Description
I was born in London, England and raised in a single parent household. Both my parents are currently retired and reside in Florida and NY. I consider myself to be of Afro-Caribbean descent
I attended undergraduate school at Saint John’s University and graduated in May of 2000. I remained at Saint John’s University for my graduate studies and graduated in January 2004 with a Master’s in Education and again in August 2008 with a Masters Degree in Social Work.
I went into this field because I wanted to give others what I did not have growing up, validation a voice and to be heard. My professor Doctor Petrie said I had the power of influence. This told me I could help influence things positively for those in my community. I have over two decades of experience in clinical mental health and leadership experience within nonprofit organizations including The Jewish Board, The Child Center of NY, Beth Israel Medical Center and others.
I care deeply about helping our community and feel that being a person of African descent automatically makes me responsible and indebted to my ancestors and my community. It is my duty to give back to the diaspora.
When I have encountered racism firsthand, I educated others on the ignorance and blatant prejudice that was being displayed but realistically, I with that racism never existed in the first place.
My clinical approach is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, meaning I talk with you about your history, your childhood, through recent experiences and how those things impact you and how you understand and operate in the world now. I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) which helps people access their own motivation to reach their goals and make change, as well as several Evidence Based models including Multisystemic Therapy, Functional Family Therapy.
Clients experience me as honest, insightful, and collaborative. I have been told I make them see things that they never knew they felt. Many have severe traumatic experiences that have never been labeled as such. Sometimes I am the first to put the label or give a name to a negative human experience.
I am three C’s: Crafty, Creative, Cat lady. One good thing to know about me is that I want to see everyone win!
