We were lucky to catch up with Rashida Henry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rashida , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although the neighborhood where I grew up was surrounded by crime, violence and drugs, my parents were very intentional about placing my siblings and me in efficacious learning environments where our gifts would be nurtured, and we would have exposure to various cultures. I come from a family of community leaders, activists, pastors, and influencers; thus, my exposure to outreach and giving back began at a very young age. I knew early on that I wanted to incorporate giving back to the community into whatever career path I chose. As a child, I had ideas of becoming a pediatrician because I enjoyed working with children; however, as I advanced in my studies, I quickly realized that the medical field was not for me. When I was in high school, my mother returned to graduate school to obtain a degree in clinical counseling. My mother’s pursuit of this degree gave me initial exposure to the counseling field. Growing up in a predominantly African American community, I didn’t learn much about what therapy was, nor did I have a desire to. The media often pathologized one’s need for therapy; thus, many minorities in my community often dismissed its possible benefits due to fears of being labeled. In addition, the black community’s mistrust of health systems is deeply rooted in our lineage. At the time, I was completely blind to the long-term benefits of incorporating therapy and various wellness practices into daily living.

After graduating from high school, I attended Pennsylvania State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychological and Social Studies. Following this, I earned a Master of Arts Degree from Eastern University in Clinical Counseling. During this time in my life, I had no idea that God was preparing me to make a huge impact. After obtaining my graduate degree, I worked in various settings such as jails, outpatient mental health facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and geriatric centers, starting in direct care and working my way up to management. My past work experiences helped me acquire knowledge and resources to educate members of my community who continued to remain skeptical about mental health systems. As a result of over ten years of experience in the mental health field I am consistently sought out with questions, resource inquiries, and direction regarding individual and family challenges. Thus, I began facilitating workshops at local libraries, churches, and senior centers to bring information regarding mental health to the community to reduce opportunities for stigma. This information included but was not limited to providing details on what symptoms to expect with various mental health diagnoses, crisis management, ways to manage mental illness, and implementation of self-care practices.

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 background and context?

I began to observe a lack of accessible mental health resources and therapists of color in my community. So, I ventured out to start my own virtual therapy private practice to give millennial minorities access to therapy and alternative healing methods. Do you feel like you’re living in a permanent state of unhappiness? Knows No Face LLC is a mental health and wellness counseling and consulting company. As a licensed professional counselor, author, and speaker, I developed this company with a natural desire to promote mental health awareness within the urban community. Knows No Face works with millennials between the ages of 21 and 38 who are confused about the next stage in their career, seeking to overcome generational barriers and gain clarity on their purpose in life. Through individual counseling, support groups, trainings, and workshops Knows No Face assists clients in developing insight into that which is holding them back. I am also the author of “Deliver Us from Darkness” a poetic memoir about my journey of overcoming seasons of depression and illuminating purpose. This book was inspired by the death of my oldest brother in 2014, who died as a millennial. I am incredibly passionate about assisting others in acquiring the tools they need to live out their full potential. For those teens interested in pursuing careers in mental health, Knows No Face LLC also offers short-term mentorship for young men and women to assist them in identifying various career opportunities and educational tracks in mental health and clinical counseling.

In addition to my roles as CEO, lead therapist, and author, I’m also an organizer for a faith-based network called “200 Women in Jeans” where I coordinate annual events to provide women with the necessary tools to target a path of success spiritually and professionally. I embrace reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with family, all of which have influenced my work as a therapist. I’ve also begun to investigate other cultures’ wellness practices and perspectives in my travels abroad. By doing this, I have acquired a wealth of tools that I bring back to the states to share with my clients to assist them in enhancing their quality of life and living up to the highest versions of themselves. The mission of Knows No Face has expanded to educating organizations statewide on the importance of promoting mental health awareness in the workplace. Knows No Face LLC remains committed to assisting individuals in developing awareness of the fact that change is possible.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The death of my eldest brother in 2014 was definitely a life-changing experience. My ability to overcome such a traumatic loss was extremely difficult. However, by way of therapy, support from family and friends, and doing the self-work, I was able to overcome. This loss, although very painful, was necessary for me to launch my business which now supports millennials experiencing mental health challenges throughout the state of PA.

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 not change my profession. Mental Health is foundational to whatever career path one chooses. Learning the importance of and how to implement self-preservation, emotion regulation, and self-care, to name a few, has assisted me in being successful in various areas of my life. The knowledge I have acquired I now pass it on to assist others in living full lives. I am genuinely grateful for the path I’m on as a healer and would not change anything about the journey.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: knowsnoface
• Website: knowsnoface.com
• Youtube: knowsnoface
• Instagram: @knowsnoface

Image Credits
Photographer: busydeejphotography IG: @busydeejphotography