Today we’d like to introduce you to Rashida Davis
Hi Rashida, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
5 year old me told my father that I would a be a doctor and own my own private practice one day. The funny thing is we both assumed at the time that that meant medical doctor with a medical practice. Years later while being pre-med and sitting in my psychology 101 class I would see a Black male psychologist give a guest lecture on African centered psychology that would convince me to explore mental health. It was through that exploration and the mentorship of that same psychologist that led me to pursue a PhD in counseling psychology. My studies would lead me to gain interest in being sensitive to aspects of diversity such as race, ethnicity, religion and spirituality while doing the work we do with clients. In August of 2023, Heal To Hear was born fulfilling the prophetic words of 5 year old me. I was now a doctor an an owner of a faith-based private practice that focuses on counseling and training.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to get here has not been easy. The first barrier I had to overcome was my GPA as it took a hit due to becoming ill and being too stubborn to take a medical leave from school. I applied to PhD programs with strong letters of rec, research experience, a clear vision expressed in my personal statement, an average GRE, and a 2.7 GPA. Most programs would see my GPA and not bother look at the rest of my application but with faith in GOD I boldly applied, knowing I only needed one yes. Well that yes came in the form of an interview that led to an official acceptance. I often joke (but I am so serious) that getting into graduate school was the easiest part of my journey. Although the numbers may not have been in my favor, I applied to a school that was willing to look past my applying GPA. Getting in felt easy, but getting out aka graduating felt like the fight of my life. The classes although at times challenging were not the issue, it was the microaggressions and racially charged experiences I had while trying to juggle grad student life that made it so difficult. I was thankful that I had my faith in GOD and supportive, family, and friends around me who reminded me of my vision and my ability to overcome and do the hard things. Towards the end of my graduate tenure I met the love of my life got married and had our first son. There were some crazy nights as I was breastfeeding my son while writing my dissertation so I could meet the deadline to graduate. Once I graduated the final challenge of getting fully licensed became a reality and any licensed psychologist will tell you that passing the EPPP (our board exam) is not an easy task. I failed twice and felt pretty defeated but once again was reminded through faith and my support system that I would overcome. I passed on the third try and was able begin practicing independently which led to being able to go from solo practice to now, group practice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Heal To Hear (Counseling and Training)?
Heal To Hear’s mission is to provide compassionate and faith-based counseling services to individuals, couples, and families. We are dedicated to offering training opportunities to counseling students, post-docs, and pre-licensed professionals, nurturing and developing the next generation of skilled and empathetic counselors. Heal To Hear envisions itself as the foremost provider of holistic counseling services and a premier training ground for aspiring counselors. We strive to not only promote mental health but also to enhance spiritual, physical, and relational well-being within our community.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5 years we see ourselves continuing to grow our team of clinicians and thus growing our reach in the community. We truly see ourselves as a healing hub that will be at the forefront of holistic mental health.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.healtohear.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healtohear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealToHear/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@healtohear
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@healtohear
