Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Odilakachi Hezekiah-Onwukwe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Odilakachi , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
The defining moment in my career isn’t just one; it’s an amalgamation of moments where my clients realized that I was their therapist.
The population that I’ve worked with the most is Black youth. For them to see someone that looks more like an uncle or tee-tee than someone who’s going to reprimand them for being human.
So then for me, the defining moment is knowing that these humans—at least for this time—feel safe, supported, and seen.
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?
My name is Odi, and I am a therapist first and foremost.
What sets me apart is I’m sincerely one of the coolest therapists that you’ll ever meet, and that’s on my soul.
Secondly, I’m a social media influencer. I was in Beyoncé’s first EVER TikTok. Your therapist or coach can’t tell you how to make that type of impact, or how to live that unapologetically.
Well, they can. Im not here to poo-poo on my counterparts. But I KNOW they can’t do it like me, cause there’s only one Odi.
I got both of my degrees at HBCUs. My Bachelors from Alabama State University, and my Masters from FAMU. My education and educational experience have both taught me that Blackness in its most unapologetic form is an image of GOD, and we can rejoice in it.
Succinctly, I believe that what separates me from my counterparts is that I REFUSE to acquiesce to the idea that psychological Whiteness can inform a healthy spiritual Blackness, and I equip and imbue my clients with that survival thrust.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My TikTok was actually banned at 100k earlier in March. I had to—quickly—test the newfound algorithmic knowledge that I had acquired to begin building from scratch, and I was ready to.
In my mind, resilience is nothing more than your ability to come to terms with what’s happening in front of you.
You don’t always have to change it right then, but you do have to accept the reality of it.
Resilience is built slowly, and acceptance usually comes the same way.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Being a therapist and coach? The number one thing I can say is there isn’t a book on this planet that can teach you how to be a person of integrity and dependability. That takes practice.
Being present for a person requires both integrity and dependability. If that takes practice, that means you become a better healer through *practicing healing,* both internal and external. You cannot avoid that reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: blkwlth.com
- Instagram: professor.odi
- Facebook: Professor Odi
- Twitter: mynamesuperlong
- Youtube: @professor_odi
- Other: My podcast is called “N*&&A w/a podcast” on YouTube