Black mental health matters.

As a Black outpatient mental health therapist in Providence, I am working diligently to break down the stigma of seeking counseling support within communities of color. I am the owner of a small private practice where I see a caseload of dynamic young BIPOC women navigating the challenges of finding themselves, prioritizing their emotional health, and finding work-life balance from a holistic health and wellness effort. I partner with them to prioritize their self-care needs, to help them learn to set boundaries with work and relationships, alleviate and manage their stress/anxiety, and triage spiritual and mental health crises. I support them with owning their mind, body, and spiritual alignment with a therapist who looks like them. Representation matters, and I know that my being called to do this work is not by chance but instead what I am meant to do. My purpose, values, and passion drive this work. Proud to be a Black healer helping others heal while still healing herself.

Covid's impact on mental health and mental health treatment has created a growing need for therapy and a shortage in the availability of providers due to the toll of the parallel processing of this shared traumatic experience. Many of us have left the field altogether to maintain our own emotional health and well-being. Many of us have not been able to take a breath in the years following the initial shelter in place order years as we've continuously worked as invisible front-line workers the entire pandemic. Add in now an economy and climate that makes it incredibly hard to cling to hope, and the demand for therapy grows exponentially.

I need a chance to refill and refuel my own cup so that I can continue the fight to break down the stigma of seeking therapeutic supports and holistic wellness supports for BIPOC communities. I can't promote and support Black rest, self-care, and community care and not practice doing so myself.

What is needed? Community care and rest.

What does support look like? First, no donation is too small. Every penny will be used to create a buffer for me to take small breaks/respite over the next several months without having to tap out entirely and without worrying about the financial impact. Any time away from my practice directly decreases revenue due to being paid per client encounter, and as such, my ability to take the time I need to recharge my own personal batteries is usually coupled with income loss. However, I recognize fully that I can't do this work and do this work well without listening to what my own mind, body, and soul need at this time.

If you could support my GoFundMe by making a donation and/or sharing it with your network, I would greatly appreciate it. I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps me get closer to my goal!