We were lucky to catch up with Joseé Muldrew recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joseé, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

The lessons that were instilled in me young have quite literally carried me to the place I am today. My parents did a lot of things right and many things wrong, but I can say wholeheartedly that I always knew that they were doing the best they could with what they had. My mom passed away from breast cancer when I was 10 years old and witnessing her journey changed my life forever. One of the most impactful lessons my mom left was never allowing temporary darkness to shield you from the light. And what I mean by that is, despite the strength and resilience she showed daily, she never denied or hid the presence of struggle. She allowed me and my sister to see her low moments, accompany her to chemotherapy treatments, see her tears…and at the tender age of 10 I think many people would say that that is a lot to put on a child; but it was exactly what I needed. By experiencing those moments and not being shielded, I was able to witness the power of how light can break through darkness when you trust in God and continue the fight. My parents were already divorced at the time my mom was diagnosed but my dad remained present and supportive. They modeled for me the depth of love in friendship and parenthood and how it can exceed situational discord. I am grateful that my parents created an environment that supported autonomy at a young age. This trust and empowerment helped me with finding my voice and learning to trust myself. The greatest of all, was that my parents leaned on their village and taught me the importance of community. Learning the significance of connection, being resourceful, and not being afraid to ask for help has helped me tremendously along my journey.

Joseé, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Joseé Muldrew and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. I received my B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College and earned my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine. During my time in clinical practice, I have had the privilege of working in various settings including forensic inpatient units, residential, intensive outpatient programs, non-profit/community-based work, and now in higher education. These varied experiences have shaped the lens through which I see the world and informed both personal and professional ventures. It was at Spelman College that my affinity for people, mental wellness, racial pride, and love for community was cemented. And it was at Boston University that I became entrenched in probably the most challenging but rewarding depths of my mental health journey regarding my grief/loss. These experiences taught me the liberation that can come from introspection, prioritizing your mental health, and seeking support when you need it.

In Boston, the wellness equity gap was apparent and access to mental health resources for BIPOC communities was limited. This furthered my desire to identify ways to minimize the gap and to create a space that prioritized the cultivation of self-love, introspection, and truth telling that my mother exemplified day in and day out of her time on Earth. On September 27, 2020, I launched The Looking Glass JM, LLC. in honor and remembrance of her. The name ‘The Looking Glass’ is inspired by the idea of looking in the mirror at your reflection. It is a metaphor for not only paying attention to what you see, but how you feel, and what lies beyond the surface. In many ways, mirrors are carriers of the truth that we possess deep within. As we gaze into mirrors and look upon our image, we are met with the opportunity to discover the beauty in our being. If we gaze long enough, we destabilize the strength of societal perception and we become acquainted with our eternal truths. Through my business I offer consultation services, workshops/speaking engagements, content writing, and sell products including my 60-day guided journal titled ‘Beyond My Reflection’. I also offer free mental health resources for those who are interested in learning more about mental wellness but may not have the financial resources at this stage to seek out treatment.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I love this question so much and I had to take a minute to sit with myself and reflect on what my journey in this profession has been so far. As most people know, being a mental health counselor is a very demanding job. The emotional and mental weight of every client’s story that you have to connect to and be present for, learning not to carry their stories home with you when you leave, the documentation that every counselor dreads, the patience you develop when working with clients making slow incremental change, and being underpaid despite the significant and impactful work we do. I wouldn’t trade any of it. Of course, there are moments when I feel overwhelmed and I wonder if I have the emotional capacity to stay in this field, but I am quickly reminded of all this profession has given me. Training in the mental health field has not only grown me as a professional, but as a human being. I am constantly challenged to look within, be innovative, check my biases, increase self awareness, be flexible, and to move towards positive change. Being a counselor feels connected to my purpose in so many ways and I am grateful that I am walking in alignment.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Books: No One Succeeds Alone by Robert Reffkin
More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Podcasts:
Woman Evolve by Sarah Jakes Roberts
On Purpose by Jay Shetty
The Secret to Success by Eric Thomas, CJ, Karl, and Jemal
Therapy for Black Girls by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thelookingglassjm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelookingglass.jm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLookingGlass.JM

Image Credits
Ryen Trenaé Cooper