Where Community Becomes the Medicine

What We Offer

Our volunteer team is growing!

TEAO works in collaboration within the community to provide mental health services to those that are experiencing a crisis or have survived trauma(s).

If you or someone in your network is interested in being a part of supporting mental health care programs in the community, we are currently looking for volunteers to support our team in the following positions:

Community Voices

This space held me when the world wouldn’t.

Fuel the Movement

@TEAO_CANADA

The Power of being Witnessed. #welovethis ♥️ Reposted Awareness by @mymentalhealthspace We heal by being witnessed. Not advised. (Please remember this is IG not therapy and yes there are situations where we want and need advice) #health #
The Power of being Witnessed. #welovethis ♥️ Reposted Awareness by @mymentalhealthspace We heal by being witnessed. Not advised. (Please remember this is IG not therapy and yes there are situations where we want and need advice) #health #wellbeing #mentalhealth #heart #wordstoinspire #traumasurvivor #poetrycommunity #poem #healthylifestyle #healing #healingjourney #cptsd #ptsd #poetry #peoplepleaser #parentification #narcsurvivor #narcissisticabusesurvivor #healthy #heal #cyclebreaker
Educational Post Incoming ♥️ ➡️ Most people think depression is a flaw. But what if it’s actually your body’s last-ditch survival strategy? ➡️ When we grow up in unsafe or demanding environments - especially with complex trauma - our nervous system gets stuck in sympathetic overdrive. That’s the fight/flight mode that fuels your constant doing, proving, achieving, pleasing. It’s cortisol. It’s adrenaline. It’s the go-go-go that once helped you survive… but over time, it costs you everything. ➡️ Because healing, digestion, regulation, and even healthy connection live in the parasympathetic system - your rest-and-restore mode. And when that part of your nervous system doesn’t get activated enough, the body finds a way to force it on. Enter: depression. ➡️ It’s not weakness. It’s not failure. It’s your nervous system saying, “You won’t slow down? Then I will.” ➡️ It’s an emergency brake. A biological protest. A built-in survival response to prolonged stress. ➡️ The longer we override the signals, the louder they get - until full physical burnout takes over. Repost from @alchemy_int for • • • Speaker: @timfletcherco @theovon #cptsdhealing #nervoussystemregulation #gabormate #gabormaté #traumainformedcare #healingjourneys #theovonpodcast #theovonmoments #emdrtherapy #brainspotting #emotionalregulation #immatureparenting #emotionalmaturity #timfletcher
🌿✨ Day 1: Rooted & Rising at Rhythm & Blues Cambridge’s BGX Camp ✨🌿 TEAO Canada is honoured to launch Day 1 of the BGX Born to Lead: Hometown Heroes Edition — a week-long camp powered by Rhythm & Blues Cambridge, designed f
🌿✨ Day 1: Rooted & Rising at Rhythm & Blues Cambridge’s BGX Camp ✨🌿 TEAO Canada is honoured to launch Day 1 of the BGX Born to Lead: Hometown Heroes Edition — a week-long camp powered by Rhythm & Blues Cambridge, designed for African, Black, and Caribbean Identifying (ABCI) girls ages 13–16 to explore their leadership potential and recognize the power they hold to make a difference — starting right in their own community. Our retreat, themed Rooted & Rising, will create a healing and empowering space for these incredible young leaders to connect to their mental and emotional wellness, explore embodied self-expression, challenge imposter syndrome and shame, and rise in the power of their stories, bodies, and sisterhood. BGX offers an immersive experience that builds confidence, leadership skills, and connection with inspiring Black and BIPOC women entrepreneurs through interactive workshops, skill-building sessions, and local business visits — all within a safe and inclusive environment. Through guided activities, storytelling, peer support, and cultural reflection — we’re planting seeds of self-love that they can carry into school, home, and life. Grateful to be part of a community that is not just pouring into our youth — but rising with them. Deepest thanks to @rhythmandbluescambridge for leading this essential work in our community, and to @wrcommfdn for your generous support in making this vision & partnership possible. 🖤 More information + registration for the BGX camp: contact @rhythmandbluescambridge directly. #RootedAndRising #BGXCambridge #BornToLead #BlackGirlsHealing #TEAOCanada #RhythmAndBluesCambridge #WaterlooRegionCommunityFoundation #BlackYouthLeadership #YouthEmpowerment #ABCIGirls #MentalHealthMatters #CollectiveCare #BlackGirlsDeserveJoy #CambridgeOntario #CommunityPartnership #TraumaInformedCare
We love this! ♥️ “you need to listen to this!’ Repost @theschoolofradicalhealing When folks treat nervous system work as woo-ism, we can only laugh. We know very well the science behind the impacts of trauma, and how resting and regulating can help us HEAL. What we experience is real, you’re not imaging it, you’re not crazy. Rest will save us as the @thenapministry has taught us time and time again. #UnspokenHeartbreaks #SoftStrength #SilentStories #rest #traumahealing #MindBodyHealing #EmotionalWellness #HolisticHealing
🔔 Announcement 📣📣 After almost 2 years of waiting… it’s official. TEAO Canada’s “Do Better” is now a federally approved trademark in Canada. Rooted in our commitment to truth-telling, embodied accountability, and culturally competent care — “Do Better” is more than a phrase. It’s a call to action. A reminder that awareness without responsibility isn’t enough. At TEAO Canada, we believe every body carries a story — and sometimes, those stories unconsciously shape how we show up in spaces. “Do Better” is our invitation to move from unconscious bias to conscious impact. From theory to transformation. Especially in white-led institutions and systems serving racialized communities, doing better means unlearning the power dynamics we’ve inherited — and choosing to lead with care, equity, and courage as we relearn as a collective. We’re proud to hold space for that change. And now, we hold the trademark too. ♥️ 👕 COMING SOON You asked. We embodied. The “Do Better” Collection will be our next project rolling out soon. Not just merch — a movement you can wear. Rooted in accountability. Designed for change. For every space you enter and every story you carry… This is your reminder: Do Better. _______ #DoBetter #TEAOCanada #TraumaResponsiveCare #CulturalSafety #EmbodimentMatters #EquityInAction #HealingIsJustice #TrademarkedWithPurpose #WearTheWork #EmbodiedAccountability #HealingIsJustice #MerchDrop #ComingSoon
We love this! Healing isn’t just mindset. It’s embodiment. “If your body can hold trauma, it can also hold joy, safety, love, and peace. It’s not just where pain lives, it can become the place where healing begins” @i
We love this! Healing isn’t just mindset. It’s embodiment. “If your body can hold trauma, it can also hold joy, safety, love, and peace. It’s not just where pain lives, it can become the place where healing begins” @iamjenmann ——— #CommunityHealing #CollectiveCare #TraumaInformedCommunity #HealingTogether #EmbodiedHealing #NervousSystemSupport #RadicalRest #SafeInMyBody #SomaticHealing #LiberationThroughLove #RootedInResilience #RestIsResistance #CommunityWellness #CulturallySafeCare #ReclaimYourBody #WeHealTogether #RelationalHealing
What does it mean to hold space when your own body is carrying so much? Many racialized leaders, caregivers, and community builders are navigating burnout, hypervigilance, and chronic stress, while still showing up for others. The demand to be stron
What does it mean to hold space when your own body is carrying so much? Many racialized leaders, caregivers, and community builders are navigating burnout, hypervigilance, and chronic stress, while still showing up for others. The demand to be strong, regulated, and “resilient” often comes at the cost of our own well-being. At TEAO Canada, we know that trauma doesn’t just happen in isolation, it happens in systems, in communities, and in bodies that have been historically ignored. That’s why we created the Trauma Responsive Care & Embodiment Training (For Racialized Leaders). A space to reconnect with your body, learn practical regulation tools, and explore trauma through a culturally grounded, collective lens. This 2-day virtual training is designed for those holding space for others: community organizers, caregivers, frontline workers, and informal supports within racialized communities. Together, we’ll explore somatic tools for nervous system care, presence, and grounding. All within a trauma-informed, justice-rooted framework. Dates: October 15 & 16, 2025 Time: 5:30 - 8:30 PM EST (both days) Location: Online Cost: Free - thanks to support from the @regionofwaterloo @wrcommfdn and local donors This is not just a training. It’s a return to ourselves. Register here: link in bio / eventbrite Questions? Visit www.teaocanada.com or contact us at info@teaocanada.com #Traumainformed #RacializedLeadership #SomaticHealing #Embodiment #CollectiveCare #TEAOCanada
Educational Corner 🫶🏾♥️♥️ Repost from @nikeaurea • Community isn’t just your workplace or your group chat. It’s your friend circle. Your book club. That retreat you paid for. That “safe space” someone swe
Educational Corner 🫶🏾♥️♥️ Repost from @nikeaurea • Community isn’t just your workplace or your group chat. It’s your friend circle. Your book club. That retreat you paid for. That “safe space” someone swears by. These are all the spaces I’m no longer shrinking in to keep the peace. #community #inclusion #leadershipskills #communitysupport
✨ 5 DAILY WELLNESS HACKS TO FEEL AMAZING THIS WEEK ✨ Because taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small shifts = big impact. Start your week rooted in intention, not exhaustion. 🌱 Which one will you try today? #WellnessHacks #DailyCare #EmbodiedHealing #MentalHealthMatters #IntentionalLiving #FeelGoodTips #SelfCareRituals #TraumaInformedHealing #CommunityCare 🎥 wholeyumm #welovethis ♥️
🔔 Call for Board Members – Join TEAO ~ Canada’s Growth Journey ~ Reclaiming Healing. Reshaping Systems. Rooted in Community. 📢 As TEAO Canada enters an exciting new growth stage as a federally incorporated not-for-profit, we are expa
🔔 Call for Board Members – Join TEAO ~ Canada’s Growth Journey ~ Reclaiming Healing. Reshaping Systems. Rooted in Community. 📢 As TEAO Canada enters an exciting new growth stage as a federally incorporated not-for-profit, we are expanding our Board of Directors. We are calling in values-aligned individuals with a heart for collective healing, systemic transformation, and radical care. This is a critical moment in our journey—and your voice could be the one we’ve been waiting for. We are not a traditional trauma and mental health organization. We are a movement grounded in embodied healing, cultural safety, and liberation-focused care. Our work centers racialized, Indigenous, and marginalized communities—often unseen in mainstream systems—and we operate with a shared accountability to the communities we serve. 🪴 What Makes TEAO Canada Different? We work at the intersection of trauma, justice, and embodiment. We believe trauma is political, relational, and systemic—not just individual. We centre the wisdom of lived experience. Our programs, trainings, and healing circles are co-created with those most impacted by systemic harm. We embody care as culture. TEAO Canada doesn’t “do” trauma work—we live it. We show up in our own bodies to hold space for collective healing, grief, joy, and transformation. We disrupt the “them vs. us” binary. Our approach is relational, not hierarchical. Everyone involved—whether staff, board, volunteer, or participant—is part of the circle of healing. 🎯 As a Board Member, You Will: * Govern with shared accountability. * Support the mission and strategic direction of TEAO while co-stewarding community trust, resources, and growth. * Champion anti-oppressive and trauma-informed values. * Engage in critical conversations around systemic inequity and support TEAO’s commitment to decolonial and community-rooted practices. * Support financial oversight and fundraising. 🔔 This Is More Than a Seat at the Table… This is a circle of change. ➡️ To Express Interest: Please email info@teaocanada.com ➡️ with resume & short statement about why you’re interested in joining our Board #boardofdirectors #teaocanada
Us in Community. ♥️ There’s nothing like being in community with people who care! Last night at the Grows Lang Community @growcommunitycentre @langscommunity Picnic, we felt the LOVE—from our growing TEAO volunteer team (shoutout
Us in Community. ♥️ There’s nothing like being in community with people who care! Last night at the Grows Lang Community @growcommunitycentre @langscommunity Picnic, we felt the LOVE—from our growing TEAO volunteer team (shoutout to Apurva and our growing team!) to the vibrant energy of our local partners and neighbours. Gratitude to everyone who stopped by our booth, shared stories, and reminded us why building with community is the heart of what we do. Much love to @rhythmandbluescambridge, @foodbankwatreg, and all the incredible organizations who showed up in spirit and service. Healing happens here. In connection. In collaboration. In care. #TEAOCanada #CommunityCare #TraumaInformed #HealingInCommunity #VolunteerLove #RootedInResilience
Last night, we gathered with community members, volunteers, and supporters for an honest conversation about the heart of our work at TEAO Canada — and the future we’re building together. We reflected on how past grants have allowed us to: ✔️ Run trauma-informed programs for racialized youth # systemically-ignored communities ✔️ Provide culturally safe retreats like Collective Pause ✔️ Offer Mental Health First Aid training for community leaders ✔️ Engage in systemic work around racialized trauma care But we also named the realities: The challenges of sustaining this work without stable funding The toll of grant fatigue and underfunded core operations The deep need for a community-driven fundraising approach We know now more than ever — it will take collective effort to move from survival mode to long-term impact. We’re calling in volunteers, partners, and supporters who believe in healing justice, trauma-responsive care, and equitable access to mental health support. If you believe in community healing, trauma-responsive care, and creating access for those who’ve been left out of traditional systems… this is your invitation. ✨ Join the movement. If you see yourself in this mission — reach out. Let’s build this together. #TEAOCanada #CommunityHealing #FundraisingForImpact #TraumaInformedCare #NonprofitLeadership #CollectiveLiberation #HealingJustice
Educational Corner: Checking Biases, Collectively. ‼️🫶🏾 reposted from @youth_mental_health #bias #discrimination #sterotypes #prejudice #intersectionalitymatters #socialjustice #humanrights #youthmentalhealth #childmentalhealth #studentmentalhea
Educational Corner: Checking Biases, Collectively. ‼️🫶🏾 reposted from @youth_mental_health #bias #discrimination #sterotypes #prejudice #intersectionalitymatters #socialjustice #humanrights #youthmentalhealth #childmentalhealth #studentmentalhealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth Credit: @cartoon.called.life Cartoon Called Life
Resilient Voices Weekly: We love creators — the artists, musicians, writers, and makers who pour their hearts into expression. And we love you — the ones who show up, rise up, and keep going, even when the world doesn’t see the batt
Resilient Voices Weekly: We love creators — the artists, musicians, writers, and makers who pour their hearts into expression. And we love you — the ones who show up, rise up, and keep going, even when the world doesn’t see the battles you’ve fought. #shareyourstory #shareforshare We don’t talk about childhood trauma enough. Too often, people are quick to judge, never knowing the storms someone has endured. These images (powerfully and deeply artistic by Takisha Brown @kishaa__ ) are dedicated to you — whoever you are — may you find healing, hope, and reminders that you are never alone. ❤️‍🩹 We see you. We are so glad you keep pushing. And we are so proud of you. #CommunityCare #WeSeeYou #KeepGoing #ChildhoodTraumaAwareness #HealingJourney #ProudOfYou Repost images from @kishaa__
🌿 Our Peer Support Team Grew! We’re thrilled to welcome 8 newly upcoming certified peer support volunteers to the TEAO community! These dedicated folks completed our 2 day Peer Certification: Mental Health First Aid Training& Trauma-Respo
🌿 Our Peer Support Team Grew! We’re thrilled to welcome 8 newly upcoming certified peer support volunteers to the TEAO community! These dedicated folks completed our 2 day Peer Certification: Mental Health First Aid Training& Trauma-Responsive Care & Systemic Impact Awareness last week and will now be supporting communities across the GTA + Waterloo Region starting this Fall. #staytuned. This isn’t about fixing others—it’s about showing up with presence, offering embodied support, and creating culturally safe spaces for healing. They’ve committed to: 🌀 3 hours of community service 🌀 3 hours of collective care in our outreach 🌀 Holding space for crisis without judgment Thank you for choosing to support others with compassion, courage, and care. We see you. 📍Ontario | TEAO Canada | Trauma-Informed Peer Support #PeerSupport #CommunityCare #TEAOCanada #TraumaResponsive #GTA #WaterlooRegion #HealingTogether #MentalHealthAwareness #SupportNotStigma #SomaticHealing #VolunteerLove
The Power of being Witnessed. #welovethis ♥️ Reposted Awareness by @mymentalhealthspace We heal by being witnessed. Not advised. (Please remember this is IG not therapy and yes there are situations where we want and need advice) #health #
Educational Post Incoming ♥️ ➡️ Most people think depression is a flaw. But what if it’s actually your body’s last-ditch survival strategy? ➡️ When we grow up in unsafe or demanding environments - especially with complex trauma -
🌿✨ Day 1: Rooted & Rising at Rhythm & Blues Cambridge’s BGX Camp ✨🌿 TEAO Canada is honoured to launch Day 1 of the BGX Born to Lead: Hometown Heroes Edition — a week-long camp powered by Rhythm & Blues Cambridge, designed f
We love this! ♥️ “you need to listen to this!’ Repost @theschoolofradicalhealing When folks treat nervous system work as woo-ism, we can only laugh. We know very well the science behind the impacts of trauma, and how resting and
🔔 Announcement 📣📣 After almost 2 years of waiting… it’s official. TEAO Canada’s “Do Better” is now a federally approved trademark in Canada. Rooted in our commitment to truth-telling, embodied accountability, and
We love this! Healing isn’t just mindset. It’s embodiment. “If your body can hold trauma, it can also hold joy, safety, love, and peace. It’s not just where pain lives, it can become the place where healing begins” @i What does it mean to hold space when your own body is carrying so much? Many racialized leaders, caregivers, and community builders are navigating burnout, hypervigilance, and chronic stress, while still showing up for others. The demand to be stron Educational Corner 🫶🏾♥️♥️ Repost from @nikeaurea • Community isn’t just your workplace or your group chat. It’s your friend circle. Your book club. That retreat you paid for. That “safe space” someone swe
✨ 5 DAILY WELLNESS HACKS TO FEEL AMAZING THIS WEEK ✨ Because taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Small shifts = big impact. Start your week rooted in intention, not exhaustion. 🌱 Which one will you try today? #WellnessH
🔔 Call for Board Members – Join TEAO ~ Canada’s Growth Journey ~ Reclaiming Healing. Reshaping Systems. Rooted in Community. 📢 As TEAO Canada enters an exciting new growth stage as a federally incorporated not-for-profit, we are expa Us in Community. ♥️ There’s nothing like being in community with people who care! Last night at the Grows Lang Community @growcommunitycentre @langscommunity Picnic, we felt the LOVE—from our growing TEAO volunteer team (shoutout
Last night, we gathered with community members, volunteers, and supporters for an honest conversation about the heart of our work at TEAO Canada — and the future we’re building together. We reflected on how past grants have allowed us to
Educational Corner: Checking Biases, Collectively. ‼️🫶🏾 reposted from @youth_mental_health #bias #discrimination #sterotypes #prejudice #intersectionalitymatters #socialjustice #humanrights #youthmentalhealth #childmentalhealth #studentmentalhea Resilient Voices Weekly: We love creators — the artists, musicians, writers, and makers who pour their hearts into expression. And we love you — the ones who show up, rise up, and keep going, even when the world doesn’t see the batt 🌿 Our Peer Support Team Grew! We’re thrilled to welcome 8 newly upcoming certified peer support volunteers to the TEAO community! These dedicated folks completed our 2 day Peer Certification: Mental Health First Aid Training& Trauma-Respo

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

 

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND IN-KIND DONATIONS.