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William Koné

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Registered Psychotherapist
he/him
Sessions start at
$160 +HST

William is here to support you with self-esteem, relationship challenges, healthy communication, and challenges facing Black/racialized & LGBTQ+ communities.

Headshot of William Koné from waist up smiling in a business casual top.

William is here to help you explore your identity and build on your strengths. Queer and racialized folks don’t often have spaces where they are fully seen and heard. William creates a safe space where you can explore any question about identity, self-esteem, gender or sexuality. William can also help couples understand each other better. He uses a collaborative approach to help you explore your communication patterns and discuss your needs safely. He will support you and your partner to make changes that can strengthen your relationship.

William has focused on uplifting the Black and LGBTQ+ community. William has co-facilitated peer support groups with MAX Ottawa and participated in discussion panels with the Black Gay Men’s Network of Ontario. He values the beauty of affirming someone with a similar lived experience. Navigating the intersections of Blackness and queerness, William is adamant about creating a safe place for marginalized folks to share their truths unapologetically.

William is also a writer. Having grown up as an isolated queer youth, his stories celebrate the Black queer experience from a place of strength and healing. William channels this skill as a narrative therapist and will support you to define your journey on your own terms. He sees therapy as a mirror: just like you are brave enough to reflect on your story, William is privileged to hear it and build on new understandings with you.

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Right for you if:

You're seeking support as an LGBTQ+ person.
You identify as Black or a person of color.
You're interested in exploring identity.
You're seeking couples support.

Right for you if:

You're seeking support as an LGBTQ+ person.
You identify as Black or a person of color.
You're interested in exploring identity.
You're seeking couples support.

More about

William

William Koné sitting on a light grey couch and laughing.

Q&A

What does good mental health look like to you?
I define good mental health as a positive state of wellness that allows you to comfortably make decisions that help fulfill one’s needs and wants. As people this is bound to fluctuate depending on our own unique circumstances. However, good mental health gives us the chance to explore options that help sustain our livelihood, while also protecting against life challenges that may throw us off course in the pursuit of one’s goals.
What do you do to take care of your own mental health?
Music has always been healing for me. I often create playlists that reflect a particular mood, so the artist can speak on my behalf in moments where I’m struggling. Writing has also been soothing so I can articulate my own thoughts on my own terms. The mind can sometimes be a maze, so I like to express myself on something tangible that allows me to circle back to it when I’m ready. My friends and my immediate family are also good sources of comfort. I refer to them as “real ones” because they are the people that instill security. I can come to them at any moment to reflect and share specific concerns, while garnering the validation and the strength needed to work through a personal difficulty. They allow me to be myself and that’s a privilege I cherish.
What would you say to a friend struggling with a mental health issue?
A Guru lyric from Gang Starr stands out to me the most. “Nobody’s invincible, no plan is foolproof, we all must meet our moment of truth.” In difficult situations, the onus is often placed on us to get ourselves out of that challenge. That can create a lot of pressure, especially when the problem is outside of our control. Regardless of what’s going on, we all have feelings that need to be considered with care. Therapy can be the anchor that encourages folks to explore those feelings when they’re ready. These challenges don’t have to be attended to alone. Sometimes you might not even find all of the answers you’re looking for. However, I want people to feel empowered enough to have a say in the way they would their stories unfold.

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Saint Paul University (2020)

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours), Carleton University (2016)

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Living Works)

LGBT2Q+ Foundations (Rainbow Health Ontario)

Trans Awareness Training (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association)

Counselling LGBTQI Refugees (Capital Rainbow)

Brief Narrative Therapy Training (Family Services Ottawa)

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

@theshiftcollab

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