Kate Scowen set out to practice a different model of psychotherapy. Drawing on her background in community work, she founded Hard Feelings, an innovative non-profit organization offering low-cost psychotherapy for people locked out of traditional therapy options. Her goal was to break down barriers to meaningful, high-quality mental health support.
Founded in Toronto in 2017 with only eight therapists, Hard Feelings has since grown rapidly. This expansion reflects the deep inaccessibility of mental health services in the community. Kate describes the organization as serving the “missing middle”: a third pathway for those who have some benefits, but not enough for market-rate private practice and who face year-long waitlists in the public system.
Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hard Feelings expanded from in-person sessions to also offering online care. It includes a storefront featuring a mental health library with free community resources, alongside paid items that help sustain the model.
Kate emphasizes that what sets Hard Feelings apart is its community of practice model. Private practice can be isolating, especially for therapists who are working alone or virtually (or both). At Hard Feelings, therapists remain independent practitioners while benefiting from collective support. This includes physical spaces for in-person sessions, peer consultation pods, monthly training sessions, ongoing management, and opportunities to connect through social and community-partner events.
Kate highlighted that this collaborative approach strengthens psychotherapists and reflects a core social work truth: we work better together.
Kate sees Hard Feelings' growth as a response to systemic failures in the mental health sector. Her work demonstrates how innovative, community-oriented models can deliver accessible, high-quality psychotherapy while remaining sustainable. Hard Feelings benefits both service users and psychotherapists and invites social workers to imagine care models rooted in community, accountability, and collective care.