Youth Corner
We at Agapé Lens believe that “youth care is preventative care”, that will ensure a better tomorrow for us all. Unfortunately, research shows that most mental health concerns begin during adolescent years. With a passion to support the wellness of our youth, our team has curated a few programs to support the mental and emotional wellness of our youth. We are also happy to make guest appearances or customize sessions for youth in your organizations, educational settings, and community groups virtually or in person.
Awaken
A self-care workshop to help youth awaken their most authentic self, meanwhile building skill and awareness to identify and address their needs. The workshop will allow each youth to build their personal self-care plan by the end. We offer this as a one time session as well as a 4 Week Self-Care challenge.
Who: Youth ages 16-21
You Belong
A 6 week mental health program dedicated to youth, who are struggling with an absent father. Grounded in attachment theory, trauma informed lens, and narrative therapy, youth will carefully and interactively explore their experiences. Participants will focus on three key areas throughout the 6 weeks, which include abandonment, self-worth, and identity. In the final week, we invite parents/guardians to attend the session in hopes to explore challenges, new skills, and interventions they may use to better support their youth. By the end of the program, youth will feel a sense of belonging, security, confidence and leave with tools to increase the relationship with themselves, others, and an improvement in their overall mental health.
Who: Youth age 12-15 or 16-19
Love Me, Love Me More
A mental health group for young Black women, grounded in a healing centered, anti-Black racist, trauma informed, and Africentric lens. Our goal is to create a safe space for these youth to explore the joys and challenges that come with being a young Black women, its impact on their mental health, all while developing leadership skills and receiving mentoring. We address topics such as self-esteem, body image, colorism, relationship concerns, racial and intergenerational trauma, and media. Each week an interactive activity and discussion will be lead in helping the young women build awareness, skill and a path to healing.
Who: Black young women from 12-15 or 16-21
Raise Consciousness, Raise Confidence
A strength-based building group for youth to establish leadership and knowledge as it relates to anti-Black racism in Canada. Interactive activities and discussion will allow youth to explore Canadian Black history, microaggressions, Black joy, Black mental health and Africentric perspectives as a way to build pride and confidence in their Black identity.
Who: Black youth age 12-15 or 16-21
Testimonials
"I've had the chance to take part in sessions designed and facilitated by Simone, over the past two years specifically, and all have been really well put together. She’s extremely understanding, knowledgeable, approachable, and charismatic. I recommend taking part in a session designed by her. Its impact will be a lasting one."
Victor Adarquah, Advisory Committee Member, IMARA Generation Project, TAIBU Community Health Centre
“Having Simone in our sector is truly a blessing- her commitment to youth engagement, innovation and strength based practice is impactful and vital to healing our next generation. Simone has a clinical and critical lens which allows her to address systemic issues around oppression and the ways in which people are affected- in both group and individual sessions. Simone's process and approach really enables youth to address their mental health through self-awareness, acceptance and care. Simone is reflective, passionate and has a strong understanding of current trends and needs of young people!”
Zohra Rahman, Director of Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion, YouthLink
"This was my first time participating in an online support/mental-health group, and I thought it was a really fantastic intro, and it was really easy for me to share my personal experiences. I think usually it's hard for people to open up in groups. I could open up because the 4 Week Self-Care challenge crushed all three of my requirements, it was both fun and educational - and everyone participating was open and friendly. I genuinely felt the facilitator was a great speaker, and very easy to relate to, and she kept everyone engaged and excited about coming in and learning more about how to help themselves. I think the facilitators positive/friendly attitude made it easy for people to open up because she felt like a neighbor/friend and presented herself as a really charismatic, confident, relatable and experienced person. It was a really well-structured challenge and I LOVED that."
Olaya Sibello, Participant, Awaken-4 Week Self-Care Challenge