We were lucky to catch up with Xiomara Sosa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Xiomara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

Mental health has always been a subject that most people have stayed away from because of the stigma. The stigma comes from a long time ago, and often is passed down from generation to generation. We’ve seen a shift in that as of late because of the internet. More and more people are using the online world to break down that stigma with personal stories and with education. It’s great! However, there are some small concerns with that. For example, people self-diagnosing, people self-appointing themselves as experts, etc. But we can work around that.

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?

I am the founder and owner of XAS Consulting, LLC, a company I created in 2003 dedicated to healing and well-being. I am also the founder of The X-Studio: a mental health cooperative that provides a resource of culturally competent and inclusive professional mental health clinicians who serve diverse cultural, ethnic, etc., communities. My private practice, Summerville Women’s Mental Health Studio, provides contemporary counseling and therapy to women, woman/feminine identified, and non-binary people. I am also the creator and co-host of Studio Talk: Real Conversations About Mental Health, a weekly mental health podcast. I aim to improve my clients’ healing and well-being so that they can achieve good mental health. I work with adults 18 years old and over. I am culturally competent and work with multicultural issues with the Latina, LGBTQIA2S+, and veteran women communities. Most of my services are provided in either English or Spanish. My goal is to promote and improve mental health services that represent my dedication to social change in my communities. As a 9/11 survivor, and an Air Force and Army veteran, I am dedicated to helping all survivors on their journey to recovery. As a social scientist, I explore global cultures and educate people about diversity issues. As a social entrepreneur, I address pressing multicultural issues worldwide. As a social change advocate, I raise awareness about the social welfare of all people. I can be contacted via this link https://www.counselorxiomaraasosa.com/contact or text/call me at (843) 695-9974‬.My counseling specialty is mental health. I am a highly-skilled professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) with a forensic specialization who provides flexible, consumer-oriented counseling/therapy. As a CMHC, I have a foundational skill set that is distinct from those of other behavioral health disciplines. I address and treat mental and emotional disorders and promote mental health. I combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical, problem-solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution. Although I work from a wellness model, I can diagnose emotional and psychiatric disorders and guide clients in the process of living with such disorders. My training in addressing the needs of the whole person and in wellness and prevention qualifies me in integrating health care.

I have decades of experience in the nonprofit sector where I developed my expertise in the helping field. I developed my skill and knowledge in creating and implementing programs in communities that target social welfare work. My passion for humanitarian and human rights issues began as a child born and raised in New York City and grew through my volunteerism and altruism.

I left New York and served a military tour of duty with the Air Force Reserve, United States Army, and United States Army Reserve. I was selected to serve in a prestigious position at The Pentagon in Washington, DC where I worked directly for the Brigadier General at the United States Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Personnel Programs Analysis Office, and Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Through that experience, I polished my skills in how advocacy interconnects with humanitarian efforts.

My growing passion for humanitarianism landed me a position at the Academy for Education Development (AED), a nonprofit organization working globally to improve education, health, civil society, and economic development, the foundation of thriving societies. At AED, I worked in the Center for Youth Development and Policy Research supporting the Director in their mission to create and strengthen the infrastructure that supports the positive development of all youth.
At the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations, I worked closely with the President and CEO and the Vice President of Policy and Research on a wide range of advocacy issues related to health and human services with Congress, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), the Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. I also supported organizational initiatives with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other philanthropic foundations on behalf of COSMO. I served as COSMO’s liaison with other national nonprofit organizations on outreach efforts and for The National Hispanic Health Network, a 30 Community Based Organization HandsNet electronic communications system. I also worked tirelessly to promote the President’s book on Latina’s health, The Latina Guide to Health, a consumer’s health guide for overall health and wellness for Latinas.

My evolution in social change advocacy progressed as I moved on to MANA, A National Latina Organization where I worked with members and chapter leaders on empowering Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy.

Following that, I managed a $980,000 budget at NLGJA, an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues, and to advance their mission in opposing all forms of workplace bias and providing professional development to its members. There I developed the National and Regional Leadership Development Institutes designed to meet training needs in fiscal management and program development and implementation for NLGJA’s leadership. This series of training ultimately led to the development of goals set forth in NLGJA’s Strategic Plan. I was instrumental in acquiring the $100,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to fund this initiative.

I then managed close to a million-dollar Department of Labor grant at the National Student Partnerships, an organization whose mission is to combat poverty and expand opportunities for all people in the United States.
I then served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Society for Hispanic Professionals (NSHP). I strengthened NSHPs infrastructure and solidified NSHP as a viable and noteworthy presence in the Hispanic professional community that includes over 20,000+ members.

I was the Client Services Coordinator/Bilingual Case Manager/Intern Therapist at My Sister’s House, Inc. (MSH). I coordinated client services, provided case management, and individual counseling, and facilitated counseling groups at MSH, a shelter-based program serving domestic violence victims and their children. I provided referral services, intake, crisis intervention, and advocacy, and developed a support services program for MSH. I also provided linkage with community services and coordinated financial assistance services through the Department of Social Services. In addition, I developed support services programs that included life skills training, employment assistance, job skills training partnerships, and needs assessments. I also provided victim advocacy services with the judicial and law enforcement systems, which included court accompaniment, participated in and conducted speaking engagements, health fairs, workshops, etc., and was led with community resources listing.

I was a Family Support Specialist and Intern Therapist for the Family Strengthening Services program at Carolina Youth Development Center, Inc. (CYDC). I provided home and community-based services to families at risk of child maltreatment. I provided assessment, service planning, short-term counseling, intervention, and development of a family’s resources. Based on family needs, I monitored the family’s progress, conducted home visitations, and provided parent education and community referrals. In addition, I provided child development support, and case management conducted parenting interventions, and assisted with family support services.

I was a Bilingual Medical Case Manager for the Emerging Communities program at Lowcountry AIDS Services, Inc. (LAS). I facilitated support groups, and provided bilingual case management services, advocacy, nutrition education, and prevention and education services to the Hispanic, veteran, and sexual and gender minority (LBTIA+) communities about HIV/AIDS. I provided a client-centered service that linked my clients with medical care, psychosocial, and other needed services, such as housing, nutrition, dental care, legal services, support groups, and transportation. I conducted Initial Intakes and Reassessments used to assess the client’s needs, level of care, created Service Plans and reviews ongoing progress. I educated clients about HIV/AIDS, informed them about resources, and listened to and supported clients through an ongoing relationship.

I served as AMERICA’s Southern Regional Liaison of the Graduate Student Committee, AMHCA’s Public Awareness, Advocacy, and Marketing Committee, and on the board of the AMHCA NC chapter-LPCANC. I served on the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association Military Service Committee, their LBTI Affirmative Counseling, and Social Justice Committee.
I am the creator and host of Studio Talk Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health. It’s a weekly podcast where my co-host and I have a very real, very casual, and very entertaining conversation about all things mental health.

With my specialization in forensic counseling, I also work with the legal and criminal justice systems providing expert advice and skills to determine the proper resolution of cases and the most effective treatment for offenders. Through this specialization, I built my knowledge of mental health law, specifically focusing on juvenile justice and delinquency. I offer enhanced competencies in conflict management and negotiation and apply those skills to resolve conflicts in the criminal justice system. I offer mediation assistance in child custody cases and work with offenders as they move through the system to ensure the best possible resolution for individuals involved in the legal system.

I practice a progressive, innovative path to mental health with an evidence-based integrative theoretical orientation. I strive to help my clients achieve lasting change through a culturally competent, balanced, flexible, modern, and open-minded approach. I am trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address many issues and I help with mental and emotional health issues as well as relationship problems. In addition, I am involved in community outreach, advocacy, and mediation activities. I work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors.

I am especially proud of my military service in the Air Force and Army. It shaped so much of my desire to continue to serve in some capacity throughout my life. My brand was not an easy one when I first started out because of so many close-minded people who just wanted to keep things as they’ve always been. So I had to deal with a lot of pushback before it became cool to be different. I was very much committed to diversity and inclusion from the very beginning. That ruffled so many feathers back then, I was also very forward thinking especially about cultural competency, which again, did not make you the cool kid back then. It’s been an uphill battle. But it’s gotten so much better now.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have always worked for an agency, company, or some other place. Although my work was always meaningful and fulfilling, the people around me weren’t always. I came up against, sadly, a lot of people, women, who really showed me that they were not supportive or comfortable with me having such big visions or ideas. Women who could have and should have been my mentors instead made real efforts to keep me “in my place” or “in my lane”. Unhappy times came from that for me. But I landed on my own two feet, knowing from the experiences that I needed to find a way to do the work I always wanted to do in my own way. My own terms. My own self-reliance. I worked very hard at getting to a place where what I do and how I do it, even when I do it, does not rely on anyone else’s feelings or thoughts about it.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There are many. None I really wish to rehash. The biggest reminder for me is that at one agency I worked for, they had me drop off a victim of domestic violence, who was off of her mental health medication because she was so very pregnant and had a small toddler as well, well, right at Christmas time, my job made me drop her off at night in a park with nowhere to go, no one to go to, just because of some seemingly small violation. I was so heartbroken that I called my girlfriend crying on the side of the road on my way home. It was life-changing for me. Never, ever again. I gave that young lady some cash and a hotel room for the night. Otherwise, who knows what could have come from that? All because some case workers felt very high and mighty above her. Changed my spirit forever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swmhs.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorxiomaraasosa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XiomaraASosaCom
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiomaraasosa/