Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Isaac
Hi Kathleen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Brooklyn, NY to Haitian immigrants. My story starts with the loss of my mother at age 2 to cancer. My father raised me and my 3 siblings as a single parent until he passed away when I was 10, also from cancer. These early losses set me on path to becoming a clinical psychologist who is dedicated to helping others navigate life’s difficulties, including loss, trauma, familial-cultural issues and identity development. From a young age, I was identified as intellectually gifted and talented, which I relied on as my way of coping with my early losses and setting myself up to be independent and take care of myself. Throughout my life, I have used my skills to connect with others, creating family and acquiring mentorship and support to help me achieve all of my goals. Currently, I am working to support future physicians by promoting self and institutional healing. I also help people of color navigate racial identity and racial trauma and work with organizations who are interested in creating equitable cultures for their members. Personally, I am committed to breaking generational cycles of loss and abandonment, encouraging bold, authentic living for myself, and future generations in my family.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road started off quite difficult, and in some ways, being a resilient person created its own bumps in the road. I coped with my early losses by focusing on school and developed a reputation for being unflappable and a high achiever. This did not leave much room for failure or vulnerability. Compound this with being a Black young woman, and this created a identity steeped in perfectionism. The family that raised me did a great job of providing for my basic needs, but emotional support was foreign to them. At an early age, I recognized that I needed more nurturing and safe spaces to be vulnerable, which fostered curiosity about how people cope with life’s challenges and an interest in pursuing a career in psychology. I thankfully did not experience too many setbacks in my pursuit of a career as a clinical psychologist. The challenges came in trying to develop a personal life after being so tunnel focused on academic success for so long. I have spent over a decade in personal therapy, processing my family dynamics and learning how to put myself first, so that I could finally find balance and not overwork and over-function. This has helped me center my humanity and the humanity of others.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My psychotherapy practice HEAL’D, is a part-time service created to provide safe spaces for people to discover their authentic selves. I recognize that healing is not linear and that there are so many forces that converge to influence how we view ourselves, and how we relate to others. As director of mental health services at one of the nation’s leading medical schools, my private practice is centered on supporting the mental well-being of healers and anyone who is interested in healing themselves. I bring my skills in understanding the connection between physical and mental health, while incorporating, spirituality, culture, social and global awareness to honor the fullness of the lived experience. Everyone is unique and I work with my clients to find their own voices, while challenging internalized negative beliefs, helping them build self-esteem, improve relationships to their bodies, themselves and others. I offer individual and group therapy and I am passionate about treating individuals with marginalized identities, who are often suffering due to compounding systemic inequities. I also offer consultation and racial literacy training to organizations.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I have been featured on multiple media platforms to raise awareness about mental health issues, including commentary on pop culture. I am available to any podcast features and other media outlets and hope to share more of my work with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.getheald.me/
- Instagram: @healdme
