A new specialty clinic, providing psychological services to Black-identifying clients of all ages, by Black therapists, has been launched in Santa Barbara County.
The Hosford Counseling & Psychological Services Clinic, based at UC Santa Barbara’s Gervitz School, launched the new service called "The Healing Center."
Addressing the effects of racial trauma, marginalization, and injustice on social and health disparities, the service is aimed at addressing the negative toll of anti-Black racism facing Black residents in the local community.
Jazzmyn Ward is one of four clinicians in training at the Healing Center. She says that it's a much-needed resource for the area.
"The Black community in Santa Barbara may not be very visible, but there is a prescence here and there is a need. I think even more so if you think about the juxtoposition of being Black in a predominately white space," she told KCLU.
The four doctoral student therapists at the center are all eager to begin this crucial work. “The mental health of Black-identifying folks has always been a focus of mine and to finally have a space to do some much-needed work for the community is very exciting,” explains Ward.
“This space has been curated to serve those that have been systematically and historically excluded from so many spaces. I firmly believe that we all have divine power within us despite our circumstances, and with great honor I look forward to supporting those in the community in accessing that in order to continue to heal," she said.
Those looking to receive services from the new Healing Center - named to reflect its connection to Healing Justice Santa Barbara - should email the clinic at hosford@ucsb.edu
