The T.O.N.E. Project®
An innovative, group therapy program initially funded by Movember Canada, designed to engage men in deeper, more connected, and action-oriented therapeutic experiences.
What this looks like
Experiential group therapy for men
Integration of movement, challenge, and reflection
Focus on identity, purpose, relationships, and emotional awareness
Translating insight into real-world action and accountability
Engagement formats
2-3 month group programs
Retreat-style / intensive experiences
Partnered delivery with organizations or communities
Scalable program development and Train-the-Trainer options available
4 out of 5 suicide deaths are men - yet many still struggle to find support that fits.
The T.O.N.E. Project® (Therapy Outside Normal Environments) is an innovative group therapy experience designed to better engage men — by meeting them in ways that align with how they tend to connect, communicate, and grow.
At its core, T.O.N.E. creates opportunities for men to build meaningful connections, explore their inner lives, and improve overall wellbeing — by stepping outside traditional therapy settings and into more active, experiential spaces.
This includes outdoor and adventure-based therapy, combined with elements of art, music, and other expressive approaches — creating a dynamic, whole-person model of care.
Why This Work Matters
There is a clear and urgent need to rethink how we support men’s mental health.
Many men struggle to seek help — and when they do, traditional models don’t always fit. Cultural expectations still tell men to suppress emotion, prioritize performance, and handle challenges alone. The result is a familiar pattern: higher rates of suicide, addiction, disconnection, and poorer overall health outcomes.
This creates a double bind — men are expected to cope on their own, yet often aren’t offered approaches that truly engage them when they reach out.
T.O.N.E. is designed to interrupt that pattern.
What Makes T.O.N.E. Different?
Therapy happens through movement, shared experience, and real-world engagement — not just conversation
Outdoor and experiential approaches create space for more natural, honest connection
Group-based work reduces isolation and builds meaningful peer support
Integrates experiential (adventure, wilderness) and expressive (art, music, reflection) therapies
Designed to align with how many men engage in growth and change
Who It’s For
T.O.N.E. works with men (19+) navigating:
Mental health challenges
Substance use or addiction
Relationship stress or life transitions
Disconnection, stress, or lack of direction
Brian Braganza
Brian is an international consultant with Tandem Truths Consulting and a facilitator with the Center for Courage & Renewal®. For over 30 years he has specialized in designing and delivering programs for boys and men, this included wilderness-based canoe and hiking trips with adult men and teen boys. As an adult educator, Brian also trains facilitators and practitioners in the best practices and approaches when working with men and boys.
Together with Nick, Brian co-founded the T.O.N.E. Project® in 2015, and they have become well known as content experts in men’s mental health and engaging men and boys in preventing gender-based-violence. In 2022 they co-authored an expert report for the Joint Provincial and Federal Mass Casualty Commission about the connections between traditional notions of masculinity, mental health, and violence.
Brian and Nick have also trained university and college counsellors on experiential methods and facilitation skills to work with male clients; and have worked with the Construction Association of Nova Scotia to develop and deliver a two-day workshop in Masculinity, Leadership and Mental Health;
Brian is currently training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). He uses trauma and violence informed approaches and an anti-oppression lens in all his work.
Brian is honoured to be living and working on Mi’kma’ki. He has a multi-continental upbringing: born in Nigeria of Indian parents, he lived in Germany before immigrating to Canada when he was four. Brian is currently writing a book of non-fiction essays about family, belonging, and place. He is a wilderness traveler, musician, is growing an arboretum, and lives with his wife and business partner Tara, and their daughter, near Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
Impact & Partnerships
With support from Movember Canada, T.O.N.E. has supported the wellbeing of men across Nova Scotia — demonstrating the impact of more accessible, engaging, and relevant approaches to care.
The T.O.N.E. Project® is highly effective in maintaining engagement, having just a 3% attrition rate - unheard of in men’s mental health work!!
As demand continues to grow, we are actively seeking partnerships and funding to expand this work and reduce barriers to access.
If your organization is interested in bringing T.O.N.E. to your team or community, we welcome the opportunity to connect.
