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

Hi Ebony, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

The defining moment in my career was deciding to take a two year post doc opportunity in San Diego, away from my partner and family. While my colleagues were taking one year post docs close to their families, I decided to double that and move across the country to a place I had never been. This moment taught me that I could trust myself and lean into what I believed was best for me, no matter what anyone else thought. I learned to stand on my own during this time and how to take risks that would propel me to my next level. I leaned into the support around me and my community kept me during this time. Here is where I learned the importance of community and to build that into my business plan, always! The lessons learned on this journey are still applicable today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Ebony uses her expertise to help Black women and other women of color survivors thrive in trauma recovery. Blending systems and trauma-informed interventions with culture-focused interventions, Dr. Ebony helps clients work through a variety of issues related to depression, anxiety, and other stress responses. A large part of her work consists of guiding Black women and other women of color to develop skills that increase their effectiveness in self-care, self-discovery, and interpersonal interactions, including communicating and asking for what they want and need. In her practice, Dr. Ebony utilizes a range of techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, cognitive-behavioral theory, exposure theory, and acceptance to help clients understand and work through emotional difficulties within a range of contexts.

Dr. Ebony is the creator of My Therapy Cards, the first card deck of it’s kind that has been carefully curated with the specific intention of helping Black women, girls, and men grow and elevate in the areas of emotional and mental health! Dr. Ebony created these cards to address barriers such as cost, access, and stigma. She wants people who look like her to know that it is OK to take up space in the field of mental health.

Dr. Ebony’s work as a Food Relationship Strategist is centered around providing education, tools, and skills for building a healthier relationship with food. Clients work with Dr. Ebony to target ineffective thoughts, habits, and behaviors around what they’ve been taught about food and their bodies. Specifically, Dr. Ebony creates coaching programs to address cultural and societal messages that have historically made it difficult for women of color to feel empowered enough to trust that they can care for their own bodies.

Dr. Ebony serves as a speaker on topics related to identity development, trauma recovery, self-care, mental health stigma, relationship with food, and body image. In her role as a consultant, Dr. Ebony strategizes with companies and organizations on how to bring and build mental health and food relationship programs for their staff and employees.

Dr. Ebony is currently hosting an online program for other therapists and coaches to help them build out their practices and create impact in the same ways in which she has done.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn money stories. Growing up in Mississippi, I witnessed people talk about money as if it was always fleeting and something they could never attain. I heard lack and scarcity made to characteristics of the humble and righteous. That has never resonated with me, yet I internalized a lot of these same messages throughout my life. I had to unlearn that having money was for other people. I had to teach myself that someone like me can absolutely have money and having money doesn’t make me any less humble or righteous. I am continuing to shapy my money story and work on my relationship with money as this is the foundation for building and having a sustainable business.

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

If I could go back, I would choose the same profession over and over and over again! I can’t see myself doing anything else!

Contact Info:

• Website: drebony.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/drebonyonline
• Facebook: facebook.com/drebonyonline
• Twitter: twitter.com/drebonyonline
• Other: mytherapycards.com – (My Therapy Cards) thecouchreimagined.com – (coaching program)

Image Credits
https://karamariecollective.com/ Kara Marie Collective