Meet Leticia Reed

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leticia Reed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leticia below.

Leticia, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
We live in a world where we constantly told we aren’t good enough, especially those of us living within the African American experience. To add another caveat, we’re also constantly inundated with messages highlighting our inadequacies, yet are admired, mimicked and even culturally appropriated like our blackness is a cosplay costume that can be worn when convenient.

Self Esteem and Confidence is shaped by our first loves, our initial caregivers. From this initial influence, our view of the world, is formed, both positive or negative, resulting in us either forming a sense of trust or distrust towards the world, thereby affecting how we navigate our adulthood relations intimately and professionally. I was blessed to be reared within a strong support system with individuals who possessed solid moral compasses and resilience that I now possess and demonstrate in the many spaces I permeate.

Self-esteem is the foundation upon which we build our sense of identity, worth, and confidence. It plays a crucial role in our overall well-being and influences how we perceive ourselves and interact with the world around us. Developing and maintaining a healthy sense of self-esteem is an ongoing journey that requires self-reflection, self-acceptance, and self-compassion. 

Understanding Self-Esteem:
Self-esteem is the subjective evaluation of one’s own worth and value as a person. It is not about being perfect or always feeling positive, but rather about having a balanced and realistic opinion of oneself. It involves recognizing and appreciating our strengths and abilities while acknowledging our limitations and areas for growth. Self-esteem is not fixed; it can fluctuate based on life experiences, external validation, and how we perceive ourselves.

The Impact of Self-Esteem:
A healthy level of self-esteem has numerous benefits. It influences our relationships, careers, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. Those with high self-esteem tend to be more resilient, confident, and capable of handling life’s challenges. They are more likely to set and achieve goals, take healthy risks, and maintain positive relationships. On the other hand, individuals with low self-esteem may struggle with self-doubt, fear of failure, and difficulty asserting themselves, leading to feelings of unworthiness and unhappiness.

Maintaining my healthy self esteem and confidence is a continual process due to the constant external influences that are set up to threaten it. With access granted to millions via social media and the internet as a whole, our confidence and self esteem are constantly threatened via edited images, filters and other editing tools to make individuals appear as “perfect”, consequently affecting individuals’ perception of reality and confidence. My faith in Jesus Christ and the biblical scripture reminding believers we are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, in addition to the fact that I’ve always been a naturally resilient individual regardless of negative external influences, the fact that I have always moved to the beat of my own drum and I have never allowed the opinions of others to take up real estate in my head, have all helped to keep my self esteem and confidence  intact. However, I would be remiss to deny the damaging effects of social media has on millions 24/7/365. The internet doesn’t have an OFF switch and is allowed to consistently haunt those without the self control and restraint to move themselves from the level of toxicity it can infect us with. However, on the flipside, a healthy dose self comparison has its benefits as it can serve as a catalyst to the building of internal locus of control and self improvement. I have actually used self comparison to “keep me on my toes”, positively utilizing the actions of others as motivation to ensure I remain in the mode of forward progression.

Self comparison in relation youth’s social media consumption, however, has caused me to become perturbed due to statistical findings highlighting the detrimental effects social media has on the mental health of youth ie. bullying and suicide as the rates have continued to climb. I believe we need to push for more mentoring and rite of passage programs to buffer and mitigate and the correlation between social media and a decrease in self confidence and  negative self esteem, to begin building up “generation next”. As we pass the torch and promote the upward mobility of those behind us, we need to ensure we are planting and passing along healthy “seeds”.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am currently emersed in several projects that keep me rather busy. All of my projects are all things I envisioned myself doing and it’s a blessing to be living a life of purpose that was once a figment of my imagination. I am currently a mental health therapist in multiple, states, mental health business consultant, author, professor/educator (occasionally), podcast host and much more as I am constantly evolving and reinventing myself.

I attended the San Diego State University where I received a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Child Development. I also attended the University of Southern California, receiving a Masters Social Work and eventually obtained licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California and later in the state of Nevada. I’ve wanted to address the stigma of mental health in the African American community long before it became a trendy topic.
I am an author of several books, 4 of which are children’s books/coloring books, (Beautifully Brown and Wonderfully Made, I Can Be Anything ,Malcolm and Mahogany’s Amazing Legacy, When Scary Things Happen and Releasing the Butterflies from My Tummy, available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Kobo Books), self-esteem by addressing ,racism, colorism issues, teaching children how to heal from trauma, while promoting the confidence of children, specifically African American boys and girls.
I’ve been featured in numerous articles, participated in professional panels internationally, as well as participated in various radio broadcasts. In my spare time, I host a podcast show, Leticia’s Virtual Couch (on the Anchor App and other streaming platforms) as well as provide book and business coaching for aspiring authors and mental health professionals seeking entrepreneurial opportunities and advancement. Most recently, I conducted a series of mental wellness workshops for a mentorship program for high school girls and for The County of Los Angeles foster care providers’ certification requirements in conjunction with LA Trade Technical Community College. It is amazing that I am able be paid for doing what is intrinsically rewarding for me.

I’ve always been passionate about helping others and erasing the stigma of mental health in the African-American community. One languishing and succumbing to effects of mental illness and the lack of access to quality mental health support is one too many. I strive daily to provide culturally competent and quality mental health services to bridge the gaps and disproportionate rate in mental services plaguing African-American communities throughout the country. I enjoy empowering, edifying and strengthening disenfranchised communities, specifically the African American community. It is my mission to eradicate the stigma of mental health and transform disproportionate statistics/rates into statistics/rates that depict us growing, thriving and excelling. I want my personal journey to show other African Americans of South Central Los Angeles and other marginalized communities around the world that they too can make it

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The 3 qualities that have always assisted me have been: Integrity, Perseverance and Empathy. These 3 qualities are interwoven in some capacity in every successful person’s life. The advice that I would give to others beginning early in their journey, is the following: keep your best foot forward, find your tribe to glean from and to accept wise counsel that will hold you accountable and learn to remove yourself from and individuals and from toxic situations without explanation or an apology for this is the best form of self care and self love.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Bible. I regard it as BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH. It is the Holy (pun intended) grail, of all things WISDOM.

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