THE multi-talented Dr. Dawn Stewart is passionate about a lot of things but what is clear is her love for people and her desire to mentor, especially those who are depressed and victims of sexual and physical abuse.

She is an avid advocate for suicide prevention in which she provides counselling services to people through her non-governmental organisation (NGO) Monique’s Helping Hands.

Stewart, who is a doctor in Environmental Science also has a Masters in Clinical Psychological and a Bachelor’s in Nursing.

She provides counselling services to people who have experienced both mental and physical trauma, have a low self-esteem, were sexually abused, or people who are depressed or feel hopeless.

Dr Stewart believes that victims of sexual abuse, in particular, have a lot of pain bottled up and they need cognitive therapy, that is, psychological help in order for them to be restored to their true self since trauma affects the brain.

She is a part-time lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG) with the recently-launched Psychology Programme and is a full-time counsellor where she sees two to three persons daily at Monique’s Helping Hands.

“I like talking to people, I am a people person and I can relate to almost anyone and I talk to people who are physically challenged, parents, sexually abused victims and others because they are the ones who are hurting and needs to be restored or they will start ‘acting out’,” Dr Stewart told the Pepperpot Magazine.

She related that through counselling people she is of the view that children are sexually abused regularly in our society and that needs to be addressed and it is not only confined to girls.

Dr Stewart stated that boys are sexually abused as well and it is imperative that parents understand how to deal with sexually-abused children.

She explained that in most instances, parents should be able to recognise the small tell-tale signs that something isn’t right with your child or children.

The mother of five added that parents need to fully understand their role and with sexually abused children their behaviour will become radical. As such, parents need not ‘beat’ them or call them false names but they need to be firm and consistent when disciplining children.

OTHER PASSIONS
Dr Stewart is also a grief counsellor at Lyken Funeral Home and is certified in Mortuary Science where she is qualified to practice embalming.

She hosts Mindfulness Therapy classes three times a week and is a full-time counsellor at Monique’s Helping Hands which is located on Norton Street, Georgetown, an NGO she established in 1999.

The organisation was formed to address social issues as it relates to the HIV/Aids epidemic and they have about 20 volunteers with more than 500 clients.

Dr Stewart said that they try to make people whole again, especially those who are victims of sexual and domestic abuse since these people feel a lot of pain internally, they are frustrated and angry at their trauma.

She revealed that most clients suffered from past trauma be it childhood or in their adult life and the physical and mental abuse often leave scars that are not easily healed which therefore leads to a need for counselling.

Dr Stewart disclosed too, that most clients who were sexually abused at a very young age witnessed it at the hands of people they trusted.

She said they assist in referrals, hampers, they have a clothing drive, job placement services, youth programme and work with parents. The NGO is also supported by donations.

Monique’s Helping Hands was named after the daughter of one of their overseas volunteers who was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS when she went for a medical as she was about to join her mother in the US.

The young lady subsequently died two years after and did not get to join her mother in the US and in her memory they named the NGO after her.

HER LIFE

Dr Stewart left Guyana when she was she was 14 years old when her mother got a scholarship to pursue studies in nursing in the United States (US). The doctor later returned to her homeland in 2010.

Before migrating, a young Dawn grew up living in the police living quarters with her policeman father and her mother who was a nurse. She attended Christ Church Secondary, which she credits as giving her a solid education before migrating.

She is married to the nephew of the co-founder of Lyken Funeral Parlour, which has been in existence for 95 years.

She joined the US Air Force in 1973 as a Lieutenant and served as a nurse until she left as a Major after eight years of service, but later she was deployed as a civilian nurse with Desert Storm and served in several countries such as Saudi Arabia and Germany among others and enjoyed the exposure.

Dr Stewart also worked at the Pentagon as the Director of Safety and Occupational Health when she retired from the Walter Reid Medical Centre in 2007, after she achieved her PhD in Environmental Science.

She is a high functioning individual who is always involved in charity work and is an active member of several overseas organisations.