Aziz Mirza (he/him) is a Registered Provisional Psychologist in Alberta with a MA in Counselling Psychology. A firm believer that identity is an ever-evolving, relational experience, he sees healing and growth as a process best nurtured in spaces of empathy, trust, and deep connection. His practice is shaped by his lived experience as a
South Asian, Queer individual navigating multiple non-dominant identities across diverse cultures, belief systems, and geographies. Aziz holds a deep interest in identity, attachment wounds, belonging, gender and sexuality, and trauma. When he’s not untangling the complexities of human relationships, you’ll find him being the favorite (g)uncle, getting far too competitive over board games, or watching horror movies at the objectively correct time—3 AM.

Aziz is grateful to live, work and play on the unceded lands of Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney), the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Districts 5 and 6), and all people who make their
homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

At this conference, he’s queering attachment theory with an expansive lens—because, let’s be honest, relationships (like identities) refuse to fit neatly into boxes. Traditional attachment theory assumes normative family structures, often failing to account for queer experiences of connection and security. This presentation explores how queering attachment theory expands our understanding of intimacy, belonging, and relational bonds beyond heteronormative frameworks.

Drawing from narrative therapy, queer theory, and collective identity formation, we will examine the role of chosen families, the disruption of attachment hierarchies, and the fluidity of queer relationships. By reimagining attachment through a queer lens, we create more inclusive, affirming spaces in mental health practice—validating diverse pathways to love, trust, and connection.