Racial Justice + Health Equity Consulting

Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Racial Justice Training with Carla Beharry

Building Cultures of Belonging

Equity-focused training, facilitation and consultation for therapists, educators, healthcare teams and community organizations.

Discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, class, citizenship status and mental health status is experienced daily in community spaces and workplaces - resulting in mental, emotional, and physical trauma that is pervasive, persistent, chronic and unpredictable for bodies who do not fit into the dominant narrative of cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied, whiteness.

What Makes These Sessions Unique?

With a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy (MP) from the University of Guelph, and a Master’s degree in Social Justice Education (MEd) from the University of Toronto, along with extensive training in somatic and body-based healing, I offer training specific to those working in community, healthcare and education, that is engaging, interactive, trauma-responsive and culturally-attuned. I individually design sessions, drawing on lived experience of working alongside clients and community groups, grounded in the foundation of evidence-based education.

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Intentionally Created Sessions

What Can I Expect During a Session?

  • Designed to move beyond cognitive-learning to encourage all team members to explore ways in which white-bodies hold power in interactions, and how your team can collectively use their bodies to shift power dynamics to centre Black, Indigenous, racialized, trans, queer, disabled, and oppressed bodies.

  • Presented through a social justice framework, sessions shift away from colonial educational models that centre “one instructor” and encourages a model where “everyone teaches and everyone learns”. Depending on the size of your team, sessions include advocacy exercises, role plays, breakout rooms, full-group discussions, small group discussions, visual and audio displays. Efforts are made to accommodate all learning styles.

  • In full workshop series, group members have an opportunity to contribute to defining group norms, values and expectations for behaviour, so all members are accountable to upholding the transformative and restorative nature of the space.

  • Through intentional use of language and awareness of the potential of vicarious and secondary trauma, and potential re-traumatization for equity-deserving individuals, all efforts are made to pace discussions and to attune to the nervous system experience of all bodies in the room.

INQUIRE ABOUT SESSIONS
A woman in a red floral dress speaking into a microphone during a presentation in a classroom. A slide with text about barriers and facilitators to accessing mental healthcare in Canada for Black youth is projected behind her. Students are seated and listening, with some windows letting in natural light.
Three women are smiling and interacting at night. The woman on the left, wearing glasses and a pink top, holds the hands of the woman on the right, who is in a strapless dress. The woman in the middle, with dark hair and a white T-shirt, holds a phone and is smiling.
A woman in a white shirt holding a phone, standing in front of a presentation slide titled 'Systemic Racism + Racial Trauma in Health Care' and 'An Embodied Antiracism Perspective for Wellness Professionals,' with illustrations of four diverse people on the slide.

Session Topics Include:

  • Understanding dynamics of power and privilege. Recognizing whose bodies carry power and how this impacts dynamics in a therapy session or workplace.

  • Learning about systems of oppression and racism - how these systems determine who gains access to education, healthcare and workplace advancement.

  • Exploring race-based trauma and white (body) supremacy as somatic and body-based experiences.

  • Understanding community-care models that prioritize wellness and connection of the community along with individual definitions of wellness.

  • Developing appropriate and empowering language that centres the experience of racialized clients

  • Understanding racial constructs, white advantage and the differences between the system white supremacy that we live within vs. white supremacist violence, so as to understand systems of oppression that benefit some and harm others.

  • Dismantling pervasive mentalities that centre whiteness and cis-gender individuals as the “norm” and racialized individuals as “different”

  • Undoing the desire to “not see colour” or to stay silent - How to advocate for mental health and physical health services for under-served clients

  • Becoming an advocate and co-conspirator in movements for health and education equity

  • Understanding the difference between being “antiracist” vs. “not racist”

  • Exploring subtle and overt prejudice and they ways in ways in which clinician-bias creates barriers to care for racialized clients.

  • Learning how to create culturally-informed intake forms.

  • Learning how to ask culturally-informed questions about how your client’s ethnicity, culture, religion or philosophy impact their priorities for mental and emotional wellness (understanding spiritual beliefs).

  • Exploring ancestral and inter-generational trauma as important components to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

  • Understanding barriers to care that exist at the systemic level, the community level, the practitioner level, and the personal level.

BOOK A SESSION

Clients I’ve Worked With:

A+ Creative Inc. | Toronto

Bereaved Families of Ontario | Midwestern Region

Blu Matter Project | Toronto

The Branches Yoga Studio

Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo Wellington

Centre for Popular Democracy | New York

CISV International

Centre for Mindfulness Studies | Toronto

Conestoga College | Kitchener

Extend-A-Family | Waterloo

Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries

Happy Explorers Childcare Centre | New Hamburg

Hillside Music Festival | Guelph

HOBY Youth Leadership Canada

Hotel Dieu-Grace Healthcare Youth Advisory Council

Interfaith Counselling Centre | New Hamburg

Intrigue Media | Guelph

John F. Ross CVI | Guelph

Justisse College International

Lutherwood | Waterloo

Pedorthic Association of Canada

RBC Ventures

Sanguen Health Centre | Waterloo

Stratford Local Community Food Centre

The Toronto Apothecary

Three Tides Wellness | Waterloo

University of Waterloo AccessAbility Office

University of Waterloo Counselling Services

University of Waterloo Science Society

University of Waterloo Student Success Office

Waterloo Wellington Knowledge Exchange

Waterloo Catholic District School Board Specialist High Skills Major Program

Waterloo Region District School Board

Waterloo Region Association of Realtors

Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council

Western University Wellness & Equity Education

Wilfrid Laurier University School of Social Work

Women in Educational Leadership | Waterloo

Woolwich Counselling Centre

YMCA of Three Rivers Employment Services

Client Experiences

  • “We worked closely with Carla to provide a series of 7 workshops to our team of ~75 people over the course of 4 months. The experience has been transformative and significantly positive. We had a strong idea of the learning objectives we wanted to meet, and Carla worked closely with our team to ensure that they were met and exceeded. Carla’s somatic and trauma-responsive approach was a revelation for our team, and we believe this approach, combined with her engaging teaching and leadership style, has ensured that the lessons learned are still resonating. More than 6 months after our work with Carla we are working on substantive changes to our working practice and we know that this work will be well positioned because of our training. She was incredibly responsive throughout our work together, asking nuanced questions about our working culture, demographics and needs, listening to our questions and adjusting her content and approach accordingly. She provided resources and created a place where individuals felt comfortable asking questions. Carla brought in guest speakers within her workshops to ensure a diversity of lived experiences were present to share teaching, and tailored her approach to the service needs of our industry. We cannot recommend working with Carla enough. ”

    —Pamela Charbonneau, Director – Student Success Office, University of Waterloo

  • “Digesting the content of our workshop with Carla has been a highly personal, challenging, and still very much on-going experience for our group. In just one day, though, Carla presented us with actionable tasks that could be implemented right away as well as a clear, meaningful path for our organization to take on our way to becoming the anti-racist, anti-oppressive organization we aspire to be. Still lots of work to be done but I’m hopeful that we’re heading in the right direction!”

    —Derek Barnes. Community Engagement Facilitator. The Local Community Food Centre, Stratford

  • “I highly recommend Carla’s antiracism/anti-oppression workshop for wellness pros. Her passion, warmth and sharing of her lived experiences helped to create a safe, supportive space for us to learn/unlearn, address our biases, and ask questions without judgement. The workshops were well organized and easy to follow and provided me with a framework to make lasting changes. I had some real A-HA moments that will change how I interact with racialized folks. So glad I signed up!”

    —A. Wray

  • “Thank you so much for all of this, Carla. Your focus on body and somatic practices was much appreciated. I appreciated your focus on family and connecting with our students - I feel our public education needs to spend more time focusing on making connections with our students’ families; too often they are only contacted when there is a problem or concern and the contact is often very cold. Most importantly, I want to thank you for connecting educators and being so candid with your information and experiences. We need community members like you advocating and educating, as exhausting as this must be. I am hoping that I can continue to connect with not only others in education, but community members who are doing this difficult work”

    —A. Bambury. Teacher / Librarian

  • “Thank you for a remarkable workshop. To have found a workshop that focused on wellness practitioners was invaluable, I’m grateful you found and filled this niche. I found your curriculum rich from your experience and perspective, and your presentation is clear, and warm.”

    —Antiracism for Wellness Professionals Workshop Participant

  • “Carla’s course has encouraged me to engage more consciously with privilege, implicit bias and embodied awareness. She creates brave spaces to do antiracism and oppression work and her wisdom has undoubtedly impacted myself and others for the better.”

    —Lana Hastings. Wellness Through Connection. @wellnessthroughconnection

  • “Carla is brilliant and I’m so happy I took this course. It is the perfect balance of practical/resourceful and personally transformative. I have learned so much and feel better equipped to make my practice accessible and inclusive for all kinds of folks in my community. Carla holds a compassionate and inviting space and I feel so grateful to have been able to learn from her. If you are considering taking this course, I highly recommend that you do!”

    —Antiracism for Wellness Professionals Workshop Participant

  • “The Anti-Racism for Wellness Professionals Workshop with Carla Beharry was the first real step I took in becoming anti-racist. I found her approach safe and welcoming but also straightforward and honest. Her knowledge was a powerful testament to the work she has done both personally and professionally. She also created a safe community space for all of us in the course to share and be vulnerable around our feelings, questions and known and unknown biases. I appreciate Carla and the work she is doing to help educate us wellness professionals to become anti-racist and better ally’s moving forward.”

    —Courtney Hobbs. www.edgewaterwellness.ca

  • “This course is an absolute must for educators who want to begin/continue their journey in anti-racism and anti-oppression work. Carla included an incredible amount of information and guidance in the four sessions that allowed me to grow in my understanding of bias, racism trauma, and the importance of decolonizing the classroom. She uses her knowledge and expertise as a yoga instructor to lead students of the course through nervous-system based exercises to rewire and relearn the way we approach our racialized students. Carla encouraged thoughtful discussions that allowed for reflection, growth, and development of ourselves as educators all while providing informative feedback that is necessary for our anti-racism work”

    —Meghan Kidd. WRDSB Educator

Keynote Speaking and Media Experience

  • Lion’s Roar Magazine | https://www.lionsroar.com/three-practices-that-healed-my-heart-after-a-traumatic-injury/

  • John F. Ross Collegiate | Keynote Speaker: Fundamentals of Activism. March, 2024

  • Ministry of the Solicitor General - Correctional Services. Anti-Racism Working Group | Speaker: Racial Trauma and Mental Health. May, 2023

  • Wilfrid Laurier University. Department of Social Work | Guest Speaker: Racial Trauma for Social Work Students. November, 2022

  • Cafe Phyllo | Panel Speaker: Joy in Racialized Communities | Oct, 2021

  • Blu Matter Project | Podcast Guest: Racial Trauma, Biases + Power Dynamics in Wellness Culture. October, 2021.

  • Roger’s Television: #Trending with Aleia Ally | Featured Guest: Celebrating Guyanese Culture. September, 2021.

  • Disruptions With Purpose | Podcast Guest: On Becoming Antiracist. August, 2021.

  • Hillside Homeside Festival | Speaker: Healing Racial Trauma As a Path to Racial Justice. July, 2021.

  • WRDSB | Waterloo Region District School Board | Featured Panel Speaker: Creating Antiracist Classrooms. March, 2021.

  • Roger’s Television: Diverse + Converse | Featured Panel Speaker: Grassroots Social Justice Organizations. March, 2021.

  • WOKE WO/MEN’S Speaking Event | The Black History Month Edition | Co-Creator + Co-Host. February, 2021.

  • CBC News | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/woke-wo-men-event-waterloo-region-1.5926223

  • Waterloo Region Record | https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/online-event-will-celebrate-empower-waterloo-region-s-black-community/article_9c1a4899-4263-5aa7-8c7c-0d402a5877bd.html

  • The Community Edition | https://www.communityedition.ca/stories-of-resilience-challenge-event-for-black-history-month/

  • WIEL | Women in Educational Leadership of the WRDSB | Featured Panel Speaker: Social Justice in Leadership. December, 2020.

  • Laurel Heights High School: ACB + Allies | Guest Speaker: Systemic Racism + Policing in High Schools. Waterloo, November, 2020.

  • Distress and Crisis Ontario | Podcast Guest: Systemic Racism and Mental Health. October, 2020.

  • Queen Street Yoga | BIPOC Sweat-a-Thon to Support Yoga for Trauma Recovery in BIPOC. Kitchener, October, 2020.

  • Hillside Homeside Festival | Speaker: Where Are All the Black + Brown People in Downtown Guelph? July, 2020 | https://hillsidefestival.ca/performers/carla-beharry/

  • Dream Time Video Productions | Speaker: Following the BLM Movement in Waterloo Region. June, 2020.

  • WLU Cord | https://thecord.ca/laurier-students-come-forward-with-experiences-of-racism-and-discrimination-on-campus/

  • Waterloo Region Record | https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/kitchener-black-lives-matter-rally-helped-raise-17-000-for-local-black-and-indigenous-community/article_1d1dbc04-0a7d-5e00-8109-d242a73004f3.html

  • CTV News | https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/as-it-happened-thousands-of-people-gather-for-peaceful-black-lives-matter-march-in-kitchener/

  • KW Peace | https://kwpeace.ca/kw-solidarity-march-for-blacklivesmatter-5pm-on-wed-3-june-2020-at-victoria-park-kitchener/

  • Huron Heights People of Colour Student Association  | Kitchener: Personal Stories of Racialized Youth. December, 2019.

  • Stories of Resilience + Challenge in WOKE Women | Waterloo: Stories of Becoming. November, 2019.

  • TRANSFORM Barbados Retreat | Barbados, Caribbean: Growth + Transformation Through Telling Your Story: November, 2019.

  • Caribbean Women’s Power Lunch | Toronto: Healing After Trauma. September, 2019.

  • Black Women’s Mental Health | Carea Community Centre | Ajax: Building a Healthy Money Mindset. June, 2019.

  • Yoga for Children + Families with Anxiety | Carizon Community Services | Kitchener: Learning to Breathe Through Anxiety. June, 2019.

  • WOKE Women’s Movement | Business Empowerment Strategies for Diverse Wellness Entrepreneurs, June, 2019.

  • Stories of Resilience + Challenge in WOKE Women | Kitchener: Stories of Becoming. May, 2019.

  • WOKE Women’s Movement | Breath Work for Trauma and PTSD. June, 2019.

  • International Girls Group | Waterloo Collegiate Institute | Self-Love & Empowerment Yoga Practice. April, 2019.

  • Tea + Talk Newcomers Group for Immigrant Women | Carizon Community Services | Kitchener: Movement &Yoga Practice. April, 2019.

  • UN Day to End Racial Discrimination | Kitchener: Interactive Storytelling Session For Teens On Culture, Race, Identity & Equity. March, 2016.

  • Standing Strong Newcomers Group for Immigrant Women | Carizon | Kitchener: Yoga for ALL Bodies. January, 2019.

  • Stories of Resilience + Challenge in WOKE Women | Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean: Rebuilding After Trauma + Injury. December, 2018.

  • The Feel Good Wellness Retreat: Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean: Self-Love + Compassion Through Yoga + Meditation. October, 2018.

  •  Stories of Resilience + Challenge in WOKE Women | Toronto: Reclaiming Confidence + Purpose After Loss. September, 2018.

  • Stories of Resilience + Challenge in WOKE Women | Waterloo: Reclaiming Confidence + Purpose After Loss. September, 2018.

  • Unstoppable You Project Retreat | Waterloo: Self-Love Yoga + Empowerment Practice. October, 2017.

  • UN Day to End Racial Discrimination | Kitchener: Interactive Forum For Teens On Culture, Race, Identity & Equity. March, 2016.

  • Planned Parenthood | Kitchener: Tracking Your Cycles Naturally. March, 2015.

  • Female Leadership Community Girls Rising Group | Belize, Central America: Sexual Health for Caribbean Youth: May, 2013.

  • Female Leadership Community Girls Rising Group | Belize, Central America: Creating Boundaries in Relationships: May, 2012.

  • The Urban Goddess Women’s Night | Waterloo: Homeopathic Medicine for Body, Mind & Spirit. February, 2012.

  • Youth Challenge Guyana | Guyana, South America:  Finding Liberation After Domestic Violence. July, 2003.

  • Youth Challenge Guyana | Guyana, South America:  HIV Education for Amerindian Communities in Guyana. July, 2003.