Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aisha Koroma. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aisha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

After earning my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown, I decided to take a break from school to start a non-profit. In 2014, I founded Lift a Village, a 501(c)(3) organization that empowers individuals and communities in Sierra Leone by providing resources that foster self-sufficiency and promote community development.

The following year, I started graduate school and earned my Master of Arts in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University in 2017. After graduation, I decided to center my career on trauma-informed care (TIC), community based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS-CB), and gender-based violence (GBV) initiatives in the refugee resettlement space.

One of my proudest achievements was becoming a founding member of the first refugee mental health clinic in Texas where I provided critical support to refugees from Cuba, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Syria, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Iraq, and other conflict zones. I also co-facilitated the first cross-cultural women support groups in Texas, creating safe spaces for refugee women to connect.

My work has taken me far beyond the borders of the United States. As a consultant with the United Nations and various international organizations, I have had the privilege of lending my expertise to global efforts addressing the mental health needs of displaced populations. One of my most recent efforts includes the establishment of the Safe Space Project, which promotes mental well-being in multicultural communities. I also created the first therapeutic safe room in a refugee camp in Doha, Qatar—a groundbreaking initiative that provided a sanctuary for refugees in an overwhelming environment. Additionally, I co-authored the Handbook of Refugee Experience: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery, and contributed to research on the Impact of COVID-19 on Urban Refugees, published in the National Library of Medicine.

Aisha, 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?

I was forced to flee my homeland as a teenager, arriving in the U.S. as a refugee from Sierra Leone with a bag of clothes and a heart full of hope. Despite the many hardships I faced as a young refugee, I was determined to carve out a future that not only honored my survival but also uplifted others facing similar struggles as a refugee resettlement leader. Today, I am proud to be a trauma-responsive mental health expert with specialized training from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This year, I established the AK Center for Wellbeing, a private practice that provides clinical support and mental health consulting globally.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My journey from a refugee kid from Sierra Leone to becoming a board-certified psychotherapist in the United States has been nothing short of extraordinary. My work is a testament to the power of resilience and post-traumatic growth. My work in refugee mental health has become a defining part of my life. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to supporting marginalized populations across the globe.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Absolutely not. In my journey, I found myself, my voice, strength and discovered my purpose as the wounded healer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.projectsafespace.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindingmymentalhealth1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindingmymentalhealth1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-koroma-m-a-lpc-qmhp-cs-651b92b8/
• Other: www,akcenterforwellbeing.com