Hope Leads Mental Health Care in Toronto
Meet your therapy community.
Support for queer, racialized, and gender-diverse adults and couples ready to feel understood, belong, and build a life that’s theirs.
Where hope leads the way
Flexible appt times. In-person therapy in Toronto & online across Ontario.
Diverse team of therapists who help you feel seen from your first session
Culturally-affirming therapy that turns hope into real, meaningful change
Hiding is exhausting.
Some days you’re fine. Other days, you’re googling “why am I like this” and crying in your car. You’re burnt out, over it, and tired of performing. You wear a mask more than you’d like to admit, and you just want to put it all down and be yourself.
We do therapy with real talk, warmth, and a bit of humour. Your feelings (even the ugly ones) aren’t the enemy. Let’s stop fighting them and understand them so you can get somewhere better.
Meet Our Team
Match With a Therapist in Toronto
We know that feeling better is easier with your people around you, so we bring 5+ years of clinical depth, real lived experience, and a space where care is shared. We’re your community, and so excited to meet you.
Joelle Forbes
(she/her)
President, Clinical Director, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
Hope Leads Mental Health Care | Therapy in Toronto, ON
Our Affirming Therapy Services
We believe your different identities deserve to be affirmed, not explained. Our care is holistic, culturally grounded, and rooted in community.
This is therapy that makes sense, where you show up as your true self and feel good about it!
Individual
Therapy
Couples
Therapy
2SLGBTQIA+
Therapy
Immigrants & Racialized Therapy
Areas We Support
Gender-Affirming Therapy
Explore your gender identity and expression with zero judgement.
Anxiety Therapy
Quiet the noise in your head, ease the exhaustion, and stop the what-ifs.
Depression Therapy
Gently lift the heaviness and numbness, and feel like yourself again.
Trauma Therapy
Process trauma gently with a therapist who walks the whole journey with you.
Stress & Burnout Therapy
Quiet the overthinking, ease the burnout, and say no to running on empty.
Neurodivergence Therapy
Support for the ADHD and Autism brains tired of being told to just try harder.
Our Community Partnerships
We partner with agencies, health centres, and youth-serving organizations to bring culturally grounded mental health care to the communities you serve. From affirming workshops and group therapy programs to staff training, clinical supervision, and program evaluation, our facilitators bring lived experience and deep community roots to every session, so your team and your clients feel genuinely seen.
If you’re an organization looking to strengthen your capacity, meet your deliverables, and care for your people well, we’d love to work with you.
We're grateful for the partners who make this work possible, and for everything we get to build together!
Our Story & Commitment
Therapy in Toronto,
led by hope,
built on friendship.
We’re Joelle and Michael, two Masters-level registered social workers and psychotherapists who built this practice because we couldn’t find enough spaces that felt genuinely safe for queer, racialized, and immigrant communities.
We named it after the inspiration of the pink daylily, a flower that survives both flood and drought and still makes room for beauty. That’s the courage we see in our clients every day. We do the work that matters, we lead with care over clout, and we’d love to walk alongside you.
Therapy in Toronto, ON
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your fees for therapy in Toronto?
Our individual and couples therapy sessions offer thoughtful, personalized, and affirming support tailored to your needs and goals.
Individual therapy runs $170 to $200 for a 60-minute session, depending on the therapist you choose.
For couples therapy, your first 90-minute intake is $250, giving us time to explore your relationship history, goals, and concerns in depth. Follow-up sessions are $220 for 60 minutes.
You can see each therapist’s rate on their booking page.
Do you do direct billing, and how are sessions paid?
No, we don’t do direct billing. Once your payment is received and your session is complete, you’ll get an invoice (containing your Registered Social Worker’s registration number) that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Please check with your provider to confirm they cover services from a Registered Social Worker/Master of Social Work or Registered Psychotherapist.
Hope Leads Mental Health Care currently takes credit card payments only. If your card is expired or inactive, your therapist will ask you to e-transfer the payment after your session.
Do you offer in-person therapy, and where are you located?
Yes, we offer in-person therapy at two Toronto locations:
Midtown: The Village Hive, 120 Eglinton Ave E, Suite 202, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2 (closest subway: Eglinton)
Downtown: Therapy Suites, 366 Adelaide St E, Suite 225, Toronto, ON M5A 3X9 (closest subway: King Station)
If you’d like to meet in person, just let your therapist know at your free consultation.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
We don’t offer a sliding scale at this time. We know accessing mental health support can feel overwhelming, particularly when you’re navigating costs and finding the right care. If you’d like help understanding available services or community-based resources in Ontario, our resources page is a good place to start.
If you’re an existing client with questions or concerns about the cost of therapy, please speak directly with your therapist. Financial circumstances can change, and we want you to feel supported in having open, honest conversations about your care. Your therapist can help explore your options and support you in finding the best path forward.
What's your cancellation policy?
We ask for 24 hours notice for any cancellation or change to your appointment. Clients who give less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, are charged the full session fee. You can cancel or reschedule through your Jane account, by calling us, or by contacting your therapist directly. Life can throw curveballs, though, and we’re always open to reviewing individual cases where the fee might be waived.
I can't find an appointment that works for me. What should I do?
Email us at info@hopeleads.ca and one of our team members will happily help coordinate a time that fits your schedule and availability. We’ll do our best to make the whole process feel smooth, flexible, and easy.
How do I know if a therapist is the right fit?
The client-therapist match matters more than almost anything, which is why we offer a free meet-and-greet. It’s a low-pressure chance to see how you feel with us before you commit to anything. Our clients tend to stay for years, and we think that says a lot.
Hope Leads Mental Health Care
How To Get Started
Hope got you this far, here’s how to take the next step:
Book Online
Set up a free meet-and-greet with a therapist directly online.
Call or Email
Reach out with your questions or to book your free consultation.
Send Us a Message
Fill out the contact form, and we'll get back to you to talk through next steps.