Today's Read Contributor A Mission Born from Loss, Shaped by Purpose
In a quiet room filled with journals and the weight of experience, Dr. LaVerne Hanes Collins is reshaping the mental health landscape. Her mission was ignited by personal experiences that became catalysts for Dr. Collins’ commitment to address the mental health disparities affecting Black and Brown communities. With a warrior-like determination, she chose to transform her pain into purpose, challenging the status quo in mental health counseling.
The Unseen Struggles of Black and Brown Communities
Black and Brown individuals have long faced systemic barriers to quality mental health care. Dr. Collins’ mission is to dismantle these barriers by ensuring that counselors are equipped to meet the unique needs of marginalized communities. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Collins has become a leader in promoting culturally-attuned mental health care.
Through New Seasons Counseling, Training & Consulting, Dr. Collins is revolutionizing counselor training. She created a three-tier framework that integrates individual counseling, culturally relevant continuing education, and a train-the-trainers model. This comprehensive approach ensures that counselors are not just aware of cultural differences—they are prepared to address them in meaningful ways.
A Three-Tier Approach for a Multi-Layered Challenge
At the core of Dr. Collins’ model is the recognition that cultural responsiveness goes beyond surface-level “cultural competence.” Her approach focuses on addressing overlooked identity issues, historical trauma, unspoken losses, clinical biases, and often-neglected cultural strengths that impact wellness. By centering culturally-focused continuing education, her model ensures that counselors are better equipped to work with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Dr. Collins’ train-the-trainers initiative amplifies her work, spreading culturally relevant mental health practices to a wider audience. This ensures that her impact reaches beyond individual sessions and creates lasting systemic change in how mental health care is delivered.
A Book That Speaks the Unspoken: OVERLOOKED
A cornerstone of Dr. Collins’ mission is her book, OVERLOOKED: Counselor Insights for the Unspoken Issues in Black American Life. This groundbreaking work dives into the lived realities of Black Americans, shedding light on the systemic neglect and trauma that often go unaddressed in traditional therapy models. The book has become a key resource for counselors seeking to understand the deeper complexities of Black American experiences, offering insights on how to attend to these issues as healers without pathologizing Black lives.
Bridging the Gap Between Stigma and Healing
One of the major challenges facing Black and Brown communities when it comes to mental health care is the distrust toward treatment systems. Many individuals are reluctant to seek help due to past experiences of racism, misdiagnoses, or cultural misunderstandings. Dr. Collins works tirelessly to reverse this harm, training counselors to create safe spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and validated.
Through her work, Dr. Collins is helping clinicians build trust and establish rapport with communities that have been historically underserved or mistreated by mental health systems. By focusing on cultural humility, she invites counselors to explore the systemic and provider biases that hinder healing.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Clinicians
Dr. Collins’ impact extends far beyond her practice community. As a mentor, she’s shaping the next generation of counselors and trainers. She guides mental health professionals in adopting culturally relevant practices, encouraging them to rethink American treatment methods and embrace more inclusive and culturally appropriate approaches to therapy. Her mentorship has a ripple effect in the mental health community, helping to create a workforce that is more capable of serving diverse populations.
Recognition for Groundbreaking Work
Dr. Collins’ efforts have earned widespread recognition in the mental health field. Her work has not only shed light on critical issues affecting Black Americans but has also paved the way for more inclusive, compassionate approaches to mental health care. By challenging long-standing biases and incorporating cultural awareness into counselor training, Dr. Collins is helping to shift the narrative on mental health.
A Call to Action: Join the Mission for Cultural Sensitivity
Dr. Collins is not only transforming the mental health profession—she is inviting others to join her mission. Her call to action is clear: mental health professionals must step up and challenge systems that miss the mark. “It’s about creating spaces where Black and Brown individuals are truly seen and heard,” Dr. Collins emphasizes.
Her work is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of cultural sensitivity in mental health care. By embracing her approach, mental health professionals can play a key role in making decolonized healing available for everyone.
For those eager to learn more about Dr. LaVerne Hanes Collins and her transformative work, visit New Seasons Counseling, Training & Consulting. Connect with her on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn for updates and insights. And don’t miss her book, OVERLOOKED, which offers valuable perspectives on Black American mental health.
Take the First Step Toward Change
Are you a counselor or mental health professional ready to address unspoken issues and reverse systemic biases? Join Dr. LaVerne Hanes Collins and become part of the movement for more inclusive and compassionate mental health care. Enroll in her training programs today to start making a difference in the lives of Black and Brown individuals. It’s time to help change the narrative—one counselor, one community at a time.
