Decolonizing Healing Practices

David Archer 

David Archer is an anti-racist psychotherapist, EMDRIA certified EMDR consultant, clinical social worker, couples and family therapist, and mindfulness meditator from Montreal, Canada (Tiohtià:ke). He is an expert clinician who works in private practice with diverse clinical populations. Mr. Archer provides individual and group consultations to other therapists, and presents internationally for conferences, companies, and community organizations. He specializes in efficient psychotherapeutic interventions that are designed to maintain long-lasting changes. He previously authored the highly acclaimed book, audiobook, and eBook called Anti-Racist Psychotherapy: Confronting Systemic Racism and Healing Racial Trauma as well as the follow-up book for personal care called Black Meditation: Ten Practices for Self-Care, Mindfulness, and Self-Determination.

Brandon Dawson-Jarvis

Brandon Dawson-Jarvis is a Montreal based Social Entrepreneur and yoga instructor. Brandon is the founder of Grove Campus, a company that provides eco-friendly yoga mats. They also offer pay-what-you-can yoga and meditation sessions and use the contributions to organize and execute community events and initiatives. His efforts have resulted in helping families in need with school supplies and Holiday toys, among other initiatives. Brandon is passionate about building stronger communities and making yoga and meditation accessible to all.

Alpha Estifanos 

Alpha Estifanos is an Ethiopian Canadian filmmaker, Mindfulness meditation teacher and wisdom barer. Her focus lies in the intersection of mindfulness practices, creativity and wisdom teachings to support young people of color with heightened sensitivity in their everyday lives. Her focus further hones in on youth BIPOC transforming and challenging the systems under which we currently live, as this work can leave many feeling burnt out and tired. Her work has centered mostly on one-one or 2-1 mentorships with BIPOC folks aged 25 and under. Over the last decade she has been fortunate enough to have been trained and mentored by indigenous thought leaders, spiritual teachers, political strategists and folks in the film industry. With a traditional background in both the arts and in psychology, she believes strongly in the power of intergenerational healing and in supportive mentorship models that allow for the emergence and expansion of multiple generations no matter our path in life.

Whitney French

Whitney French is a writer and multidisciplinary artist. She is a self-described Black futurist, middle child- trouble maker committed to centering stories from Black women and QTBIPOC communities around memory, loss, technology and nature. Her writing has appeared in the Carousel Magazine, ARC Poetry, GEIST, WATER Magazine, CBC Books and Quill and Quire. Whitney French is the founder of the multi-city workshop series Writing While Black as well as the editor of the award-winning anthology Black Writers Matter. Additionally, she is the co-founder of the Black queer feminist press Hush Harbour. Whitney French is also a certified arts-educator and teaches Creative Writing at X University. Currently, she lives in Toronto.

Uchenna Edeh

Uchenna Edeh is a Montreal born and raised artist of Nigerian descent. After studying art, fine art and illustration & design, Uchenna became active in Montreal’s Black community serving as an organizer, public speaker and advocate for Black community issues. His current interests and studies include mythology, cosmology, Pan Africanism and pop culture. His goal is to visualize African and Caribbean mythology as well as to bring to light the hidden or overlooked figures of Black, and particularly Black Canadian history.

Lisa Ndejuru

Dr. Lisa Ndejuru holds a psychotherapist's permit issued by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec. After training extensively in psychodynamic and humanistic-existential approaches, Lisa’s professional practice led her into short term solution focused work. Choosing to keep the best of all worlds, she has shaped an eclectic and very client centered approach that favours deep listening and making meaning. She holds a M.A. in counselling from Sherbrooke University and a transdisciplinary PhD from Montreal’s Concordia university. Two decades of working with adults, couples and families has yielded a broad practice, knowledge and skills base to intervene on issues like anxiety, depression,trauma and resilience, relational difficulties, self-esteem, grief, identities and transcultural issues, and others. Lisa regularly participates in professional training activities, speaks and teaches. She offers consultations, workshops and supervision healing circles and therapeutic group experiences for racialized people. Lisa can be reached at Lndejuru@gmail.com.

Alysha Maxwell-Sarasua

Alysha Maxwell-Sarasua is an undergraduate student who is passionate about exploring new theories of care & healing while moving away from theories of domination & oppression. Decolonizing wellness is all about intentionally addressing systemic issues by creating new ways of belonging, healing, and connecting to each other.