Meet Tamiko Stanley

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tamiko Stanley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tamiko, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Over the last 8 years in the mental health field I found that there was a significant gap in mental health/substance use treatment and connecting with psychiatric care. During COVID I discovered through my job as a medical assistant, that there was little to no continuity of care between psychiatrist, treatment centers, and therapist. This made me want to continue my education and obtain my social work license. The purpose I found during this process was that I wanted to really help families navigate care and better the communication between doctor and patient. This really drove me to get more connected within the treatment center community and understand overall care.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name Tamiko, in Japanese, means child of the people, or in better terms, people-person. I have always been drawn to helping people and guiding them in the right direction. I have had a long journey of mental health, myself and have also walked with others through their darkest times. I approach everyone with acceptance and empathy when it comes to talking about the most personal of times. I always say be unapologetically yourself. I have lived in Dallas since 2006 and I call myself a native. I graduated from The University of Arkansas in 2019 with my Bachelors in Communications. In 2021, I made the decision to pursue my Masters in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. I graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with my Masters in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

I have been working in Addiction Psychiatry since 2016. Before working with Dr. Lee Spencer, I was with UT Southwestern Outpatient Psychiatry for two years with the Addiction team as a Certified Medical Office Assistant. My training and experience come from work at the Center for Addiction and Recovery Studies and Casa Colina Treatment. I have further trained in eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Working on the clinical side of psychiatry for many years has given me a unique insight as well.

I currently specialize in substance use and psychotic disorders. Working with these two populations has allowed me to really broaden my scope and understand the complexity of each diagnosis. When I first started working with these populations I quickly noticed there was a lack of direction for families and individuals about where they should go for help and direction. It is now my passion to get to know treatment centers, providers, and resources to individualize plans for my clients and families so that they end up with the right providers and treatment centers they need.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The most important areas of knowledge I have found in my specialties is learning the different modalities out there for certain diagnosis, patience, and also how proper medication management is crucial for these populations. My advise for folks who want to dive into these fields would be to have patience and truly understand there are layers to treatment. There is never a one size fits all with these populations or cookie cutter plan. Stay curious and alert because things do change and having all aspects at your fingertips can really maximize treatment.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is someone who wants to commit to their mental health journey or at least be open to exploring their options. I do a lot of work with families who need guidance for their children who don’t have willingness as well. These two populations can be very rigid in their beliefs and ideas of treatment. It is best to try and meet the client or families where they are to explore what options are available.

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