Cassandra’s Haitian mom urges her to turn to God to help her feel better, but she prefers therapy. And Cidna Valentin, a mental health practitioner, speaks with Juleyka about how to utilize our families’ lived experiences to build mutual understanding, and debunks myths about religion and mental health treatments.

Cassandra Dunbar runs Be Well, Sis, a podcast and online community dedicated to inspire and support Black women on their journey to wellness and self-care.

Featured Expert: 

Cidna Valentin, Phd. is a clinical psychologist and Clinial Director and Supervisor at Let's Talk Psychological Wellness. As a clinician of diverse cultural experiences, she values culturally-relevant and integrative evidence-based practice and has flexibility in psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and interpersonal therapeutic approaches. She has experience working with clients across the lifespan in a variety of settings, practicing most recently in global mental health/international psychology. Through the lens of social justice, she is dedicated to creating healing spaces for people of color and underserved communities. Her specialties include depression and mood disorders, Haitian mental health, migration/acculturation stress, trauma/PTSD, and Maternal mental health. Learn more about her work here. 

If you loved this episode, listen to "You're Grieving and in Pain. They Call you 'Crazy'" and "When You Don't Believe in God, And They Really Want You To".

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