I am a psychotherapist, consultant, and spiritual mentor with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and an MA in Counseling Psychology. I specialize in working with high-achieving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals navigating self-doubt, imposter syndrome, generational trauma, and systemic oppression. My clients are professionals, creatives, and changemakers seeking a space to explore identity, career, relationships, and healing without the burden of educating their therapist on their lived experiences. Through a trauma-informed and holistic approach, I integrate Mindfulness, CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients heal trauma, regulate emotions, and reclaim their power. I incorporate somatic work, psychedelic integration, and preparation and integration support for ceremonial medicine to foster deep personal transformation. My practice acknowledges the mind-body connection, helping clients access healing on multiple levels while navigating major life transitions. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to my work. I create an affirming, culturally responsive space where clients feel safe to explore their experiences and identities without fear of judgment. By addressing systemic barriers and internalized oppression, I help clients reclaim autonomy, develop self-compassion, and cultivate resilience. My therapeutic approach is centered on empowerment, guiding individuals to harness their strengths and rewrite limiting narratives. My work empowers clients to break free from shame and fear, reconnect with their authentic selves, and move through life with confidence and self-trust. Healing is more than symptom management—it is about liberation, self-actualization, and stepping fully into one’s potential. My mission is to support clients in thriving, evolving, and embodying their highest selves to create meaningful, fulfilling lives rooted in authenticity and purpose.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

From the moment you step into our space together, my intention is to ensure that you feel seen, heard, and supported. Your first session with me is about creating a foundation for trust and understanding. Therapy is a space where you don’t have to perform, prove yourself, or explain why your experiences matter. You can exhale, let go of any masks you’ve had to wear, and just be. Therapy with me is not about fixing you because you are not broken. It’s about uncovering the parts of yourself that have been buried under expectations, self-doubt, and past wounds. This is your journey of transformation, and I am here to walk beside you. In our first session, I want to hear your story—not just the struggles but also your strengths, your dreams, and what you deeply desire for yourself. We will explore what brought you to therapy, what has been weighing on you, and what you hope to gain from this process. There’s no pressure to have all the answers or know precisely what you need. Our first session is about getting to know you and setting the foundation for our work together. I will ask questions to help me understand your experiences, relationships, and how you have coped with challenges in the past. This session is about exploration, curiosity, and, most importantly, creating a space where you feel safe enough to be fully seen. I will introduce you to my therapeutic approach and explain how we can work together to create meaningful change. Whether we integrate mindfulness and trauma-informed techniques or explore deeper self-awareness, we will begin identifying tools and strategies that fit your unique needs. Our first session is not about diving deep into every painful experience you’ve had; it’s about understanding where you are now and what kind of support feels right for you. We will also discuss any concerns you have about therapy so you feel comfortable with our process. Transformation does not just happen in our sessions—it happens in between them. Therapy is not just about what we discuss in our time together; it’s about how you take what we uncover and integrate it into your daily life. That’s why I incorporate intentional homework, not as a burden but as a tool for your growth. After our first session, I may give you a reflective journal prompt to help you deepen your self-awareness, a mindfulness exercise to help you reconnect with your body, or a simple practice to challenge negative thought patterns. These assignments are designed to help you cont

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I live by three principle core values: integrity, authenticity, and compassion. These shape my approach to therapy and how I show up for you. Transparency and honest communication create a space where you can be vulnerable without fear of judgment. Vulnerability is not weakness—it’s the foundation for self-awareness and growth. I know that for you, as a high-achieving BIPOC or LGBTQ+ individual, spaces where you can fully exhale and be your true self may have been rare. Here, you don’t have to hold back, code-switch, or make yourself smaller. Your experience is valid, your emotions are real, and your healing is yours to own. I see you. I know life has asked you to be resilient in ways others might not understand. You’ve carried expectations, navigated systemic barriers, and pushed forward even when barely holding it together. You might be exhausted from proving your worth or feel like no matter what you achieve, self-doubt lingers. I want you to know that this space is for you—not just to heal but to reclaim your narrative, redefine success on your terms, and learn how to exist in a way that feels liberating rather than constraining. When we begin working together, I will meet you exactly where you are. Our first session is not about fixing you—you are not broken. It’s about understanding where you’ve been, what has shaped you, and what you truly want for yourself. We’ll explore what’s working and what isn’t, what keeps you up at night, and what excites you about the future. There’s no pressure to have all the answers. Transformation is about exploration, curiosity, and, most importantly, creating a space where you feel safe to be fully seen. Together, we’ll examine how trauma, self-stigma, and external pressures may have shaped the way you move through the world. We’ll untangle harmful narratives and redefine them in ways that empower you. I’ll introduce practical tools that fit into your life—mindfulness exercises, grounding techniques, or small mindset shifts that create significant transformations over time. Therapy isn’t just about what happens during our sessions—it’s about how you apply these insights to your daily life. That’s why I offer reflection exercises, journaling prompts, and mindfulness practices tailored specifically to you. Healing doesn’t just happen in the therapy room; it happens in the quiet moments, in the way you speak to yourself, in the way you set boundaries, and in the way you learn to trust yourself again. Healing is n

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

My dream client is a high-achieving BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ individual deeply committed to personal growth, healing, and self-liberation. They may be navigating identity exploration, career pressures, relationship dynamics, or past traumas, and they seek a therapist who truly understands the complexities of their lived experience. They are introspective, open to both traditional and holistic healing methods, and eager to break generational cycles of trauma, self-stigma, and imposter syndrome. They value authenticity, cultural affirmation, and profound transformation—not just symptom relief. Many of my clients are drawn to mindfulness, spirituality, somatic work, or psychedelic integration, seeking more than just talk therapy but a space where they can explore their identity, heal from systemic and personal traumas, and step into their full potential. They don't want to code-switch or educate their therapist on their experience—they want to be seen, heard, and supported as their whole, unapologetic selves. I am uniquely positioned to serve this client because my lived experience, professional expertise, and holistic approach align deeply with their needs. As a BIPOC, LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, I understand the nuances of systemic oppression, intergenerational trauma, and identity development firsthand, creating a space where clients don't have to justify their existence—they can simply be. My practice is rooted in cultural humility, intersectionality, and deep respect for how identity and lived experience shape mental health. With over 15 years of experience in trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR, Brainspotting, DBT, and mindfulness, I specialize in helping clients process deep-seated wounds, regulate emotions, and cultivate resilience. My PhD research on self-stigma and imposter syndrome makes me an expert in guiding high-achieving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals in overcoming self-doubt, breaking limiting beliefs, and stepping into their personal power. I deeply understand how historical and cultural trauma manifests in our bodies and minds. I approach therapy with compassion and an awareness that healing is a layered, nonlinear process. My goal is not just to help clients manage their symptoms but also to support them in reclaiming their full selves, free from the constraints of societal expectations and internalized oppression. Together, we explore what liberation means for them, creating pathways for healing that honor their strengths and cultural w

About Dr. Tamala Leday