We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. KIMBERLY R. MAYES, LCSW. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. KIMBERLY R. below.
Alright, Dr. KIMBERLY R. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
My biggest risk thus far is attaining my doctorate degree.
Not because of the challenging nature of becoming of subject matter expert & embracing the title of doctor, but because I decided to study, research & develop an intervention that is not common within the mental health field, culturally responsive interventions.
As a Black Caribbean mental health therapist, I recognized an abundance of clients reaching out to Essence Therapy & Wellness Center (my private practice), because they identified with me integrating holistic practices into our therapy sessions. Clients gave the feedback that most BIPOC clinicians aren’t offering this as an option. This was relevant to the clients, because talk therapy is not the only intervention the BIPOC community uses to find mental & spiritual peace.
Often times, you will hear the term culturally competent, which focuses on understanding the unique characteristics, beliefs & limitations to individuals according to their cultural beliefs, with individuals of the African Diaspora. Cultural competence is deemed as an effective intervention according to the federal standards of the U.S Department of Health & Human Services within healthcare settings. However, cultural competence offers understanding, but not tangible tools to integrate the knowledge & cultural practices of what one needs to feel safe, seen & heard in a healthcare setting.
Cultural responsiveness focuses on the specific tools practitioners utilize the integrate culturally responsive practices in to healthcare settings, so clients not only feel safe, seen & heard but they also stick with their treatment plan, because they identify with the mode of care.
For me, this was a risk because the healthcare/mental health field doesn’t formally recognize Indigenous & holistic modes of healing as effective & lasting effective practices for clients experiencing mental health & somatic duress.
Upon studying the lasting effects of culturally responsive interventions in my doctoral program, I was able to formulate a module of care where other clinical providers can learn the most effective culturally responsive interventions to treat their clients with in their own private practices.
Essence Wellness Academy is where BIPOC clinical providers gain the cultural responsive knowledge & therapeutic skills necessary to support BIPOC clients who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression & other common mental health diagnoses.
Dr. KIMBERLY R., 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 am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) & I started Essence Therapy & Wellness Center in Atlanta, GA in 2020. I was working in a hospital setting as a medical social worker & as a part-time venture, I decided that I wanted to support clients via psychotherapy sessions during COVID-19, as everyone was feeling some sort of mental health pressures during that time. I decided that as of Dec 2021, I would be a full-time therapist & expand the mission & vision of Essence Therapy & Wellness Center, which is to “Recreate the definition of therapy & self-care for the BIPOC community through effective, relatable & holistic therapeutic services.”
Operating a private practice full-time has been a heavy lift, as we are in a time where mental health & wellness is a topic of conversation more than every before. Since December 2021, I hired an office assistant, 5 mental health providers, & a master-level student intern. We are currently servicing clients in the state of California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana & Texas.
Because I personal enjoy traveling the world & utilizing the outdoors & culture to promote positive mental health growth, I decided to expand Essence Therapy & Wellness Center to offer wellness retreats. Essence Wellness Retreats offers domestic & international itineraries that are focused on immersing our senses into local culture, creating a safe space for healing, & indulging in self-care practices, such as spa treatments, meditation, sound healing sessions, gentle yoga, sister circles & much more!
Upon entering my doctoral program, I found a need for more clinical providers to be trained in culturally responsive interventions so I researched the importance & lasting effects of culturally responsive interventions and developed Essence Wellness Academy.
Essence Wellness Academy is where BIPOC clinical providers gain the cultural responsive knowledge & therapeutic skills necessary to support BIPOC clients who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression & other common mental health diagnoses.
I am most proud most proud of all of the work we do through Essence Therapy & Wellness Center. The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community needs specific interventions tailored to their way of thinking & being & Essence Therapy & Wellness Center has created & will continue to create the space where BIPOC men & women can feel safe, seen & heard on their healing journey.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I would choose mental health all over again in a heartbeat!
For me, I wish I would have chosen this path sooner in my career, as I was afraid to support others at such a vulnerable moment in their lives. But there is something special about holding space for someone who is seeking to better themselves in a way that in vulnerable & honorable.
I completed my Master of Social Work degree in 2012 & I didn’t open my private practice, Essence Therapy & Wellness Center until 2020. I was so afraid of the business aspect of things, that I missed the opportunity to support clients during that time due to my fears.
Now that I am fully operating my private practice, mentoring other clinicians & teaching clinicians culturally responsive interventions, I feel like I am right where I need to be! The only change I would make, is that I did this sooner.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Being myself.
Being a culturally responsive therapist can be isolating, as most therapist utilize talk therapy & therapeutic treatment modalities that can be limiting in nature to the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community. I love traditional therapeutic modes of practice, such as solution focused therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, however, not all clients solely identify with these interventions.
I have been intentional about integrating practices that BIPOC clients identify as modes of healing based on their cultural background, such as breathwork, sound healing, nature based interventions, sister circles & other modes of culturally responsive practice, in addition to talk therapy.
With clients identifying with these modes of practice, I have been intentional about marketing these services, in addition to our talk therapy services.
As a Black Caribbean woman, I personally utilize these services in my own day-to-day life to limit stress, anxiety & depression. Because I know the lasting effects personally, it was only right for me to offer these services to clients, which has increased out clientele & reach in terms of client care.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.essencetwc.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimberlyrenay
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyrenay
Image Credits
Bessie Akuba Winn-Afeku