We live and breathe basic humanistic values.
Many of the individuals and families we support have had previous experiences with systems, programs, or professionals that left them feeling unseen, dismissed, or harmed. That’s why we are intentional about being clear from the beginning about how we work.
Transparency is foundational to building trust—and if we’re going to play a role in your life or your family’s journey, we believe you deserve to understand exactly what that will look like.
Our team is deeply committed to professional accountability and to practicing in alignment with our core values. We regularly seek feedback, reflect on our impact, and remain open to growth. Your experience matters to us—and we’re here to walk alongside you with care, clarity, and integrity.
consent-based + coercion-free
We believe that every person deserves to be met with dignity and agency. Our work with clients—young and old—is rooted in fostering healthier relationships with themselves and others. We understand that true healing and growth require consent, compassion, and the complete absence of coercion. At the co-lab, we don’t direct—we collaborate. We support each individual in making informed, empowered choices every step of the way.
every person is worthy of healing
We believe every person—regardless of their history or choices—is capable of growth, healing, and change. We hold space for the pain people carry and their impact on others.
Our work is not about blame or shame, but about supporting meaningful insight, emotional regulation, and healthy connection rooted in accountability and care.
healthy relationships can’t be forced
Connection can only thrive when it is mutual, safe, and freely chosen. We don’t force togetherness. We support individuals and families in exploring whether reconnection is possible, and how to do so in a way that honours everyone’s voice, boundaries, and pace—including children.
neuro-affirming + respectful of all minds
We honour all ways of thinking, processing, and being. Our work is grounded in the understanding that neurodivergence is not a problem to be fixed but a reality to be affirmed. We avoid pathologizing difference and instead create space for clients to explore their identities with curiosity, acceptance, and dignity. Our team adapts support to meet people where they are—without forcing them to conform to neurotypical standards of communication, expression, or healing.
curiosity first.
We don’t jump to conclusions. We recognize that behaviors are often strategies rooted in survival, shaped by a person’s history and context. Instead of diagnosing or fixing, we approach each situation with curiosity, compassion, and a desire to understand. This helps us build trust and offer support that is grounded in care rather than correction.
we do not facilitate forced reunification
We reject frameworks prioritizing reunification over emotional safety, readiness, or authentic relational health. The co-lab does not practice or endorse forced “reunification therapy.”
Our approach is grounded in careful assessment, layered support + safety planning, and a deep respect for the lived experiences and choices of children, and all family members. Healthy and sustainable relationships are rooted in emotional safety, mutual readiness/consent, and relational accountability—not obligation.
trauma-aware + anti-oppressive
Our team recognizes that many of the people we serve have encountered harm, injustice, or marginalization. We are committed to working from a deeply trauma-aware and anti-oppressive lens, recognizing the ways systemic and interpersonal trauma can impact people over the course of their lives.
Our practitioners are extensively trained in trauma-informed care and continuously engage in reflective practice and professional development to support equity, healing, and justice.
all family members deserve to feel safe and seen
We work with the full system—not just one side of the story. Every family member deserves to be understood in the context of their experiences, beliefs, and nervous system. We listen deeply to each person, honouring what they need to feel emotionally and physically safe, and adapt our approach to support that safety consistently.
change happens in the context of support
We don’t expect anyone to navigate complex relationships alone. Whether you are trying to rebuild trust, support your child’s wellbeing, or work through past harm, we walk alongside you—offering tools, reflection, and structure to move forward with care and intention.
intersectional + systems-informed
We acknowledge that people do not exist in a vacuum. Each client’s lived experience is shaped by intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, culture, and more. We strive to hold space for the full complexity of identity and the impact of systemic barriers and intergenerational harm. This awareness shapes not only our therapeutic approach but our team culture and organizational structures.
relational accountability + humility
We don’t claim to be the experts of someone else’s story. While we bring training and insight, we are always learning from the people we work with. We approach our clients—and each other—with humility and a commitment to doing better when we make mistakes. Relational accountability means showing up with care, acknowledging harm, and making things right when repair is needed.
safety Is the foundation, not a bonus
Relational health can only grow in conditions of emotional and physical safety. We assess for and prioritize this at every stage of our work.
We do not pressure clients—adult or child—into proximity with people or environments that feel unsafe. We support nervous systems, and do not override them. If safety is not present, our work focuses first on stabilization and individual healing—not premature connection.
we support relationships, not roles
We know that titles like “parent,” “child,” or “partner” don’t automatically guarantee closeness or comfort.
We help people move beyond the pressure of roles and expectations, and into relationships that are meaningful, reciprocal, and grounded in real connection—if and when everyone is ready.
children are people, not possessions
Children’s voices matter. Their relationships should be shaped with—not for—them. We support children in expressing what they need and want from their relationships and ensure those expressions are treated with respect, not dismissed as resistance or misbehaviour.
We work solely within a consent-framework that helps children to develop skills to identify their own needs, healthy relationship attributes, and next steps. This framework is structured to help children develop into healthy adults who can/will develop healthy relationships. Our professionals reject any intervention or protocol that will weaponize mental health professionals or helping professionals towards children because, simply, this can severely harm their trajectory in life and their openness to seeking support that they may need in the future.
repair is a process, not a performance
We recognize that change is not a checklist—it’s a way of being. We work with those seeking to repair relationships to move beyond surface-level apologies and into sustained behavioural change. We support this process with structure, feedback, and care—without shame or coercion.
repair can’t be rushed
For those who have caused harm and wish to rebuild trust with their children, we acknowledge that intention is not enough—repair requires deep accountability, transparency, and a willingness to honour the pace and boundaries of those impacted.
We support individuals in doing the hard internal work that must precede any attempt to reconnect, and we are clear: relationships cannot be demanded or restored through pressure, guilt, or systems of power. Healthy relationships are possible with compassion, consent, and doing deep personal work to show up as the parent you wish to be.
repair can’t be rushed
For those who have caused harm and wish to rebuild trust with their children, we acknowledge that intention is not enough—repair requires deep accountability, transparency, and a willingness to honour the pace and boundaries of those impacted. We support individuals in doing the hard internal work that must precede any attempt to reconnect, and we are clear: relationships cannot be demanded or restored through pressure, guilt, or systems of power. Healthy relationships are possible with compassion, consent, and doing deep personal work to show up as the parent you wish to be.
