We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maya Jefferson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maya below.
Hi Maya, thanks for joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?
Since I was younger, I always wanted to be a therapist. I always felt that I gravitated towards people who needed support whether it was related to family, friends, or relationships. After going through my own mental health issues in high school and learning more about various treatment options, my career choice was solidified. The field of eating disorders however is very niche and particular. There are not many providers of color in the field of eating disorders and I knew that I would have to work hard to network, connect and raise awareness. I was really fortunate to have a wonderful supervisor during my undergraduate internship. She always informed me of opportunities and provided my name in spaces to obtain jobs and experiences. She was the reason that I was able to receive the opportunity to provide eating disorder and mental health therapy to clients in 2021. My first job as a therapist, in private practice, and in the field I have always wanted to work in, it felt amazing. I am so lucky to have had wonderful supervisors in all aspects of my career and ones who respect my aspirations and goals.
Maya, 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 am a clinical social worker in the state of Maryland. I worked for years as an inpatient hospital social worker which was really interesting and taught me so much about the various systems that impact clients. In school, they always taught us to recognize such systems at play (family, culture, politics, economy) and now I understand why. I have been a mental health therapist for a few years now. My focus has always been disordered eating, body image and self-esteem concerns as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms. The field of eating disorders is so complex. I always tell clients that the goal is to find happiness and joy with food as they often present with distress around meal time and fear foods that keep them from progressing.
I love providing awareness about the field of eating disorders. I especially find it motivating to de-stigmatize all mental health conditions in the African American population, there have been such amazing strides however still work to do. I never really knew that black women could have eating disorders. In school, I always saw the stereotypical individual who experienced restriction. I experienced my own eating disorder in high school following stressful events that transpired at that time. I was also curious if I would meet people who looked like me or shared similiar experiences. I was fortunate to meet some individuals of color through my journey who provided support. However, it then became my goal when I entered recovery, to provide education, awareness and vocalize the role in which stigma keeps certain groups from reaching out for treatment.
I would say overall my brand is fixated on that idea that eating disorders and mental health conditions can happen to anyone. It can be scary to express the emotions or thoughts that are occurring especially if you do not have the language to describe them. Therefore, it is always my hope to help as many people as I can whether that is in therapy or other supportive avenues. Additionally (my fun fact), I work with my twin sister Morgan who is also a mental health therapist. I never imagined we would work together since we specialize in different areas however I am so thankful for her support.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
I would choose the same profession. I wonder if I would work in other fields within social work or mental health instead of the trajectory I went with. The field is so vast and there are so many ways to provide support and resources. I think that the social media world regarding mental health has taken off. Therapists are providing wonderful content and education online which is really wonderful too.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Online profiles through Psychology Today or similar websites has been the base of my referrals. Networking! Networking! Networking! Connecting with other providers, therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, pediatricians, etc has been really wonderful to be able to refer to one another and continue to keep each other up to date.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.counselingrcwc.com/
- Instagram: mayaedtherapy
- Linkedin: maya-jefferson25
