Cultural Concerns

MENA and South Asian Women’s Group

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Connection & Community with People Who Get It

This therapy group is for women ages 18-35 who identify as MENA (Middle Eastern/North African) or South Asian. It’s open to people of all sexual orientations and women that are cisgender, transgender, and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer and non-binary individuals.

THIS GROUP MIGHT BE FOR YOU, IF:

  • – You feel misunderstood, judged, or rejected by family or community.
  • – You feel that who you are, what you believe, or who you love is not fully accepted by family or community.
  • – You’ve got some big questions to sort through (what you believe, relationships, career, etc.) but don’t feel safe or comfortable talking about it with the people in your life.
  • – You don’t feel you belong or fit in and it’s been really lonely.
  • – You rarely feel like you can be yourself around people.
  • – You’re living a double or hidden life; no one really knows your true self.
  • – You want and are ready for deep, meaningful relationships with genuine people who get it and will accept you as you are.
This group offers a space where you can show up as your full self. A place where you can connect with others who will understand and support you during this important time in your life.

THE POSSIBILITIES:

  • – Explore who you truly are in a safe and supportive environment.
  • – Heal from depression and anxiety that’s tied to your identity, culture, experiences of racism/discrimination, not fitting in, and/or family/intergenerational conflict.
  • – Learn skills and strategies to manage stress, resolve relationship conflicts, and reach your goals.
  • – Connect with and learn from others who can relate.
  • – Better understand and improve your relationships.
  • – Get support and accountability from caring and invested people.
  • – Receive multiple perspectives and feedback on issues that matter to you.
  • – Master showing up authentically, confidently, and unapologetically in your life and in relationships.
Ready to join? Have questions? Start by scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more and find out if this group is a good fit for you. More contact details can be found here.

WHEN

  • – Wednesdays 11:30-1:00PM CST

WHERE

  • – Group meets over Zoom; link provided at enrollment.

  • – Open to individuals located anywhere in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina.

HOW

  • – 6 spots available, they fill quickly—schedule a phone consult to learn more and register!

RATE

  • – $1,080 for 12 sessions (paid in full or weekly @ $90/session)

ABOUT THE GROUP FACILITATOR:

Dr. Mona Ghosheh has been helping young adults overcome depression and anxiety for almost 15 years. As a Palestinian, Arab-American and 1st generation immigrant, Mona knows first-hand how hard it can be to figure out who you are when there’s so much at stake–family, religion, culture, reputation, etc. And it’s even more challenging when you have to sort out these complexities on your own. BUT you aren’t alone— you are welcome to join this group of kind, supportive, and invested womxn who get it!

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Courageous Living Skills Class

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If you are a WOMAN who has experienced more than your fair share of pain, this group is for you.

Do you find that you must show up everyday and be BRAVE just to make it through?

Press the PAUSE button on shame spirals, panic attacks, isolation, confusion and all sorts of unpleasant experiences that have taken your JOY, POWER and SELF-CONFIDENCE.

The COURAGEOUS LIVING SKILLS CLASS is a space where you can LEARN to:

– land in the present moment

– breathe with greater ease

– create community with women who ‘get it’

– use skills and techniques that make living easier

When awful things happen, it is human nature that we close ourselves to experiences that could lead to more hurt. What many people don’t learn, though, is how to unlock the pain and grief that is held within.

We’ve got you.

Within the Courageous Living Skills Class, we welcome you and all parts of you. For 1 hour per week, you are invited to learn simple tools and practice simple skills that will magnify clarity and calm in your life.

We are focused on removing the blocks that are keeping you from living an empowered life as well as keeping a focus on where you want to go and building habits that will get you there.

You will never be pressed to share more than you want. Your privacy is important. Everything you do talk about in the group is just for us to know and work through together.

Understand more about what happens to people when they encounter overwhelming experiences, get to know your individual strengths, the strengths of your community and positively transform your life and the life of those around you.

NEXT Step?

Call or email our office to schedule an intake chat. This gives Wendy and Marissa an opportunity to get to know you better, to answer any questions you have about the group and will also serve as an opportunity to support you with preparing for the learning and growing experience ahead.

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Mona Ghosheh

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You were brought up to talk a certain way, live a certain way, look a certain way and love a certain way. But deep down, you don’t believe much of that anymore. So, you hide. You don’t want to be a disappointment to your friends & family. The constant pushing down of your beliefs, thoughts, and feelings is killing you and getting harder and harder to keep from spilling onto every part of your life. I help millennials dig out from under the mess. To accept & celebrate all aspects of their identities and to improve their relationships both in and out.
I specialize in helping 20 to 30 somethings who struggle with identity concerns, cultural issues, self-esteem, relationship problems, as well as depression and anxiety. I have extensive experience working with college & graduate students as well as young professionals. I love helping people live their truth, effortlessly and without fear.
It’s my mission to make the healing process accessible and comfortable. That’s why my sessions are online through a private and easy to use video platform (like Skype). To begin, contact me to schedule a FREE 15-min phone consultation. I can help you take the next step towards a life worth living.

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Kamaria Wells

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Hello, I’m Kamaria, a third year art therapy graduate student, at Notre Dame de Namur University. I am looking for adults of Color who have experienced racialized trauma in their educational experiences to be part of a therapeutic arts healing group and study for 4 weeks (90 min on zoom).

My path to Art Therapy encompassed growth and discovery in the fields of education, social services, mental health, community organizing, vocational rehabilitation, political, and legal fields. During these varied experiences she was introduced to art making and discovered the therapeutic nature of art through personal process. The universality of Art Therapy is beautiful, every individual ranging from nonverbal with physical limitations to extremely able cognitively and physically, can benefit from it. With a BA in International Studies from UNC-Charlotte, Kamaria’s multi-cultural knowledge will enhance her ability to work with various communities and accommodate traditional healing needs. Kamaria looks forward to continuing to work in underserved communities and helping destigmatize therapy, as Art Therapy is the bridge that allows traditional talk therapy to be more accessible and less intimidating, especially for those often forgotten and omitted from history. 

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Jennie Runde

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I am a mixed (Black biracial) clinician working with mixed and multi-heritage folks in my private practice. I am trained as an expressive arts therapist, and use expressive arts including art, creative writing, and movement to help folks improve communication, connection, and contentment.

I believe that all of us, including and especially those of us that do not often see ourselves reflected in the world around us, have to use our creativity to create the world as we need it to be, as opposed to how it is.

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Perry Clark

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The question is: What is tangling you up? Are you tangled up in anxiety, sadness,& doubt? Are you held by insecurity &uncertainty? Are you slowed by feeling disconnected & getting caught unaware? Have the paths become overgrown and you can’t find or are questioning the sign before you? Growth is about using and building new skills, all of which take time, and nurturing. Growth is about finding solutions that apply to the situation and not just the general world. Both of these are elements of the hope. Hope is something we need to move us through the day, and it does require updating.

We don’t live in isolation, which means it’s very easy to get tangled up and mired in things, situations, people, and feelings that keep us from growing. We need to understand them, so we can cut them away or down, to allow you to move forward with new skills and hope for living.

We don’t learn to tie our shoes or hold a fork instantly. It takes care from those around us to do so, and it isn’t easy. It’s a skill I hope we can find together.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Mixed Race Identity Group

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Join Jennie Powe Runde MFT, for Mixed Identity Group. Beginning Tuesday October 27th at 9:15am, Jennie invites folks of mixed heritage- including those who identify as bi/multiracial, multicultural, mixed, or some other category not defined or mentioned here relating to being “more than one” – to unpack and explore the complexity of mixed identity in community.

​Over 8 weeks, group members will come together in a safe and supportive space to talk about identity, community, and being fully seen.

You can sign up by booking a phone consultation through this link and sending a message that you’d like to be included in the group this time around. We’ll set up a time to chat to confirm it’s a good fit to join.

Here’s a general outline of what we’ll cover over the 8 weeks together:

​Week 1–  Laying the groundwork- labels and context

Week 2– Who are you? The inner mask and outer mask

Week 3– “What are you?” Being seen by others- finding our touchstone

Week 4– Turning inwards- What’s missing? Creating what’s needed

Week 5– Who am I? Considering a True Reflection

Week 6– Who are We? Acknowledging with Awareness

Week 7– What are We? Collaging Community

Week 8– Commencement and Return

​The group has a ‘flexible frame’, with a common theme or idea being explored each week tied to an expressive arts directive. The content of the group is determined by group members, who are invited to bring what feels most pressing, relevant, and important into the group space.

​We are often asked- both directly and indirectly- to not talk about our mixedness. In this group, all of you is welcome, including the parts that may feel new, ancient, unexplored, or unwelcome outside this shared space.  

Click here for the event flier.

Narissa Harris

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Seeking therapy?
I have helped others learn how to reduce their worrying, stress, depression or just the daily struggles of life. I’ve assisted parents in learning how to manage their growing teenagers behaviors. I’ve worked with families on learning how to get along better. And I have helped those with a traumatic past, learn how to manage the many feelings that come with trauma.

Seeking a training or workshop?
I specialize in trainings around true cultural humility in a gentle, yet unapologetic fashion. Particularly issues that plague the African-American community. These trainings often lead to uncomforable feelings, that are needed, which help those who participate begin to reflect on a deep level. I also specialize in trainings around trauma in the community and in the home. In addition, I provide self care retreats that remind, refresh, and restore those in the helping profession. Encouraging them to remember that one cannot effectively care for others if you don’t care yourself first.

If you’re looking for extra support, guidance through a challenging situation, or you’re interested in attending one of my workshops or trainings, feel free to call or email me. I look forward to working with you to help you bloom into your best self. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

6 UNIQUE Black-Indigenous-People-Of-Color (BIPOC) Telehealth Groups [times in description]

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 6 UNIQUE Black, Indigenous, and/or People-Of-Color (BIPOC) Online Therapy Groups in California Opening This Week

Calling In:
  • Clients who may be served
  • Those who can share this message to support their communities
  • Those down to 1:1 or connect me to community folx to share this with
For Further Info / To RSVP or check on available space: https://tinyurl.com/FreeBIPOCGroupTherapies
Group Descriptions: 1 session/week, 90-minutes, 10 sessions, video chat, pay-what-you-may, available now
🏿 Black Adult Group – Tuesday 8:30-10 PM, 21+, 8-10 people, centering being Black and grown, covid, and community
🏾 Black Teen Group – ages 14-19, Tuesday 2-3:30PM, centering being a Black teen, covid, and community
🏽 Asian Pacific American (APA) Group – Tuesday 6:00-7:30 PM, ages 21+, 8-10 members, co-facilitated*, centering restorative justice, covid, and the APA experience
🏼 BIPOC 7th and 8th Grade Group – Thursday 2:00-3:30, 8-10 members, centering covid, restorative justice, and being a POC teen
🏿 BIPOC Adult Group – 8-10 members, 21+, centering covid, restorative justice, and being BIPOC

🏾 BIPOC Law Enforcement Group – 8-10 members, co-facilitated**, centering being BIPOC while working pandemic & protests

About Christhmus (pronoun them at your pleasure):

Christhmus Presence will be facilitating all groups above. They are a 3.5-generation Muwekma Ohlone (San Francisco) land-settler and Chinese-American Queer. Pillars that guide them are liberation psychology, narrative psychology, somatic psychology, spirituality, and expressive arts. Tools held in support of self-resourcing, clarity, and ancestral connectivity include meditation, Tapping, and Brainspotting. They enjoy plants, creative expression, the power of community, and being in water. MFTI/PCCI supervised by Josie Valderrama, License# Psy27913.

*About Lai (pronouns she/her/hers):

Lai Chien is a 0-generation Hong Kong born cisgender Chinese-Vietnamese American by way of North Carolina, Georgia, and finally landing in the east bay of Oakland/Alameda.

She is a harm-reduction focused, strength-based, and change-oriented therapist utilizing narrative psychology, motivational interviewing and DBT concepts such as radical acceptance to empower growth and promote well-being. She can be found tending to her aquariums, cooking and/or eating, days at the beach and planning the next camping trip.  

AMFT #98435 supervised by Sandra Stultz, LMFT #43047 of Sankofa Holistic Counseling Services www.sankofatherapy.com

**About Annie (she/her pronouns):

Annie Chen is a marriage family therapist who has been helping people have better relationships with one another and themselves for over ten years. She is the author of a book on attachment theory and uses tools that are informed by neuroscience, trauma, and somatic psychology. She worked as a therapist for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Youth and Family Services Bureau from 2011-2014 and is interested in supporting those at the forefront of reforming law enforcement culture for the benefit of all. CA License# 80025

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Christhmus Presence

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Christhmus is a 3.5-generation Muwekma Ohlone (San Francisco) land-settler and Chinese-American Queer. Foundational pillars are liberation psychology, narrative psychology, somatic psychology, spirituality, and expressive arts. Tools held are meditation, Tapping, and Brainspotting. They enjoy plants, creative expression, the power of community, and being in water.

Filed Under: Uncategorized