Meet Foluso Solarin, Ph.D. | Licensed Psychologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Foluso Solarin, Ph.D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Foluso, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I decided to start my own therapy practice, in part, to serve populations and clinical concerns that can get overlooked by “traditional” mental health services.

Part of this demographic includes those who have been diagnosed with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). This diagnosis is frequently misunderstood by society at large. Due to the complex presentation of OCD, it can be misdiagnosed or undetected. Even when it is accurately diagnosed, some of the therapies that work for other disorders can make OCD symptoms worse.

It can take up to seventeen years for individuals with OCD to receive the gold-standard, non-medical treatment for OCD, which is ERP (Exposure-Response Prevention) Therapy. Because it can be difficult to find practitioners, such as myself, who provide this specialized, evidence-based treatment, people with an OCD diagnosis can remain untreated for a significant amount of time.

Providing telehealth to individuals across the United States allows me to work with individuals who may otherwise not get treatment for OCD in a timely manner. This is especially necessary for individuals of color, who overall tend to under-utilize mental health services.

During the pandemic, many people quit their jobs, in part, due to their unwillingness to remain in toxic work situations. Church attendance also decreased during the pandemic.  While many factors were responsible for people leaving jobs and churches, I believe that some who left church also were no longer willing to tolerate abusive, harmful, and toxic practices.

This, along with the growing news of scandals in churches, has created a growing need for people to seek treatment for the spiritual abuse they have experienced. Spiritual abuse occurs when people and institutions control people and cause harm to them under the guise of spirituality. Spirituality is weaponized against those who are seeking solace and connection within their spiritual community and the effects can be devastating. By starting my own business, I can use my psychological training and skills to help others who have been affected by spiritual abuse, Telehealth increases access to services that people may have difficulty finding locally.

Creating my business has been the best way for me to use my skills to serve those who needed specialized (and often, difficult to find) treatment.  Being a business owner has provided me with unique opportunities and ways to be creative in a profession that I love.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I am the founder and owner of Skillset Counseling, a therapy private practice. My Ph.D. is in clinical psychology, and I am a licensed psychologist who provides therapy, psychoeducation and other psychological services. Because I am part of an interstate compact, I practice telehealth in several states in the U.S.

Because of telehealth, individuals with unique and complex clinical presentations from OCD and spiritual abuse are no longer limited by geography in their access to treatment. Some people have specifically sought out my services because I am a person of color, or because I am a spiritual abuse survivor. Clients are wanting a safe space with someone who can process their experience from the lens of culture or lived experience.  This is especially important since some of my clients have felt that their unique needs and symptom presentations were not sufficiently addressed in previous therapy.

My accessibility and personal attributes make my services unique; I also have a YouTube channel in which I create and post psychoeducational videos about OCD and spiritual abuse. My videos allow people to learn and connect with others in a supportive environment and at their own pace.

My journey to becoming a business owner was marked by an array of emotions.  I was excited and motivated by the prospect of combining my passions and knowledge to serve others, while having the freedom to work independently. However, there were difficult decisions I had to make, and I had to confront and manage the risks that are inherent to being a business owner. I had to overcome my risk-averse behaviors and learn to reframe mistakes as “learning opportunities.” I also missed the comradery of working alongside other mental health professionals. To address this, I am more intentional about networking. I have had wonderful experiences in collaborating with other professionals on my YouTube channel, and connecting in-person with other clinicians. I love learning, and being a business owner, I will never run out of learning opportunities!

Through my journey of creating this private practice, I have learned several lessons. When we face something that makes us uncomfortable or scared, we grow in our courage and self-confidence, regardless of the outcome. However, our fears are magnified when we avoid them. At first, I did not feel comfortable putting myself “out there” or taking a path where my desired outcome was not guaranteed. By facing this discomfort head on, I have grown in courage, confidence, and knowledge.

I believe that each person has a unique story and experience that will resonate with others and help them feel supported and heard. I am grateful for the unique opportunities I have had in assisting others in their wellness journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow, where do I start? Our first stop would be at the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. That place is a must for everyone who visits Atlanta. We would stalk the bakery for a loaf of freshly baked brioche bread, then browse the aisles and stock up on spices, produce, meat, cheese and international products. Being in that store is an experience in and of itself, and it is fun to discover new items while finding other items that are hard to find elsewhere. We would eat at different international restaurants on Buford Highway. We would also spend time at the King Center, High Museum of Art and Atlanta Symphony. I would take them to Little Five Points for some more shopping and culinary experiences, making sure to swing by Sevananda to stock up on more produce and natural health products. Though out of the city, we would go hiking at Roswell Mill, making sure to see the waterfall. I would take them to eat at Southern Suya in Duluth, which has amazing Nigerian food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have had the privilege of working with and listening to the stories of individuals who had difficulty finding treatment for their OCD and/or Spiritual Abuse. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear your voice and be a part of your recovery process. Your voice matters, your experience matters, and because of the courage of people like you who are willing to begin the first step toward healing, you encourage and empower others to do the same. Thank you.

Website: https://skillsetcounseling.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ogPtE3KqsiLXngwEboM8A

Other: Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/skillset-counseling-kennesaw-ga/988656 Google Business Profile: https://g.co/kgs/SvYyZN Phone Number: 678-304-7576

Image Credits
Showshanna Hamilton of Showshanna Photography