Jessie Dhaliwal’s Bold Mission: Building Safe Spaces for Marginalized Voices Through Therapy
- Great Story
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Some businesses are born out of opportunity. Others, like Jessie Dhaliwal’s Solidarity Therapy, are born out of necessity — and heart. Growing up as the eldest daughter of immigrants and identifying as a queer woman of colour, Jessie knew firsthand how hard it was to find spaces that truly felt safe. So, she built one.
At Solidarity Therapy in Langley, British Columbia, Jessie and her team are doing more than offering therapy sessions. They are “dismantling oppressive systems, one healing conversation at a time.”
From Personal Struggle to Collective Healing
Jessie’s path wasn't marked by a single defining moment but by a lifetime of silent burdens: identity conflicts, cultural expectations, and the endless search for belonging. Rather than letting those struggles harden her, she channeled them into action. Solidarity Therapy was born out of her commitment to make therapy accessible, validating, and truly inclusive.
According to Jessie, "The world wasn't built with us in mind as queer women of colour."But rather than retreat, she leaned in — offering every client, especially those from BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, a place to be heard, seen, and respected.
A Practice Rooted in Anti-Oppression and Intersectionality
What sets Solidarity Therapy apart is its unapologetic commitment to intersectionality. There’s no cookie-cutter approach here. Each client is recognized within the context of their cultural identity, systemic barriers, and personal history.
From trauma-informed EMDR and brainspotting to art therapy and neurofeedback, the services reflect a radical belief: that mental health support must honor the full human experience.
Jessie emphasizes, "Our work is about dismantling internalised oppression and creating space for self-acceptance — it's about more than coping mechanisms."
To ensure financial barriers don’t block access, Solidarity Therapy even offers sliding scale fees and lower-cost sessions — because healing, as Jessie believes, should never be a luxury.
Healing Against the Odds: Building a Haven, Not Just a Business
Starting Solidarity Therapy was no easy feat. Jessie and her co-founders were navigating — and often resisting — predominantly white, heteronormative mental health structures. But each hurdle only deepened their resolve.
"Being BIPOC queer founders is an act of resistance in and of itself," Jessie notes. Every client who walks through their doors stands as living proof that their mission matters.
Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
For women, especially those from marginalized communities, Jessie offers advice rooted in both ancestry and fierce self-belief: "Women are inherently deserving of entrepreneurship, particularly women of colour. The structures that give you false hope were never intended to help you succeed."
Entrepreneurship, for Jessie, isn't just about personal gain — it's about "fostering generational healing and honoring the paths carved by those before you."
The Ripple Effect of Healing: Changing Lives, One Story at a Time
Jessie Dhaliwal’s story is a bold reminder that healing work isn’t about personal accolades — it’s about collective empowerment. Through Solidarity Therapy, she isn’t just offering therapy sessions. She’s creating a movement where marginalized identities are centered, celebrated, and empowered to thrive.
By choosing compassion over convention, Jessie is building a legacy far bigger than any business: a legacy where healing becomes a revolutionary act.
Website: https://www.solidaritytherapy.ca/
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