My clinical practice includes the assessment/appraisal, diagnosis of mental health psychopathology and treatment of DSM and ICD mental health disorders. My interests lie in uncovering the the host of experiences, ideas, emotional DNA, layers, ancestral history, desires, fantasies, contradictions, paradoxes, the details, the messy intricacies that comprise each individual. In these complexities, we find the needs of a person and learn to connect--hear, feel, serve, see--them better. Through my practice, I create space for exploration, understanding, healing, change, acceptance and thriving. 

 

My therapeutic approach takes into consideration human growth and personality development; culture, subculture and socioeconomic influences on mental health; life-long processes that influence work values and career choices, identity and patterns; family life cycle development and individual identity to name a few. I also incorporate Christian, faith based and spiritual perspectives and honor the humanity and importance of all humans.

 

I  work with people fro m the African Diaspora and immigrants, expats and those who don’t quite fit into any one box (because you don't want to). How does one maintain individuality in the face of being shamed or rejected? If you moved from one country or continent to another what was engrained in you about relationships and the loss of them (or the ease of recreating new ones)? How did the shift from being surrounded by poverty or abundance to something different inform your current relationship with food or money? How do you honor your culture when it shuns the psychological challenges you have? How do you navigate neurodivergence when your parents expect you to be a doctor?

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My trauma focused work is geared toward those who've previously received therapy to decrease the impact of trauma and are now looking to gain skills to live "with" the history of trauma and specifically those who engage in dissociate behaviors. I also work with adult children of emotionally unintelligent parents to explore and resolve the psychological wound of what did not happen and the needs that went unmet.  Healing doesn't mean complete freedom. Rather, it's about developing emotional resilience and having awareness of how trauma continues to show up and managing the anger, frustration or sadness that comes with that. 

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I work from ethnic, racial and cultural identity development theories, and Attachment Theory, existentialism, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior, cognitive behavioral interventions and Christian ideologies. 

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Together we explore, identify and implement more adaptive patterns by enhancing emotion regulation, increasing the ability to identify triggers, enhancing the ability to manage and tolerate distressing thought, behaviors, sensations and emotions, increasing the ability to engage in safe social connection and  increasing adaptive (fear/fight/flight/freeze) response.

 

My warm, engaging and energetic personality, authentic and insightful questioning, and reflective listening provide a conducive environment for introspective conversation, mutual listening and resolution. 

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A graduate of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology's  Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I'm credentialed by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and the The Board of Professional Counseling of Washington, DC as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

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Email staff@adikacounseling.com to with any all questions you have. I'll respond within 24-hours.

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