Racial Trauma Recovery

Let’s call a spade a spade— racial discrimination among the black, latino or hispanic, Asian, Indigenous and first generation Americans have left traumatizing racial wounds. Racial trauma refers to the events of danger related to real or perceived experiences of racial discrimination, threats of harm and injury, and humiliating and shaming events. Moreover, with the gross televising of black men and women being shot and murdered, our nation is also experiencing vicarious trauma every time our eyes gaze upon the television. Unfortunately, the effects of racial trauma have for too long gone unaddressed by our American healthcare system. But TRC is here to change that.

Providing a therapeutic space for us to HEAL from racial trauma is an area of specialty that The Relationship Clinic offers. Treatments such as psychoeducation, individual, and group therapy are available avenues to process your own personal racial trauma. Free from minimizing, gaslighting and *misunderstanding/assumptions*—this is a safe space in which your feelings are heard and validated. Whereas many mental health and medical practitioners ignore racial wounds, we believe talking about your lived experience, as it relates to racism or being a recipient of racism in America, is not only important but a necessity for overall emotional and mental well-being.

Your story matters and our squad of therapists are ready, trained and equipped to hold the space needed for you to recover, re-center, and rediscover the resilience that is within.

Marital Therapy, also referred to as couples therapy, is a form of psychotherapy where couples can discuss issues in a safe space.  Therapy helps a couple to recognize conflict and take steps to improve their relationship.  It can be challenging because it can get uncomfortable, but the discomfort creates a space for change.  Consider the analogy of someone who breaks a bone.  If that person decides not to get the bone properly set and allows it to "heal" improperly, after many issues, if that person decides to go to the doctor for proper care, its likely that the bone will have to be "reset."  Having the bone reset could be very painful, but necessary and worth the pain for proper healing, development, and growth. 

I'd like to provide a brief disclaimer.  The hour spent in session will be very helpful and I will need your participation.  The most important and effective participation however, is the work you put into outside of the session. Too often, couples expect a transformation within their one hour session, but the best results come from the couples that are committed to the work and assignments outside of the session.

Couples Therapy

Family Therapy is also a form of psychotherapy that can help families improve communication and resolve conflicts. More specifically, it is designed to address issues that effect psychological, emotional, and overall health of the family. I believe in a family-centered approach because it is important to nurture change and development. This form of therapy tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. Having family participation is healthy and imperative because we were all born into a family. The family is important because it affects who we are and who we become--for the good and not so good. Taking a family centered approach to therapy often benefits the client regardless of the origin of the issue(s).

Family Therapy

Individual Therapy (at times called psychotherapy or talk-therapy) is a process through which a person works one-on-one with a trained therapist in a safe, caring and confidential environment. It can be used to treat past, current or forseeable challenges in life. If you're looking for an opportunity to explore your thoughts and emotions or even unwanted painful memories  so that you can finally have freedom over the internal battle, then individual therapy may be right for you.

Individual Therapy

  • Still come. Having challenges in marriage is already difficult and will be even more difficult having a spouse that does not want to participate. However, I'd like to help with providing some skills and tools for you to take back to your marriage that can still effect change.

  • My coach always told me to leave it all on the field--win, lose, or draw.

  • Yes, if it's helpful in order to achieve maximum productivity. I will assess how often we need to do so.

  • No one is required to attend. Participating members are always helpful. When the time is right, we can discuss who we can invite from the family to the session. We do not want anything about the process to be forced.

  • That's fine. We'll prepare for who we know will be in attendance. We do ask that members do their best to make attendance a priority.

  • Yes, if it's helpful in order to achieve maximum productivity. I will assess how often we need to do so.

  • It depends. I prefer to tailor each clients counseling journey based off of the specific goals and process. Some clients could be completed in 4-6 weeks, while others may last months or years. Together, we will determine how many sessions to expect.

  • I understand life is happening outside of counseling and you may have to miss a session. I just ask two things:
    1. This is a commitment and those that treat it as a priority often more satisfied at the conclusion of treatment.
    2. Please provide a 48-hour notice as this hour has been set aside for you and I can't make money if you cancel homie. Straight up.

  • Yes. However, let's talk about the reason behind the break (which could vastly range). We would want to get a plan in place. We can discuss things that will ensure that you are safe and secure. We will even set a date so we both can anticipate the return.

  • I always welcome others to join your session as a support. However, keep in mind that if the sessions become more family or couples in nature, the appropriate billing will be requested. We will discuss this before any charge are made.

  • Similar to seeing a physician, a physical therapist, an attorney or a masseuse, counseling is an investment. Whether you are investing in yourself or in a marriage or relationship, you are investing in you mental and emotional health. Additionally, I am a qualified and trained professional that invest time in continuing education to ensure my clients are receiving the best services or return on their investment.

Group Therapy

Group Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a group of people meet with similar issues to discuss their problems together under the supervision of a therapist.  Some examples of group therapy include groups for sexual abuse, anxiety, PTSD, marriage/pre-marital, and even race relations.

Group Therapy will be offered on a seasonal basis which will be contingent on the demands, requests, and needs that I am able to assess.  I will likely make recommendations to individual clients and inquire about an interest in participating in group therapy.  It can be helpful and healthy for many reasons including support, community, help normalize your issues, and provide hope through the testimony of others.

  • Possibly. It could depend on the nature or topic of the group. But you're welcome to invite others that are interested, similarly situated, and also want the help.

  • Safety and confidentiality are a high priority for my practice. All group members will be required to sign confidentiality forms and I will remind every attendee of its importance in each session.

  • No. As a trained and licensed therapist, I'm qualified to use interventions that would not be used in a self-help group.

  • You can always remove yourself from the group. However, you should be made aware that most groups are closed—therefore, once you leave, you will be unable to rejoin that specific group. This is for the integrity and safety of the group.

  • It depends on the group and the purpose of the group. But typically no more then 6-8 members.

  • I will be conducting regular assessments and will make a recommendation for a proposed number of group sessions.

Premarital Counseling + Education

Pre-Marital Therapy is an opportunity for a couple to invest in their marriage before "I do."  Too often, couples spend the majority of their time investing in the wedding instead of investing in the preparation of the marriage.  An investment in Pre-Marital will be a pillar of the marriage because it provides the tools, skills, and insight to navigate conflict, and also develop trust.  

As a couple you can expect to understand that there will be issues in your marriage.  Therapy gives you the opportunity to identify potential pitfalls and other sensitive areas that will likely come up in the course of the marriage.  You will walk away with the confidence, and skills to better navigate the challenging places.  Marriage is difficult, but with the right preparation you can increase the likelihood to thrive in your marriage rather than simply survive in your marriage.

  • The divorce rate is at 50%. The average length of a marriage that ends in divorce is eight years. But it doesn't have to be this way with the right tools--anyone can have a long, healthy marriage.

  • Great! You're ahead of the curve. Learning how to have a healthy relationship is foundational for knowing how to have a healthy marriage.

  • Could be a red flag and I would encourage you to proceed with caution. However, I would still encourage you to come. It will be a great opportunity for you to explore your areas of potential growth in preparation for marriage.

  • It depends. The number of sessions is usually indicative of how many areas that you and your partner specifically need to work on. This is determined in your initial assessment. The average number of sessions is 8-12.
    We also offer packages!

  • Never too late! This is a priority and we'll make the time and the space. Contact us and we can talk through our options.

  • Yes! This is a great collaboration opportunity. We have different skills and training that can compliment very well to ensure the best preparation for your marriage! We can talk about what this could look like.

  • YES! The divorce rate for remarriage is even higher than the average of 50%. There are a lot of added dynamics that you did not have going into marriage before which include, but are not limited to the emotional trauma of a divorce, potential blended families, emotional scars, healing from past hurts, that need to be addressed beforehand.

  • Yes. All are welcome to my practice. However, as I shared, my therapeutic orientation for marital therapy comes from Genesis 2:18-25. This expresses the foundational principles for which I counsel couples in understanding and clearly identifying their purpose in marriage.