We recently connected with Krystal Miller and have shared our conversation below.

Krystal, appreciate you joining us 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.

I’ve experienced burnout in each of my first 3 jobs. It felt like exhaustion, self doubt, crying randomly… it was the body going into fight or fight and my spirit saying slow down. The last time it happened was at a charter school I was working at where as a “school social worker” I was everything from a short term therapist (which I already had qualms with because I value long term relationships with people I work with over the revolving door), a parent coordinator, a school aid, and everything else in between. It was too much in just a short time span that I often felt the need to pull back in order to protect myself. Fast forward to spring break following a not so glowing mid year review and I was let go. And though I mourned the relationships lost with my students as well as my idea that I failed in what was my dream job, a confidence was sparked in me that it was time to do things my way, in a way that truly nourished my mind, body and spirit.

Though my brand, Melanated Masks, was born as an Instagram page, the dream evolved into it being a holistic mental wellness practice for BIPOC communities, women and femmes alike. Once that pink slip was given, it was nothing more than publishing my website and symbolically hanging the “Open” sign for new clients.

This defining moment was a reminder that we live in a society that focuses on speed and quantitative results. That’s not the work that I was meant to do. It’s all about the value of going at your own speed, defining what healing means for you and learning your body in ways that invite grace, compassion and understanding. And though the road is still being paved for me, best believe the path is clear as day.

Krystal, 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?

The 2 quotes that define my journey are “Be who you needed when you were younger” and “I am because we are. ” I got into this field as a teenager doing peer counseling right in Jamaica, Queens. Seeing the reality of my peers and community at large sparked a desire to support, advocate and educate on topics such as healthy relationships and safe sex practices. My college studies and experience had me throw the light on my own life and how it shifted my trajectory in one way or the other. Once grad school and licensure was acquired, that light became blinding as I experienced turbulence not only in my own life but within my body as well. I’ve always incorporated cultural work into everything that I did so naturally, somatic (body based) work became an interest to me. Then the rest was history.

Melanated Masks started as an Instagram page to highlight real stories of people in the community and their mental health journeys. It has since grown into a practice that centers BIPOC voices and spiritual traditions as a way to cultivate community through healing. In addition to 1:1 therapy that I provide, I also do community and organizational workshops based on various topics from burnout to learning your body through stress. With my new added offering of 1:1 herbal consulting, I now get to truly support my community in a way that isn’t rushed, that doesn’t emphasis pathology (diagnosing mental health “problems”) and allows my clients to take charge of their wellness. If I had to think about what sets me apart from a lot of mental health practitioners is that I take an integrative and decolonized approach to my work in the community. This looks like “how can we make our cultural foods support our mental wellbeing” or “how can we support our spiritual health in time of rage or grief” all while intertwining yoga practices and herbal creations. My work is a love letter to my community and although it is *work* it is worth it.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I absolutely would! Just sooner. Though I knew that mental health wasn’t only a product of a brain that “malfunctioned,” I wish I recognized the somatic piece earlier in my career to truly ground in it. That foundational piece is important!

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Having an open heart and lots of curiosity. It’s something that I remind my students as often as I could. Being curious of the individual’s story is like opening up a book and being like “ooooh AND THEN WHAT!?” But in a way that is loving (if that makes sense). Whether I’m wearing my clinician hat or herbalist hat, I’m merely walking with the client on this journey that they’re an expert on. That only works with heart- forward curiosity.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.MelanatedMasks.com
• Instagram: @melanated_masks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamiller12