About Nolisha

My professional journey has developed at the intersection of social service work, mental health, addictions, psychoeducation, and Christian spirituality.

My interest in this field comes from a desire to understand not only what people are experiencing, but also the circumstances, relationships, beliefs, behaviours, and environments that can contribute to those experiences.

Why This Work Matters to Me

I believe that people can change.

Growing up in Toronto in neighbourhoods such as Regent Park, Moss Park, Galloway, and Kingston Rd, I am particularly interested in addiction and recovery. I have witnessed and experienced the heavy impact of addiction; the ripple effect that traps individuals, generations of families, and communities in a destructive miry bog of hopelessness, depression, and death.  A diagnosis, addiction, difficult history, harmful behaviour, or stigmatizing label can become so closely associated with a communitie's or person's identity that they begin to believe that change is impossible. Yet I have witnessed how individuals and communities can overcome the cycle of addiction and reclaim their history. 

Recovery does not require pretending that the past did not happen. It can involve understanding what happened, recognizing patterns, taking responsibility where appropriate, developing new skills, repairing relationships when possible, and building a different future.

Beyond the Individual

I believe that mental health and addiction cannot be understood entirely at the individual level.

Housing, poverty, family relationships, social isolation, community, discrimination, access to healthcare, spirituality, employment, and other social conditions can significantly affect a person's ability to achieve and maintain wellbeing.

My professional interests therefore extend beyond individual support to include community programming, group work, psychoeducation, research, advocacy, and program development.

Looking Forward

My long-term professional goal is to continue developing expertise at the intersection of mental health, addictions, recovery, spirituality, and Christian ministry.

I am particularly interested in developing accessible recovery programming that respects both evidence-informed practice and the importance that faith and spirituality can have in the lives of many people.