sessions at our Islamabad clinic.
Alongside specialist support for this concern, you have access to our full range of services — the same experienced team, available online or in person:
One-to-one online counseling and therapy for anxiety, depression, stress and personal growth.
Online relationship counseling for communication, conflict and rebuilding trust.
Online marriage counseling for couples working through distress or disconnection.
Guided conversations before marriage, available online.
Family counseling for communication, parenting and conflict resolution.
Child and adolescent therapy with parent guidance.
Secure online therapy sessions from anywhere.
Workplace wellbeing programs for organisations.
Support for career transitions and workplace stress.
Take the first step toward better mental health. Our compassionate team is here to support you.