Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shenelle Roebuck. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shenelle , 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?
My purpose comes from my lived experience. I am a social worker and the granddaughter of a social worker, who was raised to give back. I am a Black, Caribbean, Latina woman, who grew up in an area where diversity was lacking. As a result, I was on a constant search for people that looked like me and shared experiences. I have been immersed in many cultural experiences in my lifetime and experienced the boost of energy, love and good vibes by being in community.
As a result of these experiences, I realized the stigma associated with getting basic needs met, including mental health needs. I created a business to support underserved people who need support but can’t seem to find what they are looking for. I know the feeling of isolation, especially when you need a hand to support you in tough times. Kuumba Therapy is that place. With the development of the I Luv Me Some Me Program, Kuumba Therapy has expanded services to serve a broad range of women, many of whom need culturally appropriate spaces to feel safe and process their struggles, release hurts, heal, be empowered and find joy.
Our purpose is to heal our women so that we heal our future generations, break the cycle of generational trauma and live a free, liberated, empowered and joyful life.
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?
Kuumba Therapy, LLC embodies my vision of providing mental health wellness to marginalized populations. Mental Health stigma is a real thing, but it does not have to be. Kuumba Therapy, LLC provides individual, group and family therapy. I am an Afro-Caribbean-Latina, who understands the intersectionality of race, identity and the impact on mental health. I am an ally to the LGBTQIA community and continually seek training and support to best serve this community. I am a trauma-trained therapist who specializes in modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Practice, and Ancestral Healing, among other techniques to help heal wounds related to generational trauma, racial trauma, mental health, unhealthy family dynamics or just living life.
Kuumba Therapy, LLC philosophy is about mental, physical and emotional wellness. We are hardwired to look for the negative which contributes to feeling stuck in our issues. It is possible to have liberation from the heavy stuff, it just takes consistent work and attention to resolve and heal. The healing process can be difficult and can be made easier with the right therapist fit and client motivation to address hard topics.
Recently, Kuumba Therapy has expanded into coaching using a framework developed by Shenelle Roebuck, LCSW called I Luv Me Some Me, This program is designed to have supportive spaces for women of color in healing through a collective community model, which is inherent to healing indigenous populations. This program is focused on the concept of for us by us, which allows us to heal in a collective, collaborative and reciprocal way. Additionally, there are community spaces for all women who are seeking support in having the ability to practice self love and empowerment. This program uses a membership model with monthly live group virtual calls to develop and maintain a sisterhood, discussion of topics that are important to the communities served and offer opportunities for healing.
My brand is all about authenticity comes to mind. My life, my practice, my work in all capacities require that I, Shenelle Roebuck, LCSW, show up authentically. I believe that showing our genuine humanity and authentic self is the only way to make connections and achieve success in the wellness field. I do not focus on labels and spaces that are not true for clients. Rather I look at what could be, address what is and support the healing process. If I expect clients to be honest then I have to be as well, I have to come with the true form of myself. Doing that ensures that I stick from the crowd and can be fulfilled in knowing that I showed up as my best self.
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 three qualities that have been most impactful to me would be diligence, determination and creativity.
Diligence: You must work hard and have a good work ethic to be successful. Knowing that balance is important, you can set necessary boundaries to achieve your goals.
Determination: You will be told no or fail at something in your journey, KEEP GOING! Take every setback as a learning experience and learn, grow and apply it. No one ever succeeded by stopping. Rest when you need to and stay focused on your goals.
Creativity: All of my work comes from a creative space. Knowing that I plan to leave spaces that I interface with better than when I arrived. Using creative approaches to deal with hard tasks or situations allows for a space of growth and flexibility.
My piece of advice is to start and keep going. Don’t let anything, especially fear stop you from achieving your dreams. Find business minded people to become your community to help you grow. Find a Coach who can help you to clarify your vision. If it is important to you, invest in it.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client are women.
Women of color (BIPOC) who are looking for a supportive community of women to support a healing and awareness journey that leads to empowerment and joy.
Women of color who have been successful on their healing journey and can offer spaces of support to others
Women who need a positive community and are willing to support all women and empathize with the circumstances that women from marginalized communities face.
Women who are in need of a safe space to be seen, heard and understood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kuumbatherapy.godaddysites.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kuumbatherapyllc/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KTStigmafree/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shenelle-roebuck-64a7b2199/
Image Credits
Ayo Nsude
