We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kiley Dunne Lizama. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kiley below.

Alright, Kiley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

During my time as an associate clinician, I was assigned to work with a young client who had experienced severe trauma, including childhood sexual abuse. It was one of my first cases involving such complex layers of pain, resilience, and vulnerability. I remember preparing meticulously, poring over therapeutic techniques, and obsessing over getting it “right.” But when I sat with the client, I quickly realized that what they needed most wasn’t a perfect intervention—it was to feel seen and heard.

During one session, they shared how a previous therapist had dismissed their emotions, labeling them as “overreacting.” I could see how deeply this invalidation had cut. In that moment, I realized that as clinicians, we can unintentionally mirror the very dynamics of harm and invalidation that our clients are trying to heal from if we’re not careful. Instead of rushing to fix or solve, I learned to slow down, hold space, and let the client guide the process. They taught me that the relationship itself was the intervention.

This experience fundamentally shaped my leadership style and the ethos at Diaspora Therapy Group. I prioritize creating spaces where both clients and clinicians can be human—where vulnerability isn’t just accepted but honored. As a leader, I ensure our team operates with cultural humility, understanding that no one-size-fits-all approach works, especially in mental health. I also encourage our clinicians to embrace imperfection and see mistakes as opportunities to grow, just as I did during that pivotal moment early in my career.

This experience also deepened my understanding of how trauma can shut down connection and how the smallest acts of validation—looking someone in the eye and saying, “I believe you”—can lay the foundation for profound healing. It’s a lesson I carry with me in every session and every conversation, and one that continues to shape the work we do at Diaspora Therapy Group.

Kiley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Dr. Kiley Dunne Lizama, co-founder of Diaspora Therapy Group, a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed mental health practice that specializes in serving BIPOC, QTPOC, and first-generation clients. With a doctorate in social work and extensive training in trauma-focused modalities like EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic therapy, my professional journey has always been rooted in addressing the profound and often overlooked impacts of intergenerational and systemic trauma.

Growing up with a biracial identity and witnessing the intersections of cultural, racial, and generational experiences within my own family profoundly shaped my perspective on mental health. My mother’s survival of Ethiopia’s 1970s revolution, paired with my father’s upbringing in Ireland during “The Troubles,” instilled in me a deep respect for resilience and the weight of trauma across generations. These early experiences inspired me to pursue a career focused on creating spaces where people from marginalized communities feel seen, validated, and supported.

Diaspora Therapy Group provides individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, and life coaching, along with workshops and training for organizations. Our therapists specialize in addressing complex PTSD, racial and cultural stressors, intimate partner violence, sexual trauma, and millennial burnout, with a special focus on working with creatives and helping them navigate the intersection of identity and artistry. We’ve recently expanded to include a nonprofit arm, The Diaspora Collective, which provides pro bono mental health services, ensuring access to trauma-focused care for those who might otherwise face barriers.

What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity and lived experience. Our team of clinicians not only reflects the communities we serve but also brings their own stories of resilience and growth into their practice. We meet clients where they are—both emotionally and culturally—breaking down the stigma of needing help and fostering environments where healing feels possible and attainable.

I’m particularly proud of how Diaspora Therapy Group centers the humanity of both our clients and clinicians. For clinicians, we provide a safe space to be vulnerable, make mistakes, and grow—offering them the corrective emotional experiences they need to provide the best care to their clients. This approach models for clients that they, too, can embrace imperfection, seek help, and grow without shame.

At its core, Diaspora Therapy Group is about connection and healing, empowering clients to navigate life’s challenges while honoring their unique identities and lived experiences. My goal is for clients to feel like they’ve found a space where they don’t have to explain or justify who they are—where they can just exist, heal, and thrive.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that healing only happens when you’re constantly striving for perfection. Early in my career, I carried the idea that I had to be an “ideal” therapist—always composed, always the expert, and never vulnerable. This mindset stemmed from a mix of internalized perfectionism and cultural expectations of needing to work twice as hard as a biracial professional to prove my worth. I believed that to support my clients effectively, I needed to have all the answers and always present as flawless.

That changed when I started working with clients whose trauma mirrored my own lived experiences. Whether it was survivors of intergenerational trauma, childhood sexual abuse, or systemic oppression, I quickly realized that the most transformative moments in therapy didn’t come from my ability to provide answers—they came from holding space for their pain, uncertainty, and humanity while also allowing myself to show up as an imperfect, authentic person.

The backstory involves a client who was navigating intense feelings of shame around their identity and trauma. I remember fumbling during a session, worrying I had said the wrong thing. Instead of shutting down, I chose to be transparent and admitted, “I may not have phrased that well—help me understand how that felt for you.” That moment of vulnerability not only deepened the therapeutic relationship but also modeled for my client the importance of embracing imperfection and engaging in open, honest dialogue.

As I leaned into authenticity, I also began to see how the systemic barriers that so many of my clients and I faced—racism, sexism, heteronormativity—were perpetuated by this relentless need to prove we are “good enough.” I realized that healing isn’t about achieving a perfect state of being; it’s about building resilience, fostering connections, and reclaiming the parts of yourself that societal systems try to diminish.

At Diaspora Therapy Group, we integrate this ethos into every aspect of our practice. We create spaces where clients and clinicians alike can unlearn perfectionism, embrace their humanity, and recognize that healing is a nonlinear, deeply personal process. For me, unlearning the need to be perfect has allowed me to show up more fully—not just as a therapist, but as a person who is still learning, growing, and healing alongside those I support. It’s a lesson I now help others unlearn, empowering them to embrace their own messy, beautiful journeys.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale requires a deep commitment to authenticity, compassion, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and fairly compensated. At Diaspora Therapy Group, we prioritize fostering a workplace culture that mirrors the therapeutic spaces we create for our clients—safe, inclusive, and empowering.

1. Lead with transparency and shared purpose: Open and honest communication is essential for building trust within the team. I believe in co-creating a shared vision, where everyone understands how their individual contributions impact our collective mission. At Diaspora Therapy Group, this mission includes providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care, which gives our team a clear and meaningful purpose.

2. Ensure fair and competitive compensation: Compensation is more than a paycheck; it’s a reflection of how much we value our team. We are committed to providing fair and competitive pay to reduce financial stress and burnout, allowing clinicians to focus on their work without the burden of feeling undervalued. This is particularly important in a field where emotional labor can take a toll.

3. Meet your team where they are: Just as we meet clients where they are in their healing journey, we approach team members with the same philosophy. Every clinician has unique strengths and areas for growth. By tailoring our support—whether through mentorship, training opportunities, or flexible schedules—we empower them to thrive both personally and professionally.

4. Create a culture of care: Mental health work can be emotionally taxing, especially for clinicians from BIPOC and QTPOC communities who often share lived experiences with their clients. We actively combat burnout by encouraging self-care, setting realistic expectations, and promoting work-life balance. Clinicians are supported to set boundaries and take the time they need to recharge, ensuring sustainable engagement with their work.

5. Normalize humanity and imperfection: Many of our clinicians come from backgrounds where they’ve had to overachieve just to be included. At Diaspora Therapy Group, we create a space where mistakes are not only acceptable but seen as opportunities for growth. By modeling vulnerability and openness, I demonstrate that it’s okay to be human—this helps clinicians show up authentically for their clients and themselves.

6. Foster connection and community: Isolation can lead to burnout, especially in virtual or hybrid work settings. We prioritize building micro-communities through regular team check-ins, collaborative case consultations, and social events. These connections create a sense of belonging and support that sustains our team through the challenges of the work we do.

By ensuring fair compensation, fostering connection, and supporting personal growth, we create a thriving environment where clinicians can focus on their clients with clarity and passion. We are trying to building more than a team—we are aiming to create a collective committed to healing, growth, and mutual empowerment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.diasporatherapygroup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diasporatherapygroup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiasporaTherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diaspora-therapy-group/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/diaspora-therapy-group-carlsbad
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kiley-dunne-lizama-carlsbad-ca/1351473