Our Values: Racially & Culturally Affirming

Inclusive Online Therapy Across Ontario

“Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.”

– Ijoema Oluo, Author & Advocate

Discover a place where you belong.

Trying to access care in a space where you aren’t celebrated for your racial and cultural background is exhausting to say the least.

In those spaces, you might feel the need to educate your therapist from scratch about what your neurodivergence means…or worse, feel judged, unwelcome and unsupported. Therapy is hard enough without the emotional labour of trying to justify your own existence, and we get that.

You won’t ever have to do that here.

You are worthy. You are enough. And you belong here, exactly as you are.

Why Racially & Culturally Affirming?

At Counterspiral Care, we believe that simply being racially & culturally aware and informed isn’t enough.

We aren’t just making a little bit of space for you. We’re holding the doors wide open, pulling up your seat at the table, and elevating your voice.

We value your autonomy, rights, and opinion. We want you to experience a sense of shared understanding, deep knowing, and immense respect.

Your racial & cultural background matters, and true healing work will acknowledge and celebrate it.

What You Can Expect

You deserve to have high expectations for your care. Here are a few things our team is committed to offering you:

  • We will be open-minded, accepting, and non-judgmental.

  • We will never view your cultural values or background as something to change, and we celebrate racial and cultural diversity as something that makes the world a better place.

  • We will be knowledgeable about and accepting of a wide range of racial identities and cultural practices, while acknowledging that there is always more to learn.

  • We will maintain a critical awareness of self, acknowledge our own biases, and regularly practice self-reflexivity to minimize discrimination and oppression.

  • We will acknowledge the colonial history of psychotherapy and work to de-colonize our own practices.

  • We will offer trauma-informed care which actively includes racial trauma and healing from microaggressions.

  • We will engage in ongoing anti-racism training and collaboration.

  • We will respect your unique beliefs and background, doing our best to understand how your culture and intersectionality impacts your lived experiences.

  • We will actively support BIPOC folks and their rights through our research, education, and personal practices outside the therapy space, and have BIPOC therapists form at least 50% of our team.

  • We will never assume that all of your problems are related to your racial or cultural background, and will hold space for a wide range of topics in session.

  • We will respect and value you as the expert on your own life, and will never assume to know more about your identity than you do.

  • We will strongly and firmly advocate in favour of racial and cultural diversity and against discrimination and harassment.

  • We will always be open to feedback and suggestions for how we can best affirm you and your identity in session.

Who this type of therapy is for:

→ You’ve experienced racism, microaggressions, or live with intergenerational trauma.

→ You value having a provider who is critically aware, willing to grow, change, and learn throughout the entire therapeutic process.

→ You want to unpack your emotions and trauma shaped by both personal experiences and wider social contexts.

→ You feel shame or confusion around your intersectional identities, such as being racialized and queer at the same time.

 → You want someone who will fight against historic biases in a system where BIPOC individuals have been forced into a deficit model. You need and deserve an active ally and advocate in your healing journey.

Why Choose Counterspiral?

Our team is a unique group with some important things in common.

  • We all deeply care about social justice, equity, and making the world a better place. We are actively anti-racist, queer and trans affirming, and we celebrate neurodiversity.

  • We are compassionate, supportive, and educated therapists who use evidence-based best practices to customize each session, just for you. And we’re also real people who will laugh with you, hold space for you, and authentically connect with you. We fully show up in session so that you have a brave and safe space to let it all out.

  • We know that therapy is really about you, so we’ll always do our best to match you to a team member who is a great fit.

  • You can get to know us better by visiting our Meet the Team page. We can’t wait to meet you!

Discover more of our Counterspiral Care values

Let’s get started.