Even on the best days, life can be challenging…

but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

RELATIONSHIP CENTERED, CULTURALLY EMPOWERING THERAPY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANT FOLX in MD, DC, VA, OH and PSYPACT States

Imagine therapy with a professional who gets you from the start.

As a child who came to the United States from Nigeria at the young age of 9 and living as a person with multiple minoritized identities in this country, I can relate to many of the experiences of my clients. I’m used to fighting to be open emotionally in spaces where vulnerability can be seen as a weakness. I’m also used to navigating a complex society while juggling the challenges created by expectations of society, culture, and the intersections of being a Black working Woman, Immigrant, Daughter of Immigrants, Sister, Wife, and Mother.

My experiences fueled my passions and propelled me to get the training to understand how to specifically support these communities because the narrative we often receive is that our problems are “not real” or “not serious enough for therapy.” That’s just not true.

Our backgrounds, values, and who we are shape the way pain and hardship affect us…

I help clients explore how their culture, history, and past experiences have shaped where they are today. Together, we uncover the unwritten "rules of life" that were adopted over time but may no longer be helpful and discover new strategies to tackle the challenges affecting their lives.

By creating a safe, courageous space to heal, I help my clients find what they need to experience less pain and more fulfillment.

my Specialties

  • Whether through individual or couples work, therapy can help address a number of different relationship concerns, including issues with communication, boundary setting, assertiveness, grief/loss, family dynamics, dating and/or romantic relationships, workplace stressors, peer relationships, and more.

  • Stress and anxiety is something we can experience on a daily basis, but can impact us all in different ways. Signs that you may be experiencing stress and/or anxiety can include:

    • Excessive worrying

    • Difficulty controlling your thoughts

    • Physical symptoms (e.g., heart rate increases, headaches, sleep disturbances)

    • Panic attacks

    • Social anxiety

  • These are stressors that may arise as a result of being an immigrant in this country and may include:

    • Generational differences

    • Trouble balancing two cultures

    • Assimilation and acculturation issues

    • Immigration trauma

    • First Gen/ Second Gen issues, etc.

    • Third culture phenomenon

  • Therapy can help identify ways to navigate within oppressive systems. Areas related to racial and/or cultural stress may include:

    • Marginalization

    • Discrimination

    • Racism

    • Cultural expectations

  • Therapy can help overcome perfectionistic tendencies and increase self-esteem. Signs you may have perfectionistic tendencies and low self-esteem may include:

    • Setting excessively high and unrealistic standards of yourself and experiencing distress when those standards are not met

    • Self-criticism

    • Fear of failure

    • Low self-worth

    • Difficulties acknowledging your strengths

  • Intergenerational trauma is when the impact of trauma experienced by your family is passed down to further generations. This can be reflected through parenting styles, family dynamics, expectations, behavioral and emotional functioning, traumatic experiences.

    If you are tired of carrying generations of pain/ trauma and need a safe place to be heard and supported as you work to unburden yourself, therapy can help.

  • People pleasing tendencies can look like

    • Putting other’s needs before your own

    • Difficulty saying no, even when you know it’s better for you

    • Self-criticism

    If you are ready to focus on yourself and learn how to be more assertive, I can help.

  • Signs that you may be experiencing depression can include:

    • Feeling down, low energy

    • Feelings of worthlessness/hopelessness

    • Decreased interest in activities you previously enjoyed

    • Low self-esteem

my Approach

I approach therapy from a relational cultural framework (a relationship-centered, culturally oriented form of therapy that focuses on how culture, identities, and context impact peoples’ experiences). I also integrate other scientifically proven methodologies (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) into the work to ensure that your goals are met.

My goals

  1. Help gain insight about inner workings and reduce self-doubt.

  2. Guide process of healing emotional wounds in safety

  3. Provide tools to foster empowerment and movement towards positive change.

With a strong focus on social justice and anti-oppression, I am committed to helping my clients discover their true selves, transcend their stressors, and let go of the emotional and traumatic anchors holding them down.

Credentials

Licensed Clinical Psychologist Maryland, #06752

Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT), PSYPACT #13709
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Loyola University Maryland

Doctoral Dissertation: Second Generation Nigerian Immigrants Pathway to Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Exploration

Doctoral Internship in Health Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University

Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology, Loyola University Maryland

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Rutgers University

Trauma Informed Care Certified

take your future into your own hands.

Click the button below to request a free, confidential consultation with me. Tell me a little about what’s bringing you to therapy, I’ll share about my approach and how I can help, and you can decide if I’m the right therapist for you.