We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Mary Darden-robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Mary, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

As an African American professional with dual licenses and terminal degrees, I have encountered significant workplace challenges throughout my career. These experiences have often felt like a reflection of being hired primarily for diversity rather than for my skills and contributions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as my field shifted toward remote work, I sought to enhance my expertise by pursuing training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

While my primary motivation was to improve the lives of those I serve, this training also prompted me to confront past trauma, marking a profound turning point in my life. Through this process, I realized that my pursuit of degrees and certifications stemmed from a desire to level the playing field with my peers, a drive influenced by discouraging messages I received in high school regarding my potential for success in college.

Working through these limiting beliefs has provided me with valuable insights into the importance of resilience and self-exploration. This experience has reinforced the significance of being authentic in all environments, including my workplace, and has empowered me to embrace my true self in every aspect of my professional journey.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I entered the helping profession out of a deep commitment to supporting others and advocating for vulnerable populations. With over twenty years of experience, I have dedicated my career to positively impacting holistic wellness, particularly among individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges. My work has spanned various demographics, from youth and families to adults, and I have gained extensive experience in alternative settings, including alternative schools, residential placements, and both public and private providers.

In my most recent role, I have overseen comprehensive substance use initiatives, including prevention programs, peer support specialist services, and clinic services that address addiction treatment. I have also managed outpatient service lines, encompassing partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.

In the past several years, I have developed a passion for community training and education, which has led to opportunities to speak at national and statewide conferences on topics such as resilience, the importance of representation, health equity, and authenticity. Additionally, I have trained numerous emerging therapists to become licensed in my state, furthering our mission of enhancing mental health within the community.

Transitioning into administrative and director roles has allowed me to accumulate significant experience in program assessment, development, and innovation, enabling me to effectively lead initiatives that improve service delivery and outcomes.

Overall, my present interest is in training, speaking, and consulting with other mental health and substance use providers.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As a young and eclectic clinician in training, I vividly remember my experience working with a colleague at a public mental health provider focused on serving some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community within a school setting. Each year, my peer and I were assigned schools to manage the counseling services. One particular year, I was assigned to a school that primarily served a student population and families with cultural backgrounds different from my own.

An important aspect of this experience was my outgoing supervisor, who shared my cultural background but conformed to the majority in terms of her professional presentation. Upon receiving my assignment, she expressed concerns that I would not be well-received or respected due to my appearance. Despite this anticipated challenge, I was able to establish strong rapport with the students and staff, providing support in an authentic manner.

This experience underscored for me the critical importance of authenticity, diversity, and representation in our field.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

While accolades and achievements are valuable milestones in my career, I needed to unlearn the belief that success required conforming to the expectations of the majority, often at the expense of my authenticity in the workplace. My previous experience exemplifies this challenge, illustrating that these accomplishments do not come without scrutiny, particularly as a double minority in the mental health and substance use fields. I also realized that simply accumulating degrees and certifications would not shield me from judgment regarding my skillset. Embracing my true self and acknowledging my unique perspective became essential in navigating this landscape.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://creativetherapyconsultingllc.com
• Instagram: igobydoctor
• Linkedin: Dr. Mary DardenRobinson
• Other: TikTok-igobydr

Image Credits

Torrance Saunders Photography (Professional Photos)