Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Winley K..
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ll start by saying my name is Dr. L. Winley (professionally known as Winley K.). I am a Black genderqueer/non-binary masc. of center person who does not identify with gendered pronouns or language. When thinking about my story, I would love to romanticize how I became the psychologist I am today. I would love to tell you that I fell in love with this profession in high school and never looked back. While there is some truth in that, my journey has been filled with more heartbreak than anything else. This at times has left me questioning my choice to become a Doctor of Psychology. This heartbreak is how I ended up starting my own wellness collective. In 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic I found myself asking if I still had a goal of becoming the Director of a University Counseling Center. When thinking about the process of applying to university counseling positions as I wrapped by up my post-doctoral internship, I became nauseated. I couldn’t fathom filling out one more job application, going through one more job interview, or continuing to try and sell myself to systems that were never designed for me or for those who hold identities similar to mine. I decided I needed to be in control of how I do this work and who I work with.
While navigating this transition in my professional identity, I was also solidifying some parts of my personal identity. Namely, who I see myself as how I want to show up in this world and becoming both a spouse and parent. Since, becoming a parent, nothing and no one can disrupt my peace. Centering my family has become my priority. I think this has been a much-needed shift. It has allowed me to truly find balance between my personal and professional life. It has forced me to prioritize my own health and well-being which has made me a better Psychologist. The level of clarity I have as I pour into my two children requires me to regularly reflect on my beliefs about humanity, social justice, environmental justice, mental wellness and cultivating space for whole humans. It’s allowed me to become more expansive in the work that I do as a psychologist and has shifted the ways in which I hold space for the clients I see day to day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. I know in a previous interview with CanvasRebel, I talked about struggles navigating professors and deans in my doctoral program as it relates to race and gender. And I’ll name that again because these moments still stick with me and impact me in ways that I am still figuring out how to heal from. Having the Dean, the highest ranked person in your doctoral program tell you, “You are responsible for your subjective experience” related to race and then a professor tells you that you were “locked into a singular narrative”, while all you were doing was advocating for just and equitable treatment for yourself and your peers can cause one to doubt self and purpose. These moments replay in my mind often and I have to continually work to not internalize their oppression as truth. To not see others in this field as people who are going to automatically enact the same types of harm as those people have. When opportunities present themselves, I have to remind myself of both my work ethic and who I am as a person so that I do not turn down occasions to be in and work in spaces where I more than deserve to be. Additional struggles include the ebbs and flows for owning and operating a mental health practice. This includes finances and livelihood being heavily tied to client caseloads or securing other opportunities to generate income.
As you know, we’re big fans of WaterYourFire Wellness Collective . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The name of my practice is WaterYourFire Wellness Collective. WaterYourFire represents a dream or a desire from within that will allow our passions and wishes to either ignite and come into fruition or die, dwindle, or fizzle away. A delicate dance between feeding the fire and watering your soul. Both very necessary in keeping you grounded. The goal is for this collective to consist of Queer Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) practitioners from a variety of healing professions (mental health professionals, body healers, etc.). This expansion is in the works and currently I offer psychotherapy for individuals, couples/non-monogamous relationships, and groups. I also provide Educational Workshops & Trainings and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultation for individuals, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions. I specialize in working with Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ-GNC individuals, and folks navigating trauma related to ethno-racial identity, class, sexuality, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation. In addition to this I provide professional editing of documents (books, manuscripts, organization/business forms, etc.) to ensure written material is inclusive of all genders, race/ethnicities, abilities, etc.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I have been fortunate throughout my journey to have mentors find me in the spaces that I end up in. My first mentor is one of the people who created me, my father. I’ve been able to be raised by and continue to grow with a person who continues to provide me with examples of what it means to show up. Another of my mentors is Kisha L. Webster, our paths crossed during my time working in the Pride room at the Human Rights Campaign. I was able to witness this force of Black excellence while in my early days of learning about LGBTQ+ advocacy. Since, those days she’s continued to pour into me over the past decade. The last mentor I will mention is Dr. Torrey Wilson, who was an integral part of how I successfully made it through my doctoral program with a degree and my soul intact. As it relates to networking, this area continues to be a growth edge for me. I have a pretty solid network that has come from the relationships I’ve built during my academic and work journeys but now that I am a few years removed from academia I’m continuing to learn new ways to network.
Pricing:
- I am currently physically licensed in the state of North Carolina. I am also a PsyPact Participating Psychologist, meaning that I can provide virtual services to folx residing in PsyPact participating states. This link can give you the most up to date information of which states are included (https://psypact.site-ym.com/page/psypactmap).
- Pricing information can be found here: (https://www.wateryourfirewc.com/servicesrates). I would like to name that I am currently trying out accepting people who wish to use insurance and am paneled with Oscar Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, United Healthcare, Oxford, Cigna and Aetna.
- I would encourage folx to not let the ability to pay be a deterrent from reaching out and I will try my best to support folx or put them in contact with someone who may be better able to provide support.
- If you are able and willing to support us in our efforts to provide services to folx who face financial barriers to mental wellness, please feel free to make a donation. The link to make a donation can be found on our website under the heading Support Mental Wellness (https://www.wateryourfirewc.com/contact).
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Logo: Dr. L. Winley (Winley K.) Individual Dr. Winley: Hunter (they/them) Family Pictures: Tovannai Kelly-Winley (she/her)