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Today’s episode contains difficult themes*. Dr. Akua Boateng joins us to speak about her work as a coach and therapist involving helping people heal from depression and extreme trauma. Dr. Boateng is a licensed psychotherapist who has trained in multiple acute and outpatient facilities across the Tennessee valley. With 13 years of experience in clinical practice and education, she specializes in an integrative approach to treating anxiety, depression, mood disorders, work concerns, grief, relationship issues, and several other emotional concerns. Our conversation starts with Dr. Boateng’s interest in medicine and how she pivoted into psychology. We talk about the roots and symptoms of depression and trauma and what Dr. Boateng’s process of working through these issues with patients looks like. Our guest shares her thoughts on decolonizing therapy and the need to stop branding cultural practices as pathologies. We also hear about Dr. Boateng’s work assisting people in finding a way to move forward after going through some of the most damaging experiences imaginable such as losing loved ones as a result of homicide. Be sure to tune in for this conversation filled with Dr. Boateng’s rich insights and amazing work.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Perspectives on how some people are called to help others and what this looks like for Dr. Boateng.
• Dr. Boateng’s initial interest in medicine and how she pivoted into psychology.
• The work that Dr. Boateng does to help homicide survivors and what it involves.
• How people suffer from trauma without knowing it and what they can do to realize this.
• Chief complaints around relationships and pain that signal depression and trauma.
• How our bodies go into fight mode during trauma and how this state can linger.
• The roots of psychology in white masculinity and what it means to decolonize therapy.
• How children of color have to be educated about dangers to their lives which conventional psychology would not consider healthy and what this means.
• Breaking violent cycles with healthy relationships and what drew Dr. Boateng to marriage counseling.
• What Dr. Boateng’s coaching work involves and how it goes beyond systems-based coaching.
• Dr. Boateng’s strategies for self-care involving rest, eating well, sleep, and silence.
• How to connect with Dr. Boateng online.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Akua Boateng

Dr. Akua Boateng on Twitter

Dr. Akua Boateng on Instagram

Homocide Survivors Program

DRK BEAUTY on Instagram

DRK BEAUTY on Facebook