Meet the Team.
Adijat Bunmi Adekunle
Heartfire Therapist, Educator, Clinical Director, and Co-Founder. RSW. MSW. BSW. BA. She/Her.
We have so much more power than we realize. Adijat interweaves the arts of healing with the sciences of social work and psychology to foster spaces where individuals, families, and communities can thrive beyond the constraints of systemic barriers, traumas, and injustices. With earned degrees in Social Work and Psychology from Dalhousie University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Regina, Adijat's scholarly journey is rooted in her deep-rooted dedication to decolonizing mental health care and advocating for systemic equity and social justice.
Adi’s therapy practice holds space and comfort to navigate the complexities of trauma and intergenerational trauma, racial and cultural identity, gender and sexual diversity, and the challenges of (dis)Ability in the contexts of systemic racism, ableism, and patriarchy. Specialized with the burdens we are handed down from our parents and grandparents, Adijat integrates ACT, CPT, DBT, CBT and Play Therapy with a trauma-informed, person-centred approach that respects and uplifts lived experience. Her work with children, youths, and adults transcends traditional therapy, supporting empowerment to harness their inherent strengths and redefine their narratives within a supportive and nonjudgmental space.
As the Saskatchewan representative on Black Mental Health Canada’s Circle of Leaders and a Co-Chair for the Saskatchewan Association of Black Social Workers, her commitment to social justice and Africentric safety thrums in every aspect of her work — Adijat actively engages in solidarity efforts to dismantle inequities across race, gender, class, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Her therapeutic and educational methodologies aim not only at personal healing but also at the cultivation of a collective resilience against the forces of oppression. Adijat's insights into the intersectionality of identity and mental health illuminate the unique challenges, strengths, and gifts within diverse communities, advocating for a holistic recognition of individuality beyond labels.
Heartfire represents Adi’s vision of a world where mental health and social justice intersect, offering a platform for learning, healing, and resistance against oppression in all its forms. Here, Adijat continues to inspire and support individuals in their journeys towards personal empowerment and communal liberation, reinforcing the belief that healing is both an act of personal recovery and a step towards societal transformation.
Jared Knoll
Heartfire Therapist, Educator, and Founder. RSW. BSW. MA. BA. He/Him.
At the heart of every change lies a story. A committed listener and guide, Jared believes in the profound power of storytelling to heal, teach, and reclaim power. With a compassionate approach rooted in Love and Solidarity, he works as a Therapist with Individuals and Families, as an Educator with Communities and Institutions, and as a Storyteller with Systems and Structures to navigate narratives towards self-discovery, justice, and transformation by reshaping the stories we tell ourselves and the ones we share with the world.
In his therapeutic practice, Jared employs a holistic, evidence-based integration of narrative therapy, trauma-informed care, acceptance and commitment therapy, and harm reduction with philosophy and cultural humility. He excels in addressing trauma, especially intergenerational trauma, addiction, grief, depression, anxiety, and complexities surrounding relationships, sex and intimacy, and life transitions — often in the contexts of systemic oppression and sociopolitical sources of injustice including anthropocenic climate change, cishetero-patriarchy, white supremacy, neoliberal capitalism, and settler colonization. His expertise is grounded in an intersectional framework of Decolonizing, Queer, Anti-Racist, and Feminist Liberation, and fostering a relationship-based solidarity that paves the way for healing, learning, and impactful storytelling. A registered social worker, his formal education includes scholarship and earned degrees from The University of Victoria, The University for Peace, The University of Saskatchewan, and presently finishing a second Master’s degree at Dalhousie University.
Jared’s path to founding Heartfire was carved through a more than a decade of work in social policy and movement building on Turtle Island, and in humanitarian journalism and education across more than two dozen countries. His work spanned the spectrum from supporting and counselling survivors of systematic mass violence, to engaging with global decision-makers on genocide prevention and human rights. His experiences have informed his approach to therapy, education, and activism, emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual healing and systemic change.
Heartfire embodies Jared’s vision for a world where healing, education, and social change intersect. It represents his commitment to not only addressing the personal narratives of those he serves but also challenging the larger societal narratives that shape our experiences. How can a healer bear witness to personal stories of struggle without striving to change the systemic roots of these issues? How can an activist remain grounded and effective without drawing guidance and strength from the communities they’d aim to support? And how can an educator advocate for social justice without bridging the gap between theory and lived reality? Jared and Adijat built Heartfire as the answer to these questions.