—  research and why it matters  —

My research is focused on understanding how racism, oppression, and lived experience affect people’s mental health, relationships, and sense of self, especially for Black women and others who have been marginalized. Much of what people carry emotionally does not come from one single event, but from repeated experiences of being misunderstood, overlooked, devalued, or required to stay strong in systems that were not built to support them. My work looks at how these experiences become internalized over time, shaping how people see themselves, relate to others, and move through the world. I am especially interested in how healing happens when people are given space to name what they have lived through, without being blamed, minimized, or told to simply “cope.” My research asks how therapy, training, and care systems can do a better job of honoring lived experience while supporting real change, not just symptom relief.

I believe research should be useful, not abstract. My work is meant to inform how therapists are trained, how organizations support the people they serve, and how communities understand the emotional impact of racism and oppression. At its core, my research is about helping create conditions where people can reconnect with themselves, restore what has been disrupted, and live with greater freedom and dignity.