Topic(s): 
Counselling
Professional Practice
Webinar event date: 
mai 26, 2026 12:00 pm EDT
Webinar link

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Webinar Presenters: 
  • Joelleann Forbes, MSW, RSW

    Joelleann (Joelle) Forbes is a registered social worker and psychotherapist in Ontario, and the President and Co‑Founder of Hope Leads Mental Health Care. She is a trauma‑informed clinician, educator, and unapologetic advocate for culturally safe, anti‑oppressive, and justice‑oriented mental health care. Joelle holds a BA in Bioethics and an MSW from the Factor‑Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, where she also teaches as a sessional lecturer on mental health policy, advanced clinical skills, and practice frameworks within healthcare sectors. Her career spans leadership roles in healthcare and community settings, including managing population health and mental wellness initiatives within a community health centre. Through Hope Leads MHC, she provides psychotherapy, consultation, program development, and sector‑wide initiatives that supports organizations in challenging inequitable systems and building culturally grounded models of care.

    Michael Adia, MSW, RSW

    Michael Adia (he/him) is a registered social worker and psychotherapist in Ontario, and Co-Founder and Director of Hope Leads Mental Health Care. He brings extensive social work and clinical experience in community mental health, primary care and university setting. Michael’s clinical work focuses on supporting racialized and gender-diverse individuals navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, gender dysphoria, and the impacts of racism and workplace or educational discrimination, as well as substance use and addictions. He has led teams of social workers and case managers supporting racialized youth and adults with concurrent disorders. At Hope Leads, he provides psychotherapy to driven young professionals, queer Filipinx clients, and trans and non-binary individuals undergoing medical transition. He also leads curriculum development and training initiatives that strengthen 2SLGBTQ+ programming and organizational capacity. Michael holds an Honours BA in Health and Society from York University and a Master of Social Work from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Prior to his career in social work, he practiced as an industrial engineer.

Description

This webinar invites social workers into a reflective and values‑aligned conversation about building a private practice rooted in sustainability, community care, and social responsibility. Grounded in a spirit of friendship and mutual support, we will explore how private practice can serve as a meaningful extension of ethical care and collective growth.

Whether you are considering private practice, actively building one, or simply curious about what it could look like, this session offers space for reflection and practical insight. It is an opportunity to imagine private practice not as an isolated endeavour, but as a relational, grounded, and socially responsible pathway within the broader landscape of social work.

Key Learning Objectives: 

  • Assist with exploring social workers readiness to private practice
  • Provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical and operational preparation required before launching a private practice.
  • Outline the rationale for expanding into a group practice model, including benefits for sustainability and client impact.
  • Examine common myths and realities of private practice to support informed, confident decision‑making.
  • Affirm the importance of diversifying services and income streams as a strategy for long‑term stability and growth.