Khadija AbubakarLicensed Master Social Worker

Khadija Abubakar, Licensed Master Social Worker, 117772 is practicing under the supervision of Alesa Rodriguez (New York, LCSW, 80396) at Resilience Lab.

Please, note: A clinician listed as being “clinically supervised” is completing clinical hours toward their licensure. They have one or more fully licensed clinical supervisors that often have special training to become supervisors. They consult with their supervisor(s) on all of their cases, which means that, when working with them, you are getting the time and expertise of multiple therapists in your treatment.

I became a therapist because Black women are often underrepresented or unseen in the mental health field. For women of color, it can be difficult to find a therapist who understands their lived experience. I want to create a healing space for women of color, which I struggle to see exist today. Many times, people of color are afraid or reluctant to seek mental health treatment for fear of judgment or shame. My goal is to erase this stigma.

Everyone has the right to show up how they want to show up in the world. And yet, the stories that society tells people of color have impacted their self worth, ability to feel comfortable in their own skin, and their relationships. I’m a licensed psychotherapist who works to empower the disempowered through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and intersectional approach. My focus is creating a safe, healing space for clients to be unapologetically themselves, while gaining the confidence needed to navigate the world around them. My therapy practice focuses on rewriting those narratives into stories of strength and empowerment that place clients at the center. This allows my clients to understand their lived experience, challenge internalized beliefs, and heal from the impacts of racial stress and oppression.

I have a strong ability to empathize, understand, and share the feelings of others. I also have a flexible approach and prioritize my clients’ needs above all else. There is no one right way to show up to therapy. Being able to adapt and change my structure, approach, or treatment plan is crucial to my clients’ success. My practice is centered on multicultural competence and I’m very aware of different cultures, races, religions, and worldviews. People can show up confidently as their authentic selves without feeling like they will be judged. All of this is rooted in my desire to empower clients and validate their experiences and experts in their own lives.

During my time with the New York City Department of Probation, I developed focus group pilot projects to identify youth mental health and educational needs. The majority of clients I worked with were Black. Part of my position involved addressing how racial inequities in the criminal justice system, inequitable opportunity, and lack of access to education impact youth. I’ve also performed wellness checks, designed, and implemented virtual activities at Rego Park Senior Center, where the majority of residents are immigrants 60-80 years old. Learning about the cultural dynamics of the center’s residents was a huge component of my role. I also helped residents navigate immigrant issues that impacted their ability to access services like healthcare. After my time there, I provided weekly individual counseling and crisis intervention for youth who are dually diagnosed with a severe mental illness and an intellectual disability at SCO Family Services. People from many religions and minority communities lived in the house, which hosted group discussions about diversity and inclusivity. The organization emphasized educating residents about different backgrounds and promoting acceptance. I’m now a proud member of the Resilience Lab mental health collective. Resilience Lab is the largest community of clinicians working collaboratively to produce better outcomes and improve mental health access for all people—regardless of their race, religion, or cultural background. In other words, we want you to be able to work with therapists who see your perspective, can validate your lived experience, and understand the relationship between intersectionality and mental health.