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  • Identity

  • Life Transitions

  • Navigating Various Forms of Oppression

  • Racism 

  • Self-Esteem

  • Workplace and Educational Settings Stressors

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Trauma

  • Gender Journey (identity and relational experiences)

  • Grief and Loss (including abortion and pregnancy loss)

Primary Areas of Focus:

Joelle standing and smiling from the side. She is wearing a floral pattern blue and green dress.

Joelle’s Story

Welcome! As a registered social worker and psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada, I have spent many years providing mental health care to racialized communities in various settings, including a community health center and private practice.


As a Black woman, I’ve had the privilege of learning so much about collective care, humor, intergenerational wisdom, and survival. My practice and approach integrate an Afrocentric framework that allows us to go beyond the individual and to understand how our community (e.g. “our village”) shapes our view of self. Not overexplaining, sharing a laugh, communicating through body language, and having compassion for the unspoken are just a few of the gems that come from my experiences working with racialized communities. This has shown me that therapeutic care goes beyond manuals and textbooks – my hope is to facilitate therapeutic spaces where you can nurture your authentic self from a place of emotional safety, joy, and empowerment.

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I look forward to collaborating with you throughout your therapeutic journey!

  • Queer Relationships (including ethical non-monogamy, polyamory)

  • Racism and Discrimination

  • Substance Use Management and Harm Reduction (crystal meth, cocaine, alcohol, marijuana)

  • Trauma-Informed Care

Languages Spoken:

Michael can provide services in English and Tagalog.

Primary Areas of Focus:

  • Anxiety 

  • Depression

  • Gender Journey (dysphoria, coming out, etc)

  • General Stress (workplace, cross-cultural, acculturation)

  • Grief/Loss

  • Life Transitions

Michael in a white pullover leaning against the stairs.

Michael’s Story

Hello, Kumusta (how are you)? As a psychotherapist and registered social worker in Toronto, Ontario, I have worked with many diverse communities, including those who have been marginalized because of their race, income, gender identity, and immigration & HIV status. Throughout my practice, I have learned that regardless of how difficult life is, caring for ourselves and each other is crucial to supporting our mental health. Even with the many struggles that affect us, mental health or otherwise, we still have the capacity to face difficult challenges with hope and humor in our hearts, one day at a time.

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My personal experiences with both difficulty and care closely inform my psychotherapy practice. I draw inspiration from community members who have embraced and supported me as a newcomer in Toronto.  My hope is to return the generosity and care I have experienced, holding space for your stories with the same care, kindness, and compassion that I experienced in the most challenging of times. Being heard and being seen matters. So I look forward to seeing and hearing you, and to sharing space with you when needed. Salamat (thank you) and talk soon!

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