Hope Leads Mental Health Care in Toronto
Community Partnerships in Toronto
Group therapy, workshops, training, clinical supervision, and program evaluation for agencies and health centres serving racialized, immigrant, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Toronto and Ontario.
Hope Leads Mental Health Care in Toronto
You're being asked to do more, for more people, with less.
Your waitlist is long. Your team is running on fumes. Your funder wants outcomes by the quarter, and the communities you serve need care that most providers aren’t equipped to deliver. You know what your clients need. Finding facilitators who can walk in and deliver it, without your staff having to educate them first, is the hard part.
That's where we come in. We're a team of queer and racialized clinicians who've spent years in primary care, community health, and frontline work. We build group programs, trainings, and supervision that fit your deliverables, your budget, and the people you're serving.
- Trans and non-binary service users can't access gender-affirming care, and your team isn't sure how to build the pathway?
- 2SLGBTQ+ youth on your caseload are dealing with bullying, transphobia, and gender-related stress that's eroding their sense of belonging?
- Neurodivergent clients are overwhelmed by day-to-day living, and there's nowhere affirming to send them?
- Racialized women in your programs are carrying body image concerns and fatphobia that keep them out of care?
- Immigrant and racialized women clients are living with trauma and don't feel safe?
- Staff, board, and service users are experiencing anti-Black and anti-Asian racism at work, and it's showing up as anxiety, stress, and turnover?
- Your organization is navigating funding pressure, sector change, high turnover, a program amalgamation, or questions about professional ethics and communication?
- Your team feels unprepared for what AI is going to mean for mental health services?
We build the programming for all of it.
Let hope lead.
Community Partnerships in Toronto
What is a Community Partnership?
A community partnership is what happens when your organization needs mental health programming your team can’t build in-house, and you’d rather not hand it to a vendor who’s never met the people you serve.
We come in as facilitators, trainers, supervisors, and evaluators. Sometimes that’s an eight-week affirmative CBT group for the 2SLGBTQ+ youth on your caseload. Sometimes it’s a half-day anti-racism training for your board. Sometimes it’s monthly clinical supervision for your RSWs, or a program evaluation that gives your next funding application something real to point at.
At Hope Leads Mental Health Care, our facilitators bring lived experience alongside clinical training. Most of our team is queer-identified and racialized, and several have held leadership roles in the health settings you’re working in. Your staff won’t spend the first hour of a session explaining their community to us.
Every offering is built around your deliverables. We work within your budget, and we’ll tell you honestly if something we offer isn’t the right fit.
Community Partnerships in Toronto
Types of Community Partnerships We Offer
Group Therapy Programs
Clinically focused, closed groups facilitated by regulated health professionals. Each program includes two facilitators, pre- and post-surveys, participant materials, and a summary report for your files.
Beyond the Binary
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Affirmative, culturally adapted CBT for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and adults navigating minority stress, identity-based discrimination, and gender-related stress. Participants build flexible thinking, emotional regulation, and peer connection.
8 weeks. Includes an interactive manual and workbook for every participant.
- For 2SLGBTQ+ youth (16-29) and adults 29+.
Do You Mind
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Arts-based, creative mindfulness for participants managing stress, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation. Breathwork, writing, collaging, sensory boxes, and drawing anchor concepts like the window of tolerance, responding to the inner critic, and values-aligned action.
8 weeks. All art supplies and materials provided.
- For 2SLGBTQ+ youth (16-29) and adults 29+.
Recharging Station
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DBT-informed emotion regulation through music, reflective journaling, and collective practice. A gentle space to explore rest, self-compassion, and grounding while navigating disenfranchised grief, sociopolitical violence, racism, and systemic transphobia.
6 weeks.
- For 2SLGBTQ+ youth (16-29).
Seeking Safety
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An evidence-based, present-focused model for co-occurring trauma and substance use. Participants build practical coping skills, safety, and emotional regulation without being asked to retell traumatic experiences.
6 weeks.
- For refugee and immigrant women, adults 18+.
Coping Strategies for Neurodivergent Minds
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A neuroaffirming group where participants build shared language around neurodivergence, reflect on lived experience, and practise grounding, decompression, and emotional awareness alongside peers.
4 weeks.
- For youth aged 16 to 29 and post-secondary students.
Affirmative, culturally adapted CBT for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and adults navigating minority stress, identity-based discrimination, and gender-related stress. Participants build flexible thinking, emotional regulation, and peer connection.
8 weeks. Includes an interactive manual and workbook for every participant.
- For 2SLGBTQ+ youth (16-29) and adults 29+.
Arts-based, creative mindfulness for participants managing stress, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation. Breathwork, writing, collaging, sensory boxes, and drawing anchor concepts like the window of tolerance, responding to the inner critic, and values-aligned action.
8 weeks. All art supplies and materials provided.
- For 2SLGBTQ+ youth (16-29) and adults 29+.
DBT-informed emotion regulation through music, reflective journaling, and collective practice. A gentle space to explore rest, self-compassion, and grounding while navigating disenfranchised grief, sociopolitical violence, racism, and systemic transphobia.
6 weeks.
- For 2SLGBTQ+ youth (16-29).
An evidence-based, present-focused model for co-occurring trauma and substance use. Participants build practical coping skills, safety, and emotional regulation without being asked to retell traumatic experiences.
6 weeks.
- For refugee and immigrant women, adults 18+.
A neuroaffirming group where participants build shared language around neurodivergence, reflect on lived experience, and practise grounding, decompression, and emotional awareness alongside peers.
4 weeks.
- For youth aged 16 to 29 and post-secondary students.
Workshops
Educational sessions focused on learning, skill-building, and practical tools. Workshops aren’t therapy, so they’re a good fit when you’re looking for education and knowledge rather than clinical treatment.
What neurodivergence means, how different brains work, and practical ways to manage stress and decompress. Two facilitators, one with lived experience.
90 minutes.
- For neurodivergent youth aged 16 to 29 and post-secondary students.
Builds provider knowledge of gender identity and expression within racialized communities, the health disparities and barriers your trans and non-binary clients face, and how gender, race, and sexual orientation intersect to shape experiences of violence and discrimination.
2 hours.
- Provider training in support of trans and non-binary youth aged 16 to 29.
A trauma-informed session on how the Canadian health care system works: primary care access, mental health services, and the systemic barriers women, trans, and non-binary community members run into. Participants leave with practical knowledge for self-advocacy.
90 minutes.
- For racialized women, trans, and non-binary adults 18+.
A culturally grounded look at how colonialism, racism, colourism, fatphobia, and migration histories shape body image and embodiment, with practical strategies for affirming conversations and care environments rooted in dignity.
2 hours.
- Provider training in support of racialized and immigrant women 18+.
Coping Strategies for Neurodivergent Minds
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What neurodivergence means, how different brains work, and practical ways to manage stress and decompress. Two facilitators, one with lived experience.
90 minutes.
- For neurodivergent youth aged 16 to 29 and post-secondary students.
Gender-Affirming Pathways to Care
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Builds provider knowledge of gender identity and expression within racialized communities, the health disparities and barriers your trans and non-binary clients face, and how gender, race, and sexual orientation intersect to shape experiences of violence and discrimination.
2 hours.
- Provider training in support of trans and non-binary youth aged 16 to 29.
Navigating the Health Care System
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A trauma-informed session on how the Canadian health care system works: primary care access, mental health services, and the systemic barriers women, trans, and non-binary community members run into. Participants leave with practical knowledge for self-advocacy.
90 minutes.
- For racialized women, trans, and non-binary adults 18+.
Body Neutrality
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A culturally grounded look at how colonialism, racism, colourism, fatphobia, and migration histories shape body image and embodiment, with practical strategies for affirming conversations and care environments rooted in dignity.
2 hours.
- Provider training in support of racialized and immigrant women 18+.
Capacity Building & Training
For staff, boards, agencies, executives, and employee resource groups.
An interactive DEIA session that builds shared language, aligns your team’s values, and gives people practical ways to recognize and interrupt bias.
Covers our DEI framework, anti-racism in action, and the foundations of inclusive leadership, then closes on collective commitments.
- 90 minutes to 3 hours, tailored to your capacity.
A foundational clinical training for social workers, psychotherapists, case managers, and frontline workers supporting racialized 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
Builds sensitivity, cultural humility, and the capacity to serve clients you may currently be losing.
- Two days of training, four hours each.
Case examples, guided dialogue, and practical tools for supporting clients living at the intersections of anti-Black racism, homophobia, transphobia, and systemic exclusion.
Staff leave with trauma-informed, identity-affirming approaches that reduce service barriers.
- 2 hours.
A focused training that improves psychological safety, equips teams to recognize and interrupt race-based harm, and models what accountability and repair look like after a rupture.
Reduces organizational and reputational risk.
- 90 minutes to 2 hours, tailored to your capacity.
How artificial intelligence is reshaping mental health care, workplace wellbeing, and the daily realities of your staff.
Covers bias, privacy, digital literacy, and how to use AI tools responsibly without losing human-centred, culturally safe practice.
- 2 hours.
Reflective, culturally responsive supervision for Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying), delivered in alignment with College guidelines.
Clinicians leave with grounded strategies, more confidence with complex cases, and a firmer foundation for ethical, trauma-informed practice.
- 1 hour, weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
We examine how your services, workflows, and resource structures are functioning, then identify gaps, inefficiencies, and the places where staff or clients hit barriers.
You get clear, actionable recommendations and evidence you can take to funders.
- Scoped to your needs. Organization-wide.
2SLGBTQ+ Intersections
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A foundational clinical training for social workers, psychotherapists, case managers, and frontline workers supporting racialized 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Builds sensitivity, cultural humility, and the capacity to serve clients you may currently be losing.
- Two days of training, four hours each.
Black and 2SLGBTQ+ Intersections
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Case examples, guided dialogue, and practical tools for supporting clients living at the intersections of anti-Black racism, homophobia, transphobia, and systemic exclusion. Staff leave with trauma-informed, identity-affirming approaches that reduce service barriers.
- 2 hours.
Working Well Together
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An interactive DEIA session that builds shared language, aligns your team’s values, and gives people practical ways to recognize and interrupt bias. Covers our DEI framework, anti-racism in action, and the foundations of inclusive leadership, then closes on collective commitments.
- 90 minutes to 3 hours, tailored to your capacity.
Anti-Black and Anti-Asian Racism in the Workplace
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A focused training that improves psychological safety, equips teams to recognize and interrupt race-based harm, and models what accountability and repair look like after a rupture. Reduces organizational and reputational risk.
- 90 minutes to 2 hours, tailored to your capacity.
AI and Mental Health Programming
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How artificial intelligence is reshaping mental health care, workplace wellbeing, and the daily realities of your staff. Covers bias, privacy, digital literacy, and how to use AI tools responsibly without losing human-centred, culturally safe practice.
- 2 hours.
Clinical Supervision (Individual & Group)
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Reflective, culturally responsive supervision for Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying), delivered in alignment with College guidelines. Clinicians leave with grounded strategies, more confidence with complex cases, and a firmer foundation for ethical, trauma-informed practice.
- 1 hour, weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
Program Evaluation
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We examine how your services, workflows, and resource structures are functioning, then identify gaps, inefficiencies, and the places where staff or clients hit barriers. You get clear, actionable recommendations and evidence you can take to funders.
- Scoped to your needs. Organization-wide.
Meet Our Team
Meet Your Facilitators
Our facilitators are Registered Social Workers, Registered Psychotherapists, trainers, and evaluators with 10 to 15 years of combined experience in primary care and community health settings. They bring lived experience of the identities they work with, certification in group treatment delivery, research backgrounds in Africentric social work and 2SLGBTQ+ mental health, and a practice grounded in cultural humility, anti-racism, and trauma-informed care.
Joelle Forbes
(she/her)
President, Clinical Director, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
Community Partnerships in Toronto
Why Organizations Work With Us
- Facilitators and trainers with lived experience of marginalized identities, including Black, racialized, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities
- Trained and certified to run group treatment offerings
- 10 to 15 years of combined experience across primary care and other health settings
- Facilitators who hold leadership positions in health care settings, so we understand your operational reality
- Extensive research experience in Africentric social work, 2SLGBTQ+ mental health, and clinical social work practice
- Clinicians using evidence-based interventions including EMDR, CBT, Gestalt, and ACT
- Therapists with years of experience providing group and individual clinical supervision
- In-house curriculum and intervention development, so programs are built rather than bought off a shelf
- A whole team practicing cultural humility, anti-racism, and trauma-informed care
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.
Our Approach
How Our Community Partnerships Work
Step 1
Collaborative Assessment.
We meet with your team to understand your agency’s goals, your deliverables, and the real needs of the people you serve.
Step 2
Tailored Services.
We design the group offerings, training, and support packages that line up with what you’ve been funded to deliver, built around your budget and capacity.
Step 3
Delivery & Clear Reporting.
We deliver the agreed services and hand back a concise summary report with feedback and recommendations you can use.
Hope led us into this work.
Let's build something together.
Community Partnerships in Toronto
Questions About Community Partnerships
What's the difference between group therapy and a workshop?
Group therapy is clinical. It helps participants build skills to manage mental health challenges, emotional stress, and other life difficulties, and it’s facilitated by a regulated health professional such as a Registered Social Worker or Registered Psychotherapist. Sessions run 1.5 to 2 hours across multiple weeks, participants may share personal experiences as part of the therapeutic process, and most of our groups are closed, meaning the same people attend from start to finish. Beyond the Binary is an example: an affirmative CBT group for 2SLGBTQ+ youth managing stress related to gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
A workshop is educational. It focuses on learning, skill-building, and knowledge, and it doesn’t provide treatment for mental health concerns. Workshops can be facilitated by clinicians, educators, peers, or community workers, and they usually run as a one-time event or a short series. Coping Strategies for Neurodivergent Minds is an example: participants learn about ADHD and autism, explore common strengths and challenges, and build practical coping strategies.
What are the benefits of group therapy programs for our organization?
Group therapy increases your service capacity and improves access to care cost-effectively. You can deliver evidence-based interventions while building community connection and belonging at the same time. These programs tend to demonstrate broad reach, equitable access, skill development, and positive mental health outcomes, which are the indicators funders and agency partners care about most.
For organizations supporting youth, group therapy is particularly valuable because it combines therapy, skill-building, peer connection, and belonging in one offering. Young people benefit from knowing they aren’t alone in their experiences, while picking up practical tools and building self-efficacy.
How can DEI and anti-racism training help our team?
An anti-racism and DEI workshop supports a more emotionally and psychologically safe workplace. These sessions build belonging and inclusion by creating room for reflection, dialogue, and shared learning. Participants develop a deeper understanding of how racism and systemic inequities shape workplace experience, then identify practical strategies for accountability and action together.
Our workshops also give teams frameworks for addressing harm, navigating difficult conversations, and engaging in repair when interpersonal or organizational ruptures happen. The result is a more equitable, respectful, and just workplace culture.
Why work with Hope Leads to support our staff and board?
We bring extensive experience delivering mental health services in primary care and community health settings, with a long-standing commitment to underserved and marginalized communities.
Our work centres the experiences of people across the gender spectrum and is grounded in anti-racist, intersectional, sex-positive, and anti-oppressive values. Meaningful support starts with affirming spaces where people feel seen, heard, and respected.
We treat hope as a catalyst for growth, connection, and change. Through partnership, we help build communities of care that prioritize inclusion, wellbeing, and collective care, drawing on interprofessional collaboration, multidisciplinary perspectives, and transformative advocacy. If you’re looking to build capacity, strengthen equity-focused practice, or support the wellbeing of your staff and community, we’re committed to working alongside you the whole way.
Where are sessions held, and how does scheduling work?
Group therapy sessions are offered in person. Partner agencies provide the space and basic tech support, and the Hope Leads team brings all program materials, resources, and facilitators. Session times are flexible, and we’ll work with your team to find a schedule that fits your operations and capacity.
We strongly encourage participants to attend every session, and we’ll work one-on-one with anyone who can’t make one.
How do we get in touch?
Email us at info@hopeleads.ca, and we’ll schedule an introductory meeting. From there, we can explore your organization’s needs, talk through your goals, and tailor our offerings to your priorities and deliverables.
Community Partnerships in Toronto
What A Partnership Makes Possible
With the right programming in place, partner organizations tell us they:
- Serve more people, with group offerings that extend capacity without adding headcount
- Walk into funder conversations with pre- and post-survey data, summary reports, and outcomes worth reporting
- Watch staff feel supported rather than stretched, with supervision and training that lowers risk and turnover
- See clients who'd been slipping through the gaps stay engaged, because the care finally fits them
- Build a reputation as the organization their community trusts
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
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