As Africans residing in Canada it is critical that we implement Pan-African and objective policies and practices within the field of psychology, social work and mental health professional practice. The commitment to building African self-consciousness is a precursor to establishing a healthy African community. Partnering with community agencies who have adopted or are beginning to implement concepts, theories and methodologies in support of ethical mental health practices within each health discipline, is key as ABPSI Toronto advances towards ethical clinical practices for Black Canadians while advancing African practices in the diaspora.

ASSOCIATION OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS - TORONTO CHAPTER

Leadership Team

Dr. Natasha Williams is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the past Chair of the Board of Directors at Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, a Community Health Centre for black women and women of colour in Toronto.  Dr. Williams is a member of the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). With over 15 years of experience she has amassed several accomplishments.  She was the OPA’s diversity delegate representative at the APA State Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. in 2011 and is the past Chair of the OPA Diversity Task Force whose aim is to raise awareness of the importance of diversity and to promote ongoing efforts to influence social change in the field of psychology practice in Ontario.  Dr. Williams is a past faculty member with the Bridge Training program for internationally trained mental health professionals and a former trainer for TAPE Educational services which provides professional development programs for clinical teams at healthcare centres and human services organizations.  She is also the former lead trainer/facilitator with the Adler Graduate Professional School in the CBT certificate program and she is also a facilitator/trainer with CAMH in topics such as Culturally Adapting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for the English-speaking Caribbean Community and Motivational Interviewing. Dr. Williams is the Clinical Director of Allied Psychological Services and she operates an anti-oppressive private practice providing assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, corporate consultation, research, supervision and training services to clients from diverse ethno-racial backgrounds, gender and socio-economic backgrounds.   

 Dr. Williams is also an accomplished professional speaker and a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS).  She has traveled around the world to places such as Hawaii, Peru, Japan, South Africa, Trinidad, Suriname, Haiti, Jamaica and India where she has been invited to speak on several topics including Culturally Adapting Cognitive Behavoural Therapy for the English-Speaking Caribbean Community, Motivational Interviewing in a Caribbean Context, Mental Health in the Black Community, Black Women and Mental Health, Mental Health and the Church and Cultural Implications in Psychological Practice.  

 Dr. Williams is trained in Anti-Oppressive Psychotherapy and she is the President of the inaugural Association of Black Psychologists Toronto Chapter.  She provides training in areas such as Anti-Black Racism, Diversity and Inclusion and Trauma Informed Care for community organizations, community health centres, educational institutions and corporations

 Dr. Williams is also a guest radio and television personality and has been invited to several programs including The Agenda with Steve Paiken, ETalk, the Marilyn Dennis Show, G987, CHRY 105.5 and Joy Radio.  She is a published best-selling author and her book Carpe Diem was released in March 2019.  She is also published in academic journals and has contributed to publications such as Reader’s Digest, Soulful Image Magazine and Chatelaine Magazine. She has also been nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award presented by the Women of Influence and she is the recipient of the 2019 Soulful Image Magazine Inspirational Woman of Toronto Award.

Sonia Mills-Minster

Sonia Mills-Minster has a masters in psychology and is in the process of completing an Indigenous social work degree magna cum laude from Laurentian University in April 2021. She is a registered member of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She focuses on culturally specific interventions, addressing intersectional violence and oppression in a holistic manner, spirituality, healing, social determinants of health and their impact on marginalized and racialized communities. She uses a critical lens and relational approach to hear, listen and communicate in various domains. Sonia Mills-Minster is a published author and is a Canadian and international guest speaker on Afrocentic, traditional and clinical practice, transformative justice, corporate and community development.

Natacha Pennycooke

Natacha Pennycooke is a Registered Psychotherapist, with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CRPO). In her over 10 years of practice as a psychotherapist, speaker and consultant, her work is guided from an anti-oppressive, healing focused, trauma informed and anti-Black racism lens, to unpack and challenge Euro-centric practices, systemic oppression and generational traumas that have been detrimental to racialized communities. Natacha has presented at a number of international and national psychological conferences; and, is sought after for her expertise on mental health, racial trauma and healing to speak and consult at various community and corporate organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, and beyond. She is a founding member and the current vice-chair of The Association of Black Psychologists - Toronto Chapter (ABPsi-TO).

Jennifer Clarke

Jennifer Clarke is a social work educator, researcher, author, and consultant. Her teaching and research are grounded in anti-oppression, anti-Black racism and Africentric perspectives through which she explores and deconstructs the colonial, racial, and gender power relations in social work education and practice within organizational settings. Jennifer’s research interests and subject matter expertise are in the areas of anti-oppression, anti-Black racism, child welfare and school safety. Jennifer is the recipient of several research grants and awards, and a co-editor of the recently published book Today’s Youth and Mental Health: Hope, Power and Resilience (2018) and the forthcoming book Africentric Social Work (2021). She has spent the last two decades studying race, racism and anti-Black racism in the child welfare and public education systems and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on social work education and practice, Black families and child welfare, gun violence loss and violence against women and girls with a focus on cyber sexual violence.