Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Carey-Johnson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My interest in the field of therapy grew while working as a case manager shortly after graduating from the University of Florida. The families and young adults I worked with all experienced some form of trauma or difficulty, many of whom did not have a positive outlet or, due to the stigma associated with mental health, did not think of therapy as an option. As a fresh college graduate, this was a pivotal time for me. I was very much still trying to figure out my “next steps,” and the relationships I forged and networks I gained entered molded and motivated me to pursue my master’s in Human Services with a specialization in Child Protection in the Juvenile Justice system. I eventually enrolled in the Ph.D. Marriage and Family Therapy program at Nova Southeastern University and began various ventures, including starting a non-profit to support underserved teen girls and mentoring and volunteering pro bono mental health services with Healing Arts Institute.
I have provided therapeutic services within schools, homes, and clinical settings addressing topics ranging from family dynamics to handling individual stressors and care. Perhaps the most influential role I’ve had (in terms of why I love the practice of therapy) was serving as the Clinical Director at a women’s and children’s homeless shelter. I worked hand-in-hand with families experiencing extreme lows and saw firsthand the importance of collaborating across providers of various resources to meet the needs of clients served. I understood and saw the importance of effective human communication and its impact on emotions and feelings. I eventually realized the need for and wanted to further my marriage and family therapy education to increase my skill set and ability to provide therapy services.
Currently, I am at the end of the race to complete a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family therapy (MFT). My research has involved intimate partner violence and exploring the hook-up culture among adolescents (which I have presented internationally). Currently, my dissertation research explores the cultural implications first, and second-generation Caribbean families have on first-generation Caribbean-American parenting styles and how they assimilate within the Western culture. As an Afro-Caribbean American woman and the oldest child, I have noticed the differences in parenting styles, even amongst siblings, and decided to explore this further. The overall implication of the research is to explore the lived experience of young adults in the South Florida area and identify parenting trends, relationship dynamics, and family dynamics. I’m really looking forward to learning more about how culture, values, morals, and more are accepted, infused, and passed down generationally.
My journey thus far has led me to look at situations holistically and realize that human behavior results from our experiences, beliefs, and biological predispositions. I want to use my education and experiences to help others make better decisions for themselves (whatever that may be) and access resources and information that empowers them to live the best versions of themselves. I think about my own upbringing and mentors such as Mrs. Roundtree, Mr. Sank, Dr. Townsel, Mr. Axtell, Coach Jackson, Dr. Ayjai, Dr. Miller, Dr. Tennie, Delphine Gervais, and many other influential people who I’ve crossed paths with that contributed to my own career path and personal passions. Being a therapist allows me to give back and help others along their journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely was NOT a smooth road! Haha. But I do think every part of my process had to happen to make me who I am today. Between family struggles that involve being the oldest, caring for my siblings and parents, and going through my own personal ups and downs, I realized that adversity is a guaranteed and necessary part of life. Professionally, I’ve had to find my place or niche in the therapy world –something that I am still solidifying yet allowing to unfold. Finding confidence being in rooms where you’re the only one that looks or thinks like you. More recently, being “okay” with postpartum depression to the extent that I could be honest about it to do something about it. Being told by ‘others’ that I cannot succeed within this field, especially starting my own private practice. I was also told that culturally minorities wouldn’t attend therapy. So, I’ve been definitely finding ways to break that stigma!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Gabby Cares of South Florida is a private practice that offers in-person and virtual therapeutic services. We thrive working collaboratively with families and/or individuals to explore and reach their full potential. Through talk therapy, incorporating mindfulness, self-reflection, and guided work on the client’s part, there are ways to explore the past and embrace the now.
As an African-Caribbean American female, I have been privy to many experiences that have aided in my ability to be empathic, a great listener, a problem-solver, and an overall friend. I am the oldest child, and I’ve been through heartbreak, facing challenges from death to birth to substance use within my family. The exposure to these things has positively impacted my ability to stay open-minded and look at situations from various perspectives. I believe in looking at life circumstances as a continuous wave of emotions and offering tools to help “ride the wave.” I embrace generational values and morals and use them to shape my worldview.
Infant and parental (maternal and paternal) mental health is my area of expertise. This population became particularly important to me after two neonatal intensive care unit stays, a traumatic birth experience (following the delivery of my twins), and a deeper exploration of the mental health implications of pregnancy. I was aware of how important it was for me to give even the youngest members of my family a voice because adults often overlook them and assume they have no voice. You’d be surprised at how much a 3-year-old can communicate to you through play, art, singing, and, most importantly, non-verbal cues!
Gabby Cares is currently in the works of partnering with Healing Arts Institute of South Florida. We are looking forward to providing individual and family therapy services at a significantly, *cough cough* crossing fingers FREE of charge to those who are in need and are unable to afford the cost of mental health services in the Miami area.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Where mental health was previously disregarded or stigmatized, perspectives on it are changing, becoming more open and accepting of the needs that result from it. I consider the most recent launch of mental health resources by Megan Thee Stallion. Today, mental health is a prevalent topic in popular culture. Resources are now accessible and available through various new technologies, and support is available in workplaces and schools. You can check out my life planner resource on GabbyCares.com, a manual on how to maneuver through your life. This book includes a monthly planner, monthly affirmations you can tear out and place around your house, a journal with prompts to grow and so much more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gabbycares.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbycaressfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabbyCaresSFL/
