Fitness-Based Therapy™
An individualized mind-and-body recovery program combining movement, mental-wellness strategies, goal setting, and practical life skills.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Support that helps you feel like yourself again.
Practical, compassionate care for your mind, body, and everyday life. No pressure. No perfect starting point required.
- 9+
- years serving Sault Ste. Marie
- 30 min
- to see if we’re the right fit
- 1:1
- care shaped around you
Inclusive and affirming care
Benefits-eligible services available
Virtual and in-person options
Our mission
Strengthening minds. Empowering lives.
At Strong Minds, we are committed to positively impacting the lives of individuals in Sault Ste. Marie who are facing challenges related to mental health, physical health, and addiction. Through innovative and alternative support options, including our fitness-based therapy model, we provide personalized guidance tailored to each individual’s unique needs, goals, and lifestyle.
We recognize that no two journeys are the same. That’s why we focus on creating customized programs designed to empower clients on their path toward growth, healing, and overall well-being.
Our mission is to help individuals build strength in both mind and body, achieve moments of clarity, confidence, and happiness, and develop the tools needed to live healthier, more positive, and fulfilling lives.
Care with room to breathe
You don’t have to carry everything alone.
Strong Minds brings together movement, mental wellness support, and practical relief for caregivers. We focus on what makes a real difference in your day—not on making you fit someone else’s definition of progress.
Tell us what you need →Ways we can help
Care for the whole human.
Choose the kind of support that feels right today. We’ll help you find a starting point.
Movement & wellness
Feel stronger in your body through adaptive movement, personal training, and community programs.
Talk therapy & coaching
A compassionate space to build skills, work through change, and reconnect with yourself.
Respite relief
Practical support and breathing room for caregivers who need care, too.
Neurodivergent support
Strengths-based support for individuals and families navigating autism, ADHD, and more.
Corporate wellness
Wellness support that helps teams build healthier, more connected workplaces.
Program development
Thoughtful programs created around the needs, strengths, and goals of your community.
Not sure where to begin?
Book a free intro call with Amanda and find a starting point that feels right for you.
Book an intro call →Movement & wellness
Build a stronger, more confident relationship with your body.
Movement support is shaped around where you are today—not where you think you should be. We can help you build comfort, confidence, and routines that fit your goals and everyday life.
This can include
- Adaptive movement and fitness support
- Personalized wellness goals
- One-to-one guidance at your pace
It may be a good fit if
You want practical, encouraging support to feel more capable in your body and daily routine.
Talk therapy & coaching
A space to pause, be heard, and move forward with more clarity.
Some seasons call for a place to talk things through. This support focuses on your goals, your strengths, and practical tools that can make life feel more manageable.
Support can include
- Grief & loss support
- Mindset & emotional wellness
- Addiction & recovery support
- Family & couples challenges
- Eating disorder recovery
- Life coaching
Our approach
Support is personalized and can draw on evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, peer support, and coaching-based support.
It may be a good fit if
You are looking for a compassionate place to reflect, build skills, and take your next step.
Respite relief
Caregivers deserve breathing room, too.
Respite support is practical, thoughtful help that creates more space for caregivers while making sure the person receiving support feels comfortable and respected.
This can include
- Companionship and routine support
- Community activities and participation
- Flexible relief for caregivers
It may be a good fit if
You need dependable support that helps make day-to-day life feel a little more sustainable.
Neurodivergent support
Support that starts with strengths, not assumptions.
Every person has their own way of experiencing the world. Our approach is personalized, affirming, and focused on practical support for individuals and families navigating autism, ADHD, and more.
This can include
- Strengths-based one-to-one support
- Help with routines and everyday goals
- Support for families and caregivers
It may be a good fit if
You want support that honours individuality and builds on what is already working.
Fitness-Based Therapy™
Movement can be part of finding your way forward.
Fitness-Based Therapy™ is Strong Minds’ structured, individualized mind-and-body recovery program, led by a Registered Health & Exercise Practitioner. It uses physical activity as a meaningful starting point alongside mental-wellness strategies, goal setting, and practical support—adapted to your goals, strengths, comfort level, and everyday life.
What it can include
- Personalized movement, fitness, and yoga-based practices
- Mindfulness and DBT-informed skills
- Goal setting, life skills, and educational guidance
- One-to-one or group-based support
A connected approach
Where appropriate, Fitness-Based Therapy™ can complement an existing care plan and help bridge traditional therapeutic practices with day-to-day physical and mental wellness.
The 5 phases of Fitness-Based Therapy™
- Initial Assessment
- Plan
- Implement
- Progress Assessment
- Independent Continuation
It may be a good fit if
You are looking for a supportive, practical way to build confidence, routines, and momentum—wherever you feel most comfortable getting started.
Corporate wellness
Wellness that meets your team where they are.
Strong Minds can help workplaces create practical, people-first wellness opportunities that support connection, resilience, and a healthier day-to-day culture.
This can include
- Team wellness sessions
- Movement and mindset workshops
- Customized workplace support
It may be a good fit if
You want to invest in the wellbeing of your team in a way that feels approachable and meaningful.
Program development
Programs designed around real people and real community needs.
We work collaboratively to shape programs that are practical, welcoming, and responsive to the people they are meant to serve. From health education to movement and workplace wellness, each program is tailored to its community.
Algoma Family Services
An 8-week mental health program that paired discussions and activities with practical learning about physical activity, barriers to movement, and nutrition.
Garden River Wellness Centre
A 10-week diabetes awareness and prevention series, delivered two days each week through engaging education and interactive activities.
Indian Friendship Centre
A Seniors on the Move program focused on Fitness-Based Therapy™ and nutrition, including the six primal movement patterns and why they matter.
Ontario Works
A 4-week workplace-readiness wellness program exploring stress management, affordable meal planning, physical activity, and health strategies.
A simple first step
Finding support shouldn’t be another thing to figure out.
We begin with a short, human conversation. You can ask questions, share as much or as little as you want, and decide what feels right.
Book your intro call →- 01
Reach out
Choose a time for a free 30-minute intro call.
- 02
Be heard
We listen to what’s going on and what you need.
- 03
Choose your next step
Leave with a clear, personal recommendation—no obligation.
Client stories
Real people. Real change.
Every journey looks different. These are a few reflections from people who have found support with Strong Minds.
“Amanda never loses hope in a client. She can find value and potential in anyone. It is a privilege to work with Strong Minds. Amanda was able to support, accommodate and assist me with getting well. Strong Minds has given me a deeper sense of self-worth, self value, and everyday purpose.”
A
AllieClient since 2017
“Strong Minds has significantly helped me feel accepted. They do a great job with people with disabilities. It’s not just people like me, but everyone. Staff are very supportive of everybody.”
B
BrookeRespite Support Client
“I was nervous to start, but the classes made everything feel so natural. The combination of movement and coaching helped me find confidence I didn’t know I had.”
J
Jennifer T.Movement & Talk Therapy
Care is not a one-size-fits-all plan.
It’s a relationship.
Meet Amanda Lambert
Founder / CEO
A grounded advocate for your next chapter.
For Amanda Lambert, Strong Minds has always been about seeing the person first.
As the founder of Strong Minds, Amanda has spent nearly a decade creating services that look beyond traditional models of care and focus instead on the individual — their strengths, goals, challenges, interests, and what a meaningful life looks like to them.
Amanda is a Registered Health & Exercise Practitioner and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education. Her professional background helped shape the foundation of Strong Minds and the development of Fitness Based Therapy™, bringing movement, mental wellness, personal growth, and individualized support together in a way that recognizes the connection between mind and body.
Since opening Strong Minds from her home office in 2017, Amanda has grown the organization far beyond where it began. Today, Strong Minds provides respite and individualized support, mental health and wellness services, community-based programming, and movement and mindset coaching while continuing to evolve alongside the needs of the people and communities it serves.
Even as Strong Minds has grown, Amanda continues to be actively involved in its work. She is known for thinking outside the box, finding solutions when conventional approaches aren't working, and developing supports around the person rather than expecting the person to fit within a predetermined service.
Amanda's passion for helping others extends throughout the community. She continues to build relationships, participate in local initiatives, advocate for inclusion, and look for new ways Strong Minds can fill gaps and create opportunities for individuals and families.
What started with Amanda, an idea, and a home office has grown into something much bigger — a team and community built around connection, inclusion, and helping people move forward in ways that are meaningful to them.
Training & qualifications
RHEPB.S.c.EDTrauma counsellingMental health first aidPeer support trainingYoga certifiedDeaf fitness certifiedFalls prevention
“You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step.”
— Amanda Lambert, Founder of Strong Minds
Let’s begin
What would feeling more supported look like?
Book a free 30-minute conversation. We’ll listen, answer your questions, and help you decide on a next step.
Looking for respite support?
Connect directly with our respite team.
respite@strongminds.co705-297-7628Book online
Book your free intro call.
Choose an available date and time.
01
Pick a dayView current availability.
02
Choose a timeSelect the time that works best for you.
03
Confirm your callReceive your booking details from Google Calendar.
Make a difference with us
Join our team.
Strong Minds is built by people and partners who care about making our community a stronger, more connected place.
Become a sponsor
Help bring community events and local mental health initiatives to life.
Talk sponsorship →Become a volunteer
Share your time, support local initiatives, and help create meaningful community moments.
Volunteer with us →Jobs with us
Interested in joining a compassionate, community-minded Strong Minds team?
Ask about jobs →Placement with us
Build real-world experience while learning alongside a supportive local team.
Ask about placement →