Specialities

Depression

Sometimes life can be difficult and tiring. You feel tired because you do not sleep at night and cannot concentrate or focus. You feel guilty for being tired, irritable, worthless, and do not enjoy things you have enjoyed in the past. You are doing everything you think you need to do but there is no joy or satisfaction in it. You feel like a failure and do not value yourself. At times, you do not see a reason to live, you feel hopeless, and do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. No one knows your struggles and the pain you are going through. 

 Depression is not a choice and you deserve peace. With 20+ years of experience, I am here to help. We will work through the issues that may lead to depression, make small lifestyle changes, and help tap into your inner strength to turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

Depression may be rooted in shame from spiritual and religious expectations. We will work together to discern and understand these feelings and find a healthy way forward. I work with multiple religious denominations and understand the weight of the expectations placed on believers. 

You may have assignments to help you achieve your goals and work towards most importantly, loving yourself and enjoying the life you deserve.  We will work together so you feel confident and ready to face the challenges of the world with more knowledge, and new insights, and navigate through it all.

If this resonates with you, please reach out and send me an email to set up your consultation. 

Minorities/ Culture

You identify as a minority, first or second-generation person, perhaps an immigrant, refugee, or third-culture individual. You are dealing with emotions and processing feelings that may be foreign to you and the culture that you are surrounded with. 

As a black therapist, I understand going to a professional is a new endeavor. As a person who grew up in a collectivist culture and lived in an individualistic one, I am well-versed in the dynamic complexities that being a minority and someone with multiple cultural influences has on mental health. I understand the stigma that can be involved with going to a professional, and will work with you to identify what works for you as an individual doing my best to understand the ecosystem you adhere to. 

In addition to this, you may be nervous about the systematic issues that you’ve faced before in treatment settings, maybe you’ve been told not to focus on race, we all know that identifying as a minority has an impact on all facets of your life. If English is your second language and are nervous about articulating your feelings, I understand. 

My whole life is reflective of your experiences, and you’ll have my unwavering support and understanding as equals in the room. Your feelings are valid, they matter, mental health is important, and seeking help to process is the first step in finding peace. We’ll work together to identify ways to navigate the realities of your culture while prioritizing healthy behaviors. I understand the downplaying of feelings, secrecy, and shame that can be instilled in different cultures, and while not falling to those, we’ll keep them in mind as we navigate realistic responses. Your feelings are valid. Your feelings matter, and depression, anxiety, grief, confusion, exhaustion, shame, and more will get better as you choose yourself and your health.

Couples

You are in a relationship and you love one another, you’ve made a commitment, perhaps vowed to be together; however, things are not going as you expected.  You may feel disconnected, conflicted, and there is a breakdown in communication. It can see like a small or big problem, and you may not feel the same love you felt before. Conflict can seem like the norm instead of the exception. Unhealthy relationships can lead to issues at work, school, and other parts of your life. Perhaps the relationship looks great from the outside, but on the inside it’s plagued with anxiety and sadness. 

Although no relationship is perfect, sometimes the cycle of unhealthy behaviors can become exacerbated and you and your partner find it hard to break the negative cycle. When the core issues are not resolved it can lead to ongoing disappointments. 

Counseling can help repair the individuals in the relationship and provide the tools to get through this time and help you re-build or build the foundation for a satisfying partnership. 

Relationship counseling involves working together and separately with each partner to identify what might be the individual issues affecting the relationship in addition to the interrelation couple dynamics, that are causing distress to the relationship. I can help couples with premarital counseling discernment of relationship by discussing possible communication issues, high conflict cycles, emotional disturbance, intimacy concerns, family/parenting issues, all the possible difficulties and struggles that might prevent you from the happiness and wellness you deserve. My style is to exude warmth, compassion, and empowerment the couples. I believe in facilitating change in their relationship, and helping both individuals reframe situations to eventually lead to a purposeful and intentional wellness you both deserve.