About Us
Learn about our mission, vision, and the founder working to transform mental health care access.
Who We Are
Wellness Over Everything (WOE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization reimagining how mental health care is delivered. We connect education with service by training diverse emerging clinicians and providing free, culturally attuned therapy in schools and communities.
Rooted in representation, relationship, and resilience, our work ensures that healing is accessible, affirming, and community led.
About the Founder
Thaddeus Desmond, LCSW
Founder & Executive Director
Wellness Over Everything (WOE) was born out of lived experience and an unshakable belief that no one gets through life alone.
Raised in Philadelphia and involved with the child welfare system from birth, founder Thaddeus Desmond understands firsthand the lasting impact that one caring professional can make. His life was changed by an authentic, affirming relationship with a social worker—an experience that not only inspired his career but shaped his commitment to becoming that same kind of support for others.
As a licensed clinical social worker, Thaddeus has spent his career walking alongside young people, families, and educators who navigate cycles of trauma, disconnection, and under-resourced care systems. Time and again, he witnessed how inconsistent access to culturally responsive services left both clients and clinicians unsupported. He also recognized the glaring absence of professionals who reflected the identities and lived experiences of the communities they served.
Another gap Thaddeus encountered was the lack of accessible and affordable clinical supervision for aspiring social workers pursuing licensure. Many agencies do not offer built-in supervision, forcing new clinicians to delay their growth or pay out of pocket while working demanding, low-paid jobs. He envisioned a model where those pursuing licensure could do so without barriers—especially in communities that need licensed professionals the most. Clinical licensure opens doors to better employment, financial stability, and leadership opportunities. More importantly, it helps retain skilled clinicians in community-based settings rather than pushing them toward private practice out of necessity. Through WOE, he created a pathway that not only trains and mentors new clinicians but also supports them in staying rooted where they are most needed.
Throughout his career, Thaddeus has been intentional about showing up in spaces where Black and Brown boys can see themselves reflected in someone who looks like them, because he knows how much that representation matters. Whether in schools, detention centers, or neighborhoods where mental health care is often stigmatized or underfunded, he remains committed to being present, visible, and real.
What began as a vision to bridge these gaps has grown into a movement that equips and empowers future clinicians while delivering free, high-quality mental health care to those too often left behind.
At WOE, we don’t just train therapists; we build systems of healing grounded in representation, relationship, and resilience—because wellness begins with WE.
Mission
At Wellness Over Everything, our mission is to ensure that every student, every teacher, and every community has access to care that sees them, hears them, and affirms their worth. We provide no-cost, culturally responsive therapy in schools and communities because healing is a human right, not a privilege. At the same time, we invest in the next generation of diverse, compassionate helping professionals, particularly BIPOC and male-identifying individuals, equipping them with the training, supervision, and support needed to deliver meaningful, equity-centered care.
Vision
We envision a world where mental wellness is accessible to all, where students thrive, educators are supported, and the mental health workforce reflects the rich diversity of the communities it serves. A world where healing-centered care is the standard and no one is left behind because of race, gender, or income.