mental health & therapy resources for women of colour in the greater toronto area
disclaimer: while we aim to share resources and referrals that are aligned with our delivery of care, we know that the strain on healthcare is affecting everyone at all levels. with this in mind, some of these resources may not be the best fit for you. our intention is to resource our community and to remind you that you can choose how you would like to use these resources, if so. this list is non-exhaustive and we will continue to add to it!
navigating the mental health care system
finding culturally relevant, affirming wellness and mental health care in canada can be difficult, especially for women and gender diverse people of colour navigating systemic barriers, rising costs and long waitlists for care. in toronto, many mainstream services still fail to reflect the lived realities of black, indigenous, racialized, immigrant and muslim communities.
this guide brings together free and low-cost toronto wellness resources for women of colour, with a focus on mental health, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive support. whether you are seeking therapy, community-based experiences, or crisis support, these resources are intended to meet you with dignity, safety, and understanding.
mental health resources for women of colour in toronto
mental health support looks different across cultures, identities, and lived experiences. for many women of colour, healing requires providers who understand intergenerational trauma, racism, migration, faith, gendered violence, and community-based approaches to care.
below are mental health resources for women of colour in toronto offering culturally responsive and trauma-informed services.
culturally responsive clinics & community health centres
women’s health in women’s hands (whiwh)
whiwh is a black-led health centre providing primary care, mental health services, and community programs for black women and women of colour. their approach centres black feminist values, reproductive justice, and holistic wellbeing.
best for: black women and women of colour seeking culturally grounded mental health and wellness care
focus areas: mental health, trauma support, sexual and reproductive health
taibu community health centre
taibu is a trusted black-focused community health centre serving people of african descent in toronto. they offer mental health counselling, wellness programming, and health education rooted in community care.
best for: black communities seeking integrated health and mental wellness support
focus areas: mental health, chronic stress, community wellbeing
across boundaries
across boundaries provides mental health services for racialized people, including individual therapy, group programs, and psychiatric support. their work is deeply grounded in anti-racism, cultural humility, and accessibility.
best for: racialized women seeking trauma-informed therapy in toronto
focus areas: trauma, depression, anxiety, migration stress
faith- and identity-specific supports
nisa homes
nisa homes offers shelter and support services for muslim women and gender-diverse people experiencing violence, housing insecurity, or emotional distress. their services integrate faith-informed care with trauma-responsive practices.
best for: muslim women and gender-diverse people
focus areas: violence support, counselling, transitional housing
yellow brick house
yellow brick house is a richmond hill based centre that supports women and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse. while not specific to women of colour, they serve many racialized communities and provide crisis counselling, shelter, and long-term support.
best for: survivors of violence and trauma
focus areas: crisis intervention, safety planning, counselling
therapy directories for women of colour
finding the right therapist matters. these directories help connect women of colour with therapists who understand racial trauma, cultural identity, and intersectional experiences.
healing in colour
a national directory connecting bipoc clients with bipoc therapists across canada, including toronto.
best for: women of colour seeking culturally affirming therapy
therapy for black girls
an international directory that includes therapists in toronto who specialize in working with black women and girls.
best for: therapy that centres black womanhood, identity, and healing
affordable therapy network
this network connects clients with therapists offering sliding-scale counselling across toronto, including many providers experienced in trauma-informed therapy for women of colour.
best for: affordable therapy for women of colour in toronto
inclusive therapists
this network connects clients with therapists, healers or coaches across north america. they connect the community to services around individual therapy or counselling, diverse relationship counselling, medication management, psychological testing and evaluation and much more.
best for: finding diverse options for mental health and wellness for women of colour in toronto
sliding-scale & low-cost counselling options
for many women and gender diverse people of colour, cost is one of the biggest barriers to mental health care. sliding-scale therapy, community clinics, and nonprofit providers help make support more accessible.
when searching, look for:
sliding-scale fees based on income
nonprofit or community-based clinics
therapists trained in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care
why culturally responsive wellness matters
culturally responsive wellness acknowledges that mental health does not exist in a vacuum. racism, colonization, gendered violence, migration, and economic stress all shape how distress shows up in the body and mind.
for women of colour, safe spaces within healthcare often requires:
being believed without explanation
care that honours culture, faith, and ancestry
community-based and collective healing models
trauma-informed approaches that prioritize safety
toronto has a growing ecosystem of free and low-cost wellness programs for women of colour, but they are often under-shared. this guide exists to make those pathways more visible.
explore more wellness resources
we update our resources regularly to reflect what our communities need most.
if you know of a culturally responsive wellness resource serving women and gender-diverse people of colour in toronto, we welcome your recommendations. send us your recommendations here.
