Meet Marquita!
Nice to meet you!
I’m Marquita (she/they), a sweet-tea drinkin, bounce/neo-soul/trap/classical music lovin Black woman with roots traced throughout Atlanta, Louisiana, and Seattle. I am also a Bereaved Mother, Perinatal Grief & Trauma Therapist, Death Doula, and founder of Imani’s Light.
With over 15 years of experience working with perinatal families, I have witnessed the triumphs and immense heartbreak that BIPOC families encounter, and I center their care in my practice.
I work with people who have experienced grief, loss, and trauma in the perinatal time frame. Through my work, I help clients find healing and restoration by acknowledging the pain they have experienced and finding ways to process that pain. Not for them to “get over it” or to “move past it” but to know that they are not alone and that their pain and experiences are valid.
I don’t work to “fix” clients; instead, I hold space for you to show up as your authentic self. My approach meets you where you are on your grief or trauma journey and takes your whole being into consideration, not just the “clinical” aspects. We work collaboratively to create a roadmap for your journey, and then we walk the path together as you heal.
My Approach
My approach to therapy is akin to a conversation on your front porch with your neighbor. Yes, we are going to dig deep. There will definitely be tears – some sad and some happy! But there will also be laughter and moments of joy as you heal. I am here to walk beside you on this journey while listening, holding space, offering support, and fostering understanding.
My Therapy Style
Much like a swimsuit, therapy is not one-size fits all. What feels freeing to one client may feel restrictive and fear-inducing for another. I take the time to listen to your history and factor in your personal goals for therapy. From there, we will create a collaborative plan that may include various evidence-based modalities to help you achieve those goals. I integrate a variety of treatment approaches into my work, my therapeutic style is largely influenced by:
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MCBT)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Traumatic grief therapy
- Dual Process Model for Grief
- Expressive Arts Therapy
- Companioning
- Rituals/Memory Making
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
While my work typically centers the care of BIPOC birthing people, I also work with people outside of the perinatal time frame. This work ranges from releasing grief & trauma within elders that has been stored in the body for generations or preparing future generations with the tools to release grief and trauma from the body.
Education, Training, and Credentials
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker Associate (LICSWA), license#SC 61205219
- Masters of Social Work- Advanced Clinical Practice, Columbia University
- Bachelor’s of Social Work, Florida A&M University
- Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) Bereavement Coordinator
- MISS Foundation Compassionate Bereavement Care Certification