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

Winley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Starting my own private practice was one of the biggest risks I’ve taken. When I first began my doctoral journey my goal was to become the director of a university counseling center (preferably at an HBCU). I saw university counseling centers as a space where you encountered a vast array of student needs and mental health challenges at a pivotal point in human development (I.e. emerging adults). As a part of becoming a psychologist we were required to complete a number of practicums to gain real world experience working with clients/patients. Although we were functioning like part-time employees and still expected to stay on top of course work these practicums were unpaid and we were often overworked. When we finally reach the stages in our doctoral journey where compensation occurs, internship and post-doc, we are grossly underpaid and still overworked. These experiences as well as enduring a number of racist, homophobic, and otherly oppressive dynamics, I was determined that something had to change. For me it was shifting my trajectory from becoming a university counseling center director to creating a private practice that cultivated space for healing my workplace trauma. I started my private practice while transitioning from being an under-paid and mistreated post-doctoral fellow, having no savings and recovering from a major surgery. I gave myself 4 months to see if I could generate enough income to sustain or I would seek employment which would potentially put me back in organizations who fail to address their systemically oppressive ways. This risk has paid off in ways I never imagined it would. I’ve been able to build and maintain a full client caseload, tend to self-care and family, explore paid non-therapy opportunities, work with the populations I designed my practice to support (BIPOC and queer folx) and a host of other benefits.

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

Winley K. is a Black genderqueer person who does not use pronouns. Winley has been a clinician for the past 10 years recently, earning a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from an institution in Chicago, Illinois. I offer psychotherapy for individuals, couples/non-monogamous relationships, and groups. I also provide Educational Workshops & Trainings and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultation for individuals, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions. I specialize in working with Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ-GNC individuals, and folks navigating trauma related to ethno-racial identity, class, sexuality, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation. In addition to this I provide professional editing of documents (books, manuscripts, organization/business forms, etc.) to ensure written material is inclusive of all genders, race/ethnicities, abilities, etc. The goal is to become a wellness collective that provide a holistic approach to mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. Whether that be on an individual, community, organizational and/or systemic level. This collective will consist of Queer BIPOC practitioners from many disciplines (e.g., mental health providers, body healers, etc.).

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I chose my doctoral program due to the emphasis they placed on diversity, equity and inclusion in their advertisement, recruitment and interview efforts. It was only after my first few weeks of being a doctoral student that I realized that this was more aspirational than an integrative part of the academic program. The first semester of my first year I endured racist incident after racist incident at the hands of my peers and my professors. I equated my experience to walking into a room, extending my arms and asking the those in the room where they wished to cut me next. The issue of race was so bad and pervasive that the Dean of my program told me that I was “responsible for my subjective experience related to race” during a meeting she requested to have with me to address concerns about the way one of my courses was being taught. Attempts at advocating for myself were deemed, “being locked into a singular narrative”. If it were not for my therapist, my mentor (a professor in my program) and my best friend (a student who experienced similar oppression) I do not think I would have been able to complete my doctoral journey. Their support allowed me to continue advocating for myself and those who identified similarly. They also provided me with a space to ground my experiences in and obtain validation that what I thought was happening was indeed happening. I say it is in Spite of my institution that I am a Clinical Psychologist today.

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

I’m honestly not sure. While, I love the work I have been able to do and the many people I’ve been able to be of support to, the cost of getting here was pretty big. I find myself continuing to heal from the trauma I endured pursuing this passion. I’m reminded daily through those I provide services to that my story is not an isolated one but one that many Black and Brown folx have experienced in one form or another. That often leaves me reflecting on whether it’s worth it. The only think I do know for certain is that BIPOC and Queer folx benefit greatly from me currently being in the field of psychology.

Contact Info:

• Website: WaterYourFireWC.com

Image Credits
Desk Photos: Tovannai Winley (she/her) All other Photos: Hunter (they/them)