– local counselling psychologist advocates therapy for mental health

CARLOTTA Boodie is a Guyanese Counselling Psychologist who makes no bones about the need to see her own therapist when mental health issues take a toll on her. It’s not hard to imagine why she’d become overwhelmed at times, seeing approximately 25 persons a week who are dealing with all sorts of problems affecting their mental well-being.

Now in her sixth year of this field, Boodie believes that her interest in listening to people and helping them through their woes dates back to 1994 when she decided to study Social Work at the University of Guyana. She recalls how people would share their problems with her, prompting her to get qualified to offer more than just listen to them.

She left Guyana, though, for the US Virgin Islands, where she worked for the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council, providing education, training and awareness around gender-based violence, including teenage dating, violence and stalking.

At this point, she realised that she needed to “re-tool” and acquire a certain skillset to optimise the position she had. “I saw a lot of trauma and I thought I needed to do more than provide the education and training,” she shared in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine. And that’s when she began in the field of Psychology.

“I always felt called to sit with people to listen to them and help them,” she said, adding, “All of us at some point face mental health issues. I sit with people and create a safe, non-judgmental, confidential space for them to process their trauma and pain.”

As a therapist, she follows the ‘Rogerian Orientation’ in that her approach is client-centred. “I believe the client has the ability to self-actualise; I may be meeting them at one of the worst days or times in their lives, but they have the strength within them to make decisions for themselves.”

“My role is a supportive one in which I build trust, offer a safe and non-judgmental space for my client to process, heal and recover. I value human dignity and as such I provide care to all people. I am intentional about centreing my professional ethics, the foremost of which is confidentiality. Confidentiality is a big thing for me. When you come into a space with me, I honour you. It’s a privilege for you to share your story and pain with me. It’s precious,” she continued.

Having worked with the Center for Court Innovation in the Queens County Criminal Court, she has provided care for female-identified defendants and survivors of sex-trafficking.
This experience aids in the trauma-related work that she does today. “I worked a lot in high trauma, so I use a lot of trauma-informed principles when I engage with people.” For years, she said she has worked as a trauma specialist helping all kinds of people, no matter how they identify.

From her personal interactions with clients, she has found that top triggers of mental health issues have to do with domestic violence, childhood sexual trauma and anxiety. “In Guyana, it’s quiet and people don’t talk a lot about it, but we have a high prevalence of childhood sexual abuse.”

Mental Health Day
Boodie shared that it sometimes becomes overwhelming to listen to the stories her clients will share with her. At times like these, she would especially need to call her therapist for a chat. “Some of the things that your client will walk through the door and tell you are shocking. I need mental health day myself. Sometimes I take half day or a whole day and don’t engage people. I have a therapist because I need to talk sometimes. Vicarious trauma is real. Sometimes I go to the seawalls and watch the water because that calms me.”

While she has to be careful about the emotions she shows while she’s engaging them, Boodie said it is when they leave that she has to check in with herself.

Irrespective of the downside, though, she finds satisfaction in her work. “When I sit with someone who is really in despair and I see them move from dejection and hopelessness; when I can see the growth and progress, I feel joy. When I see that change — a light back in their eyes – it is just so rewarding.”

Boodie is hoping to expand her services by offering group therapy for a variety of persons who may be suffering from postpartum depression, grief; women and men going through a divorce or domestic violence; women who have abortions, etc.