Our Team

Amarjith Balakrishnan

Msc, Registred Psychotherapist

Amarjith is a Registered Psychotherapist at Riva Clinic who supports individuals from diverse backgrounds in navigating a wide range of mental health challenges.

He takes a compassionate, client-centered, and holistic approach to therapy, integrating psychotherapy with mindfulness, meditation, and yoga to support overall well-being. Amarjith works collaboratively with clients to build insight, strengthen coping strategies, and promote meaningful and lasting change.

Amarjith has experience working in a variety of settings, including mental health rehabilitation centres, schools, public and private organizations, and clinical practice. He supports individuals experiencing anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as trauma and post-traumatic stress, suicidal thoughts, substance use challenges, HIV-related psychological concerns, and identity-related experiences, including those within the LGBTQI2S+ community.

He is deeply committed to supporting marginalized and diverse populations, including immigrants and refugees, individuals affected by domestic violence, and those from culturally and socio-economically diverse communities.

His work is informed by evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). He has completed additional training through recognized institutions and organizations, including CAMH, Adler University, the University of Toronto, CTRI, and OCASI, along with formal training in yoga and meditation.

Amarjith is known for creating a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel supported and respected. He is committed to helping clients develop resilience, self-awareness, and a stronger sense of well-being.

Behnoosh Amelimousavi

Msc, Registred Psychotherapist

Behnoosh is a Registered Psychotherapist at Riva Clinic with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families across a wide range of mental health concerns.

She has extensive experience working with clients facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, the effects of adverse childhood experiences, self-esteem and self-confidence concerns, and other emotional and psychological difficulties. In addition to individual therapy, Behnoosh has worked closely with couples and families to support healthier communication, strengthen relationships, and navigate complex relational dynamics.

Behnoosh takes a client-centered and integrative approach to therapy, tailoring her work to each individual’s unique needs and goals. She collaborates closely with clients to identify meaningful therapy objectives, whether focused on improving self-awareness, enhancing emotional well-being, or strengthening personal and relational functioning.

Her work is informed by a range of evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic-based interventions, mindfulness practices, yoga therapy, and hypnotherapy. She also incorporates family counselling and couples therapy techniques to support relational healing and growth.

Behnoosh is known for creating a supportive, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel safe to explore their experiences and work toward positive change. She is committed to guiding clients through a meaningful healing process, helping them build resilience, improve well-being, and move toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Shiva Movafaghian

MSc, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Shiva is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at Riva Clinic who specializes in supporting children, adolescents, and families facing emotional, behavioural, and developmental challenges.

She brings over 20 years of experience in counselling and psychotherapy, with a strong background working in diverse settings, including clinics, schools, and private practice in Canada. Shiva has extensive experience supporting children and families dealing with anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum-related concerns, and complex family dynamics. She works collaboratively with families to strengthen communication, improve emotional understanding, and support healthy development.

Shiva takes a compassionate, structured, and client-centered approach to therapy, adapting her methods to meet the unique developmental and emotional needs of each child and family. Her work is particularly focused on creating a safe and engaging environment where children can express themselves and build essential coping and social skills.

Her approach is informed by evidence-based and developmentally appropriate methods, including play therapy and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), as well as broader counselling and coaching techniques. She integrates these approaches to provide practical, effective support tailored to each client’s needs.

Shiva holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and has completed specialized training in ABA, play therapy, and life coaching. She is also the founder of Alpha Child Therapy in Ontario. Her professional affiliations include membership with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and the Canadian Association for Play Therapy.

She is committed to helping children and families build resilience, improve emotional well-being, and navigate challenges with confidence and support.

Dr. Arezoo Hajvaziri

​PhD, Registred Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Arezoo is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at Riva Clinic who supports children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in navigating a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and relational challenges.

She brings over ten years of experience working with diverse populations across different stages of life. Arezoo supports clients experiencing anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, and relationship-related concerns. She works collaboratively with clients to better understand their experiences, develop effective coping strategies, and build meaningful, lasting change.

Arezoo takes a warm, flexible, and client-centered approach to therapy, tailoring each session to the unique needs, goals, and preferences of the individual. She emphasizes creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and emotions at their own pace.

Her work is informed by evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Play Therapy, and Neurofeedback. She integrates these modalities to provide personalized care that addresses both immediate concerns and underlying patterns.

Arezoo holds a PhD in Health Psychology, with her research focusing on the application of Neurofeedback in the treatment of migraines. This background supports her integrative approach, combining psychological and physiological perspectives to enhance overall well-being.

She has experience working with individuals, couples, and families from diverse cultural and social backgrounds and is committed to providing inclusive and culturally sensitive care.

Arezoo is dedicated to helping clients build insight, strengthen resilience, and develop practical skills to support long-term mental health and well-being.

Maryam Mostafavi

PhD, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Maryam is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at Riva Clinic who supports adults in navigating emotional, psychological, and relational challenges.

She holds a PhD in Health Psychology and brings over a decade of clinical experience working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship-related concerns. Maryam works collaboratively with clients to explore underlying patterns, deepen self-awareness, and support meaningful and lasting psychological change.

Her approach is grounded in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, with an emphasis on understanding unconscious processes, early experiences, and relational dynamics that influence present-day difficulties. She takes an integrative perspective, incorporating psychosomatic approaches that recognize the connection between mind and body, as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based interventions when appropriate to support symptom relief and practical coping.

Maryam is committed to creating a thoughtful, reflective, and supportive therapeutic space where clients feel safe to explore complex emotions and experiences at their own pace. Her work focuses on fostering insight, emotional growth, and long-term well-being.

She offers therapy in Persian through a secure virtual setting, providing accessible and culturally sensitive care for Persian-speaking clients.

Maryam is dedicated to helping clients develop deeper self-understanding, resilience, and a more balanced and fulfilling life.