Anchored: The Sharpened Man is a 40-day inner journey, held in 8 weeks of brotherhood — built on the Becoming Method™, the proprietary trauma-recovery framework developed by Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis over 26+ years of clinical practice.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”
Black men carry stories they were taught never to tell. Stories of fathers who left and fathers who couldn’t stay. Stories of being read as a threat before they could speak. Stories of code-switching every morning and coming home with no language left for themselves.
The silence isn’t accidental. It is taught — through the “cool” pose, the strong-Black-man mandate, the early lesson that vulnerability invites harm. It is reinforced by a mental-health system that, for generations, treated Black men as suspects rather than patients.
The cost is measurable. 95.1% of Black people in Canada experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime (Cénat et al., 2023). Yet fewer than four in ten Black Canadians with poor mental health access support — compared to more than half of their White counterparts (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2021).
But the silence is breaking. 60% of Black Canadians say they would seek care — if the provider looked like them. Willingness is not the barrier. Belonging is.
Anchored answers that call. Built on the Becoming Method™ and culturally rooted in Ubuntu practice, it offers what generations have been denied: a circle of brothers, a structured path through truth-telling and forgiveness, and a return to friendship with self.
The four sides of every well-built life rest on a solid foundation grounded in Health, Wealth, Love, and Perfect Self-Expression. Anchored is built on that frame, recast for the men becoming the peacekeepers and peacemakers of our community.
Strength, rest, and rhythm. Daily practices that restore the body and steady the nervous system — so you can show up with energy for the life you’re called to build.
Stewardship over scarcity. Cultivate clear thinking around money, work, and legacy — turning what flows through your hands into impact that outlives you.
Clarity about who you are and what you’re here for. Move from inherited expectations into the work, voice, and contribution that are uniquely yours.
Relationships, rhythm, and meaning that reflect your deepest values — not what you settled for. The fourth pillar holds the other three together.
40 days of daily practice, held in 8 weeks of brotherhood. Six themes guide the journey — each one supports men in moving from inherited patterns to intentional living.
Understanding silence as a learned survival strategy shaped by social and historical conditions. Through relational, choice-based engagement, men move from isolation toward connection.
Generations of structural disruption have interrupted the transmission of stable relational models. This work supports men in consciously rewriting inherited patterns through awareness, choice, and relational healing.
Cultural myths that equate masculinity with dominance and emotional restraint have left many men disconnected from themselves and others. This work supports men in reclaiming authentic strength rooted in humility, accountability, and peace.
For over four centuries, Black men have been primary targets of oppression — disrupting family systems and masculine leadership. This work supports men in reclaiming power, control, and choice with intention and purpose.
Structural disruptions to family life have limited access to lived models of stable partnership and shared purpose. This work supports men in restoring what was historically disrupted — relationships grounded in intention, accountability, and mutual respect.
Many men inherit unconscious patterns around desire that blur the distinction between impulse, intimacy, and creation. This work supports men in reclaiming sex and creativity as distinct, purposeful forces.
Anchored isn't only a participant program — it's a leadership pipeline. Men who walk the path can train to lead it.
Prospective facilitators first experience the program as participants, moving through the full 40-day journey themselves.
Immersive training introduces the Becoming Method™, trauma-informed practice, and core facilitation skills.
Leaders are mentored to independently facilitate future cohorts in their own communities.
PhD, RN–Psychotherapist · President, The Becoming Institute · Creator of The Becoming Method™
Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis is a visionary leader and pioneer in psychotherapy, dedicated to holistic and integrative approaches to mental health. Her path began in nursing — through the Families First program with the Regional Municipality of Peel — where she witnessed the profound imprint of trauma on the mothers and fathers she served. That clarity led her to a Master's in Community Health Nursing from D'Youville College and a Ph.D. in Nursing with a specialization in Mental Health Promotion from Western University.
She is the creator of the Becoming Method™, a groundbreaking psycho-therapeutic approach that integrates physical, psychological, and spiritual healing to address the complex effects of trauma — known for resolving traumatic responses in just 3 to 7 sessions. As Dean of the School of Students at the Becoming Institute, the first Black-led institution of its kind, she is setting a new gold standard in psychotherapy education and training the next generation of Trauma Recovery Specialists through an innovative 12-month certificate program.
Her work extends beyond the clinic into social justice and advocacy. As Chair of the National Healing Journey and architect of the Becoming Project, she leads a multi-level community initiative addressing the lingering wounds of colonization, enslavement, genocide, and systemic oppression within Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities.
Dr. Joan is also a prolific author and speaker. Her seminal works, 490: Forgive and Live Fearlessly and the accompanying workbook Forgive: Master the Art of Letting Go, distill her philosophy and guide readers in moving beyond traumatic responses to a more fulfilling life. Recognized with numerous honours — including the Global Health Leader Award — she continues, from her home base in Toronto, to shape the future of psychotherapy and holistic healthcare delivery.
“This is the work I was made for. Anchored is what happens when clinical rigor meets brotherhood, spirit, and the simple truth that men were never meant to do this alone.”
Visit Becoming InstituteDr. Joan's vision is carried forward by a circle of men who embody what Anchored teaches. Together, they bring cultural fluency, clinical depth, and faith-rooted leadership to every cohort.
Founder, Crossfield House Productions · Cohort Partner
Troy Crossfield is the founder of Crossfield House Productions, the award-winning company behind 9+ sold-out theatre and film works telling the stories of Black Canadians. A decade-deep performer, songwriter (Sony ATV / Ludacris' DTP label), and artist manager, Troy brings the same craft to community — through his monthly Iron Sharpens Iron men's group, the annual Passing Blessings Toy Drive, and his course on Gender, Society & the Arts at Carleton University. His partnership grounds Anchored in the cultural fluency and brotherhood it was built for.
“Coach Drew” · The Healing Communication Coach · MDiv, DMin
Known as Coach Drew, Dr. Andrew L. Blackwood is a counsellor, life coach, and keynote speaker with over 20 years as a faith-centred mental health professional. A psychotherapist, family clinician, and marriage and family therapist across the Greater Toronto Area, he holds a Master of Divinity in Counseling from Tyndale Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry in Marriage and Family from the Palmer School of Theology. As The Healing Communication Coach, he equips men, parents, and families to build calm, confident, and connected lives.
Project Manager & Business Analyst · Brampton, ON
Gabriel is a PMP®-certified Project Manager and Business Analyst in Brampton, ON, with 4+ years of experience coordinating multi-workstream projects. As Project Coordinator for Anchored: The Sharpened Man, he drives the execution rhythm needed to launch and sustain the program. He oversees partnership pipelines, guides app development, and ensures a rigorous outcomes evaluation system. For Gabriel, this isn't just logistics — as a Black man in the GTA, this mission of self-mastery and community-based development is a deeply personal commitment led with genuine care.
Whether you walk the path, fund the movement, or amplify the voice — there's room for you here.