Maria Barcelos

Maria Barcelos, Executive Director of The Gatehouse, immigrated to Toronto from Sao Miguel, Acores at the age of eight. A dedicated mother of two, she began her journey at The Gatehouse as a volunteer in 2011 and became Executive Director in 2016. Deeply committed to community-based healing, Maria has mentored over 300 students, co-organized 14 international conferences on trauma, and advocates for marginalized women and children. Her leadership has helped amplify the voices of survivors locally and globally, earning her and The Gatehouse the 2024 and 2025 Victim Services Awards of Distinction from Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

Maria holds an MA in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and a BA in Justice Studies from the University of Guelph-Humber. She volunteers extensively, serving on multiple advisory boards, including at Humber College and the Canadian Centre for Men and Families. A founding member of both the Centre for Transformative Social Change and the Survivors Council of Canada, Maria is also a Registered Psychotherapist in private practice. Her therapeutic approach includes CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Trauma-Informed modalities, reflecting her holistic commitment to healing and advocacy.