Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Judith Roberts.
Dr. Roberts, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We all have a story to share, and I am always eager to hear others! That’s what makes life so interesting! I am grateful for the opportunity to share mine. I am a psychotherapist, more specifically, a Florida-Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I am also an Approved Supervisor for mental health counselor interns and a Broward County Premarital Course Provider.
I maintain a private practice, enlightening Therapy and Counseling Services, LLC in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
My journey, however, began in Kingston, Jamaica. It was there that my love for helping others began. I grew up in the close-knit community of Harbour View, where people cared about each other, respected one another, a place where life-long friendships were forged. My parents, and other role models consistently demonstrated the importance of helping others, especially those in need. My siblings and I were taught the importance of living our faith, to lift others up, to use our spiritual gifts to encourage and inspire. We are called to care for and serve others. 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us “each of you should use whatever gift you have received, to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Being around others and the constant stimulation that provided piqued my curiosity about the thoughts, feelings and motivation behind people’s words and actions. This irresistible urge to better understand people’s behaviors ignited my interest in psychology. Upon graduation from St. Hugh’s High School, I immigrated to the United States to pursue a degree in Psychology. My parents and siblings followed three years later as two of my siblings were ready for college.
My goal was to obtain my doctorate in Clinical Psychology and open my private practice. It’s funny how our best laid plans are not always in alignment with God’s.
After a few years in retail, at times working three jobs to provide for my family, I was finally able to put my skills to the test. I was hired as the Director of Counseling, a grant position, for a city’s senior center. Despite the low pay, it was most rewarding! Our elders are such a reservoir of knowledge, experience, and wisdom! I was grateful to have had the great fortune to sit and listen to a population so often ignored or neglected. The lessons they imparted have often served to anchor me in the turbulence of our times. While at the center, I was accepted to the Clinical Psychology Program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), it required full-time attendance the first year. This proved impossible due to my obligation as a parent with two young sons. God has a way of showing us what our calling is, our true purpose. Years spent at the center and my subsequent employment with NSU, had provided an opportunity to work not only with individuals, but with their respective families. It was just fascinating to observe the interactions within each family! That fascination led to a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
My desire to be in private practice came to fruition in 1999 when I came across a flyer posted on a bulletin board in the College of Psychology of NSU. The owner of a group practice in Weston was seeking independent contractors. Not wanting to leave my current job at the university, I eagerly accepted the offer and began on a part-time basis. Sitting in on meetings helped me realize just how daunting a task it was to oversee one’s own practice. I began to have doubts that I could indeed manage my own business – a significant take-away from those meetings – the practice is a business and must operate as such. I decided to put that dream on hold. But, you see, God is ultimately in charge – it is He that directs our path. Two years after joining the practice, I made the move to begin my doctoral studies – another childhood dream. It was during that time that a friend who has became a mentor, reached out. An office was available a few doors down from his. Furthermore, he added, he had a few potential clients from the Miami area he wanted to refer as he was full. I was comfortable in the group practice – I only had to focus on my clients, nothing else. But God kept tugging at my heart I heard in more details, about the calls, the cry for help, the immediate need…and as my friend stressed, driving to Weston was not an option for them. He was closer to Miami, North Miami; his office is in Pembroke Pines, my hometown:)
And God tugged….and reminded me that He always makes a way…I didn’t know how I would manage a business and provide the care my clients need and deserve. But I took the step… the step into private practice, that was 2004, and I haven’t looked back. Although I had toyed with the idea of full-time practice, I didn’t feel I was ready. My close friends would say I am too cautious, wary of taking risks – certainly some truth to that! I remember discussing my ambivalence with my Pastor who would remind me to put my trust in God, to allow Him to direct my path, that He would make a way. God’s way could not have shone any brighter in June of 2020! With the onset of COVID in March 2020, most were making the transition to working remotely. After almost 27 years with Nova Southeastern University, I took a major leap, a leap of faith…trusting God to light my path….and retired from the safety, the familiar and the comfort I had grown to love – to full-time private practice. God’s timing! This was a time when the demand for mental health services had drastically increased as people grappled with the isolation, home and work stress and financial strain. The pandemic had affected how we work, learn, and interact as social distancing mandates led to a more virtual existence, personally and professionally; it created unprecedented conditions. It also transformed how people view mental health; it normalized help-seeking behaviors. I was ‘on time’ to respond to the need. I applaud the courage shown by my clients in seeking help, especially those from the Caribbean where mental health is considered “taboo”. So blessed to be a part of their journey!
It has been 15 months and I am loving every minute of it! I am still learning, and am taking more risks:) for example, upon my clients’ promptings, I have made the move to social media!!!! More importantly I am learning how to lean more on God and trust Him to guide my path as I fulfill my purpose.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To believe that life will be a smooth road without any bumps would be unrealistic. Everyone experiences bumps, potholes, detours, wrong turns – adversity along the way, and it is so easy to become discouraged by our mistakes, failures, and disappointments. Adversity gets our attention. It is in those moments, I believe, that we learn to appreciate the beauty and wonders of life. Every experience provides us with an opportunity to learn (a)more about our true character, (b) of the power within that can enable us to become a better version of ourselves, and (c) how to effectively respond to our circumstances with courage, patience, and perseverance. I am always amazed at the incredible resilience of the human spirit and the growth that follows adversity.
My journey is certainly not the exception. I am aware and accept that on this journey we will experience hardships, challenges, relational discord, physical illness, and other painful trials. God did not promise a life without long-suffering. But He did promise to be with us. So, I choose to count my blessings and not my burdens.
I will share one of my darkest moments though – losing one of my younger sisters to cancer. This was one of the rare moments that I had to step away from my job and practice.
2008 was to be a year of much joy and celebration. Our older son was graduating with his master’s degree and the same weekend, his future in-laws were hosting a traditional Nigerian wedding. Later that summer he was getting married to his college sweetheart, in a destination wedding. The year unfolded just as we imagined, everything went as planned – every occasion was filled with such love, joy, laughter, and excitement! The day after our son’s wedding, we had planned a surprise 50th wedding anniversary celebration for my parents – and boy, were they surprised!
Two months later, my mom was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. The news was devastating for all of us. The following months were blurry as I transported her to chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and doctors’ appointments. It was too much for my dad to manage, and as the eldest, it was my responsibility to take the lead. I cannot express the love and admiration I feel for my mom – always a warrior (having also battled breast cancer in 2016) – she did not complain, shed a tear – she relied on her faith and believed God would get her through what she called “setback.” February 2009 she was back in the hospital – her doctors discovered the radiation had caused the narrowing of the swallowing passage-she was unable to swallow. During that same week, my sister was hospitalized –the news was distressing! – breast cancer. For almost two weeks my youngest sister & I chose to rotate between both hospitals, being mindful not to share any disheartening news about the other’s prognosis. Both were discharged home…my sister, we were told, would need to get stronger to commence chemotherapy and radiation…she died less than 3 months later, one week before Mother’s Day. Two weeks prior, my mom’s older sister had lost one of her daughters in a car accident. I planned to attend the funeral – to be there representing our family. Well, I couldn’t make it – I had not taken any time off, not wanting to disappoint my students or my clients, and despite repeatedly being told to slow down, to allow others to assist more. I had no choice now…I was on EMPTY!!! I did slow down, I took time away from NSU, from the practice – everyone was understanding, offering their support…I did accept help, I allowed others to take the lead…I learned some difficult but necessary lessons…I made adjustments – willing and eager to change…to grow…
A week later, my mom’s sister and husband were here for my sister’s celebration of life. That’s what we do – we show up for each other. I give God thanks for my family – immediate and extended, for dear friends,…we are always here for each other- through the joyous celebrations, and through the pain.
I continue to grow and learn to pray with thanksgiving rather than worry with anxiety.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about enLightening Therapy and Counseling Services, LLC?
enLightening Therapy and Counseling Services, LLC is a solo practice located in Pembroke Pines. Services provided include individual therapy, couples therapy, marriage counseling, and premarital counseling. Areas of specialization include depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, low self-esteem/self-confidence, grief and loss, stress management, anger management, assertiveness training, work and career challenges, life cycle transitions, relationship issues, communication problems, conflict resolution.
It is my hope that my clients will not only become enlightened through the process of therapy – recognizing their own inner strengths but be empowered to make the changes necessary to enhance their quality of life – to live their best life. It is their talents and abilities that help drive the course of treatment along with my guidance, support, and encouragement. It is a journey of enlightenment and empowerment – for that reason, I decided to change the name of the practice.
I love what I do! Nothing is more rewarding and fulfilling than watching my clients’ growth. Our goal in therapy is to not just tackle the presenting problem(s), but to re-evaluate their own sense of identity, to identify ways to create a life that has more meaning. It is a safe space for transformation, allowing them to fully explore who they are – personally, professionally, spiritually. We celebrate the small steps along the way. Within the course of treatment, clients are encouraged to find their passion -it’s a journey to discover more about self – the importance of ‘me’ time, engaging in leisure interests, community involvement.- creating new opportunities that bring them joy. I have celebrated new beginnings with clients – homemakers returning to school and/or work, others – obtaining that next degree, taking that job offer/promotion, some becoming entrepreneurs…taking the leap – trusting themselves, creating their ‘success prophecy’,,and I am so blessed to be a part of their journey.
I am a State Approved Supervisor, providing supervision to registered mental health counselor interns who are required to complete 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience post Master’s, prior to sitting the licensure exam. It is important to support students as they prepare to become future mental health professionals who will ultimately impact the lives of others.
As a registered Broward Premarital Course Provider, State of Florida residents can choose to attend the 4- hour course to take advantage of the benefits offered by Broward County’s Marriage Division.
Light has always fascinated me – some of my favorite Bible verses have the word light… one of which is: “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” – Matthew 5: 16… This is the driving force behind all I do. I strive to live my life with a Love of God, self and others, and to live with intention, gratitude, humility and thoughtfulness. It is my hope that my clients will recognize my authenticity, kindness, empathy and genuine desire to help.
As a life-long believer in the power of journaling, I will be publishing a guided daily journal, entitled, live each day with LIGHT, in January 2023.
My other passion is community service – I have served and continue to serve in many volunteer capacities. One organization I have been involved with that is making a tremendous difference in the lives of school children and their families, is Nourishing Lives. enLightening Therapy and Counseling Services, LLC will be partnering with them to further provide for those who are experiencing food insecurity.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
There are so many resources that have proven beneficial, personally and professionally. Having worked at a university, I had access to many experts in the field – some of whom I still follow. Additionally, a requirement for license renewal is the completion of continuing education credits. We are therefore constantly learning and improving our clinical skills -keeping abreast of emerging trends in the mental health field as well as current evidence-based strategies to better meet the needs of our clients. I attend multiple workshops throughout the year, exceeding the required credits as it is so important for my own personal growth as well.
Re books, there are too many to name.
A few that stand out- one of my favorites has been Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I reference this in my upcoming guided journal, Psychiatrist Victor Frankl discovered the true meaning of his life while interned at a concentration camp and shares his journey in a deeply profound and captivating manner. Earlier in the interview I was asked about adversity – in his book, Dr. Frankl posits that one way to discover the meaning of life is by the attitude we take toward unavoidable adversity or suffering.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy by William T. Donohue & Jane Fisher
Sharon Salzberg teaches us how to incorporate Buddhist principles in our daily lives in her book, Lovingkindness: The
Revolutionary Art of Happiness. I practice meditation and prescribe for my clients. I use apps such as Abide and Ten Percent Happier
Mindset – The New Psychology Of Success by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
The Growth Mindset Workbook by Elaine Elliott-Moskwa, Ph.D.
The Gifts of Imperfection – Brene Brown, Ph.D.
The Better Boundaries Workbook by Sharon Martin
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman, Ph.D.
10 Principles for Doing Effective Couples Therapy by Julie Schwartz Gottman, Ph.D., and John Gottman, Ph.D.
Dr. John Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman are considered leading experts in the field of couples’ therapy. – they have published many books and offer workshops for professionals as well as couples.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.judithrobertstherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjudytherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjudytherapy
Image Credits
Claudia Delgado
