SBWS: Strong Black Woman Schema
A safe, culturally grounded space for learning, healing, and growth. Our programs help Black women and gender-diverse people unpack the pressure to be “strong,” build healthier boundaries, and practice rest, joy, and community care.
What SBWS Is
SBWS names a real, harmful social script that asks Black women to carry everything alone. Our workshops and counselling reframe strength as wholeness. We pair evidence-informed tools with cultural practices so participants leave with skills they can use right away.
Who We Serve
Black women and gender-diverse people across life stages
Youth and students managing stress and identity pressures
Mothers, caregivers, and newcomers building new support systems
Frontline workers and leaders experiencing burnout
Workshop Tracks
SBWS Foundations
Understand the schema, how it shows up, and how to interrupt it with practical daily tools.
Boundaries and Burnout Recovery
Learn to set loving limits, manage compassion fatigue, and design sustainable routines.
Rest, Joy, and Nervous System Care
Breath, body-based practices, and rituals that restore calm and connection.
Relationships and Communication
Assertive communication, conflict skills, and asking for help without guilt.
Grief, Anger, and Emotional Literacy
Process complex emotions safely. Build language and strategies for hard days.
What You’ll Gain
Through our workshops, participants gain language to name and challenge harmful expectations, along with practical boundary-setting and time-management tools they can apply immediately. Each session includes calming practices for stress and overwhelm, peer support that builds genuine connection, and access to culturally grounded resources that strengthen confidence and self-awareness. Participants leave with renewed energy, community support, and a toolkit for sustaining balance, rest, and purpose beyond the workshop. Our sessions also build collective resilience by creating space for joy, reflection, and empowerment within the community.
How It Works
Our programs are offered as 90-minute workshops, half-day intensives, or multi-week series, delivered both in person at our counselling centre and live online. All sessions are facilitated by Black clinicians, facilitators, and community practitioners. Accessibility features include sliding-scale fees, closed captioning for virtual programs, and accessible washrooms and entrances on-site.
For Organizations
We also bring SBWS programming to workplaces, schools, and community groups. Sessions can be customized for staff wellness, leadership, or youth engagement, with formats like lunch-and-learns, training cycles, or retreats designed to meet your team’s needs.
Partner With Us
We collaborate with agencies, schools, and clinics to co-deliver care. To explore partnership or customized programming, contact in**@**************ty.ca.
Ready to Register?
Individuals can book a workshop or join a waitlist, while groups can request a private session. Clinicians may refer clients or co-facilitate sessions as part of our community care network.