JOEL DOS SANTOS M.S.W., R.S.W.

Joel was born in lovely Guyana  and immigrated with his family to Canada at the age of 4. His parents eventually settled down in Brampton where he was raised with foster siblings + an adopted sister. The circumstances which brought his unique family together gave Joel  insight into many of the challenges Black families/communities face due to a variety of systemic causes. Joel's father is a pastor, and he credits his devoted Christian parents with imparting the ethics + values that foster his passion for social work. Being a part of a first generation immigrant family affected Joel's identity development, as he was compelled to become aware of his social location and its complexities. As a result, his lived experience greatly impacted his career choice in the field of Social Work.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Joel is motivated to positively impact the clients he serves, and has experience working in the youth learning disabilities, mental health + homeless sectors. He has a passion for providing opportunities + safe spaces for racialized people to openly discuss their lived experiences, and mental health challenges, without stigma. Joel utilizes various modalities in his strength-based, client-centered approach to treatment. He finds Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effective, but also calls upon trauma informed modalities & Motivational Interviewing within the scope of his clinical practise.