Raynal @ The mend

 My therapeutic philosophy is grounded in my belief that: 1) Therapy should be accessible to all people, no exceptions. 2) You are worthy of love, dignity, and respect. 3) You deserve a therapist who is culturally responsive to your needs. 4) Systemic oppression plays a critical role in your mental health and can trigger chronic stress, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and trauma. 

 Many of us who come from marginalized backgrounds experience a healthcare system that doesn’t believe us, take us seriously, or understand us. We can feel isolated in our pain, and the very system that is supposed to provide healing instead causes us more harm. This is why I approach therapy through a racial justice, feminist, disability justice, LGBQIA+ and TGNC affirming, and intersectional lens to ensure that everyone can benefit from therapy. 

No one’s life experience can be described by one approach, so I use several clinical approaches to meet each client’s unique needs, including Person-centered, Existential, Gestalt, CBT, Internal Family Systems Parts Work, and Creative Expressive Arts. My purpose is to help you deepen your understanding of yourself and your situation, to support you in the therapeutic journey, and to help you identify and make progress toward your goals.

While working together, I will create a safe, affirming, and healing space that honors the many identities you hold and the numerous roles you take on. As your therapist, I will show up as myself, a caring, empathetic, and laid-back person, who is ready to hold space for you and receive you as you are in that moment. 

 I am a Black, cisgender man of Haitian descent, who was raised by a single mother in a working-class home in Kansas. My background and lived experiences influence my commitment to de-colonize therapy.

Before entering the field of mental health, I was an actor in Chicago. Being an actor helped me cultivate empathy and become a compassionate listener. I believe deeply in the therapeutic benefits of drama and enjoy incorporating expressive arts into therapy sessions.

In my free time, you can find me playing board games with my partner and friends, taking long drives through the mountains, listening to music, watching anime, riding my bike, playing the occasional video game, and hiking. My favorite role is being a father and caregiver to my son who is medically complex and has disabilities.