Mental health care in Canada has a gap – this new virtual clinic in Ontario is trying to fix it

Although many Canadians access mental health services each year, 2SLGBTQ+ communities continue to face gaps in care, including discrimination and a lack of affirming providers. These challenges have helped drive the creation of a new virtual therapy practice built on the idea that care works best when people don’t have to explain who they are just to be heard.

For a lot of people, therapy is a part of their weekly or monthly routine. In fact, data shows that 15 per cent of Canadians access mental health services every year. However, that can look different when you’re worried about experiencing discrimination while seeing a healthcare professional. 

Of respondents to a Canadian survey, 17 per cent of 2SLGBTQ+ people say they have no access to mental health services, while 56 per cent reported access only to non-affirming services. Respondents specifically identified barriers to accessing care, like the fear of discrimination, past negative experiences with healthcare providers, and services not being 2SLGBTQ-competent or affirming

However, the need for services for the Queer community is there. About 32 per cent of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Canadians report poor or fair mental health, compared to 11 per cent of their heterosexual counterparts. Meanwhile, 65 per cent of transgender and non-binary people report poor or fair mental health, compared to 11 per cent of cisgender community members.

So while having access to a therapist is important, having access to culturally comprehensive care (AKA, a therapist that just gets you), that is a game-changer. That’s where All Kinds Club steps in. 

BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ sensitive care

Aiming to create a counselling service that gives 2SLGBTQ+ people an affirming space to receive care without question of their identity, All Kinds Club Counselling is a 2SLGBTQ+-centred, BIPOC-affirming, sex-positive therapy practice that launched late last year. 

Operating virtually, making it accessible to people across the province, the practice was founded by Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) Dani Gagnon. They told Queer & Now that the inspiration for AKCC came while doing a placement as a requirement of her Master’s degree. 

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“When I was doing my internship, I was flooded with so many Queer and Trans clients,” they shared. “A lot of other students were having a really hard time finding clients during their placement, but I did not.”

This led her to realize the existing need for a platform that allows community members to connect with Queer therapists, with Gagnon explaining that on many apps, it’s not clear if someone is an ally or Queer.

“A lot of people don’t want to have to explain themselves to their therapist in session,” Gagnon explained. 

In addition, for couples therapy, which is also offered on AKCC, there are different dynamics at play that must be considered by the therapist or counsellor. 

“For instance, if I have two Lesbians, the dynamic is entirely different from what it would be for a straight couple,” Gagnon shared. “Sex is different, body language is different, expression is different, stressors are different, especially with what’s going on in the world right now.”

“A lot of people don’t want to have to explain that and take up time in their therapy session that they’re paying for to have to explain to the therapist what a bottom is, or what U-Hauling is, so it’s kind of nice to just have that covered in your therapy sessions.”

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Gagnon explained that in the development of the platform, it was crucial to find not only Queer therapists but also professionals who are from other marginalized communities. 

“It was really important for us to have people who are part of the BIPOC community, from different religious backgrounds, from different genders, all part of this team,” she explained, adding that it’s important for people visiting the platform to see that they can match with a therapist who understands the nuances of their experiences. 

In the name of accessibility, the service offers an online therapist-matching process for those who don’t have the time or energy to navigate multiple consultations, pairing users with a therapist aligned with their needs, identity, and goals. Additionally, services feature clear pricing, and when possible, reduced-rate and sliding-scale options.

Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth

And at a time when the broader Queer community needs support, numbers show that the kids are decidedly not alright. A 2022 survey of 2,000 youth between 15 and 24 years old found that more than half of 2SLGBTQ+ respondents met criteria for a mental health or substance use disorder. That’s compared to 29 per cent of cisgender heterosexual youth. The same survey found 25 per cent of 2SLGBTQ+ youth had experienced suicidal ideation in the past year, compared to just five per cent of their cisgender heterosexual counterparts.

The AKCC aims to address this by creating an environment that has moved away from the typical clinical vibe of most mental health services and prioritizes Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 

“We’re trying to help them feel understood. Help them feel that we take things seriously and that we don’t have to feel so clinical to make a difference or help people feel like their identity matters,” Gagnon shared. 

“We are so rooted in understanding trauma and understanding environmental causes for things like anxiety or BPD, that we’re not looking at just diagnosing people, but rather understanding the environments that they’re in and why these things might be happening,” she shared. 

This is critical at a time when anti-Queer legislation and ongoing homophobic and transphobic violence continue to make headlines. Gagnon shared that the ongoing political climate has a huge effect on her practice as a therapist, as many clients have struggles rooted in system issues and ongoing oppression. 

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“Queer and Trans communities right now are really struggling,” she explained. “A lot of anxiety, stress and depression around things that are not changeable. It’s not the same as someone who might be privileged, white, and straight who goes to therapy, and the problems being brought up are all things they can adjust in their life.”

“A traditional therapist that isn’t rooted in working with Queer people may not understand that [someone may be] feeling anxious when yesterday, conversion therapy was just legalized in the U.S.”

But, Gagnon says that 2SLGBTQ+ aren’t the only ones who benefit from having a therapist who is also a part of the community. It also has benefits to the partners and parents of Queer people, school teachers, and community workers.

“If you are anyone who engages with any kind of Queer person, working with a Queer therapist can help you develop different types of lenses that can help you move through the world differently, and I think that’s a really important part of our service.”