Meet Whitley Grant | Mental Health Therapist & Black Feminist Researcher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitley Grant and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitley, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from a small rural town called Ahoskie, NC located in the northeastern part of North Carolina. I grew up in a household where my mom had her own business. So whether it was intentional or not it did give me some insight into what it means to be your own boss and to make decisions that align best with the people you choose to serve. In addition my parents instilled in me very early on the importance of a good education and using the skills you learn to pour back into your community. I would say that my upbringing and background have both heavily influenced my decision to start my own private practice. In addition, I have seen the need for therapists of color to be able to study and learn how to effectively provide treatment for people of color. I take a for us by us approach to my business practices and business philosophies.

What should our readers know about your business?
The name of my private practice is called the Melanated Space. What sets me apart is that I am intentional about attracting and uplifting clients of color. I am most proud of just getting started. Although I am a very small company I’ve had the opportunity to speak for colleges/universities, large corporations, and most recently a non-profit agency. It shows the ways in which the topic of mental health can easily be spread throughout any entity because awareness is needed. Starting a private practice wasn’t easy but the great thing is I had plenty of colleagues to reach out to for advice on how to get started. I always experience some imposter syndrome. While I have not completely gotten over this particular challenge I understand what that is rooted in and do my own processing with my therapist to continue to overcome it. I’ve learned that word of mouth, best practices, and putting yourself out there goes a long way. You don’t have to have a perfect plan to start your business. I want the world to know that I am developing myself into a mental health therapist and researcher that always takes a intersectional approach to the work that I do. I will continue to focus on racial trauma, dismantling systems, and sharing the importance of taking care of your mental health within the Black community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend was visiting me here in Raleigh I’d probably take them down to Glenwood Avenue but also to downtown Durham. There are many places to explore in both Raleigh and Durham so it really depends on what they want to do.

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’d like to give a shoutout first and foremost to my family. They constantly provide a listening ear and always serve as my own personal cheerleaders. I’d like to also shoutout my line sisters, friends, colleagues, mentors, and professors over the years who have continuously supported me as well as contributed to my holistic development. A strong support system has always been the key for me.

Website: themelanatedspace.com

Instagram: @themelanatedspace

Linkedin: Whitley Grant

Image Credits
https://www.rotcelisrose.com/