Relevant Personal and Professional Experience

I am a Black, queer psychotherapist, author, and public speaker on the mental health and well-being of queer, trans, and intersex people of color (QTIPOC). I have been a licensed clinical social worker for nearly 30 years and during that time, I have also been a college professor and a mental health researcher. In my clinical work, I specialize in working with QTIPOC recovering from intersectional oppression and complex trauma so they can be free(r). In addition, I am a Yoruba-Lukumi priest of Ogun. These rich experiences inform how I conduct psychotherapy as well as my writing.

Education, Postgraduate Professional Training, Certification, and Licensure

• Education
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Clinical Social Work, New York University, 2003 (psychodynamic psychotherapy focus)
  • Master of Social Work, New York University, 1993
• Relevant Postgraduate Training
  • Certified in Telemental Health, Person Centered Tech
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
    • EMDR Basic Training, EMDR Consulting
    • Recent Traumatic Events Protocol (R-TEP), Humanitarian Assistance Program Traumatic Recovery Network
    • Group Traumatic Events Protocol (G-TEP), Humanitarian Assistance Program Traumatic Recovery Network
  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy
    • Completed Levels 1 & 2 Training
• EMDR Certified Therapist
• New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker, R048439-01

Professional Memberships

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
• World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)
• Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)

Writers’ Fellowships and Residencies

• 2021, The Resort Fellowship for BIPOC+ Writers of Color
• 2019, Lambda Literary Writer-in-Residence
• 2017, Lambda Literary Fellowship in Nonfiction

Photo by JW Perkins