Each month we spotlight an ACA member in the ACA Monthly Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. The Member Spotlight is designed to showcase the work of our members to you! We hope their stories inspire or spark interest. Let’s share our experiences within our counselling community.

Dean Mousad

CEO at Invictus Solutions

 

What motivated you to pursue a career in counselling?  

Growing up in the Sydney Muslim community, I witnessed firsthand the struggles and challenges many individuals faced. Indeed, I faced demons of my own before turning my life around, with God’s help. My faith has a strong emphasis on compassion and service, inspiring me to support my community to overcome these obstacles. Counselling became my path to assisting and motivating people. I derive great satisfaction from supporting my community and helping them realise their full potential and become the best version of themselves.

What specific areas do you primarily work within?

I work predominantly with clients struggling with addictions or mental health concerns. I schedule appointments on business days in my Sydney office (how many depends on my other workloads). Invictus Solutions has grown extensively over the past 12 months to the point that I now have more than 20 staff. In addition to counselling, mentoring and consulting clients, I also run educational workshops for schools, businesses and community groups. I am often required to travel interstate for workshops and attend and/or address conventions. Overseas travel is also involved at times and I am currently putting steps in place to hopefully expand Invictus Solutions into the Middle East region (GGC – Gulf Co-operation Council). With this current workload and my very much hands-on charity work that I described in Question 7, my weeks are never dull!

Can you share a recent success or achievement in your counselling work that you’re proud of? 

I worked with a client struggling with pornography addiction but committed to change. After six sessions with me over six months, they expressed gratitude for the non-judgmental, compassionate support they had received from me. Now, free from addiction, they’re preparing for marriage.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a counsellor for you?  

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a counsellor is witnessing my clients turn their lives around. Seeing them discover the strength and resilience to work their way through challenges and find hope in adversity. I gain immense satisfaction from seeing them embrace the silver lining in life’s journey, after the struggles they’ve been through.

How do you contribute to the betterment of the profession and your community?  

The vast majority of my clients are Muslims and I am fully aware of the need to continually educate myself with regard to religious nuances and cultural sensitivities. It is crucial that I understand these nuances fully in order to provide counselling which is both effective and culturally sensitive. I offer sincere and compassionate counselling based around Islamic principles and in terms of contributing towards the betterment of my profession, I am proud of the professional ethnics and standards that I uphold.

Are there any projects or initiatives you’re currently involved in?  

My life revolves around my faith, my family and my community/my work. In addition to being the CEO at Invictus Solutions, heading a team of over 20 counsellors and educators as previously mentioned, I also co-founded two charities, Brothers In Need (2015) and Project Qur’an (2019) and remain hands-on with both. I am the Managing Director of Brothers In Need, which now services three states and provides support to disadvantaged individuals and communities through various programs and initiatives. Project Qur’an is dedicated to distributing copies of the Qur’an and prayer aids to new Muslims and those may be interested in Islam. It promotes the understanding of Islam.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in counselling/psychotherapy?  

I recommend if you are thinking about a career in counselling/psychotherapy, don’t hesitate…do what I did and ‘dive in at the deep end’. Only after dealing with clients will you know if you’re the right fit. Hopefully, this career path will bring you as much fulfillment as it has done for me!

Is there a quote or philosophy that inspires your work?  

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson.

This quote resonates with me both personally and professionally, as it reminds me of the importance of embracing my own power and potential. It inspires me to encourage other to do the same.

Open question – tell anything that was not asked in the previous questions? 

In life, it’s never too late to make change. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish, meaning that our past doesn’t dictate our future; it’s our actions and outcomes that define us. The potential for positive change is there at any stage of our lives.