I’m a mixed race (white American mother, Nigerian father) cishet woman who uses she/her pronouns. I identify as mixed and Black. Being mixed has been one of the most important parts of my identity and I've done a lot of personal identity development work as a way to better understand myself and others.  It has definitely helped me to better understand complex and fluid identities. I have a calm presence and am a gifted listener.

I have always taken a person-centered approach, trying to understand each of my clients within their family, community, and cultural contexts.  I specialize in trauma and have completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which uses eye movements to process stored trauma memories; Adaptive Internal Relational (AIR) Network Model training for complex trauma and dissociation, which combines parts work and education on trauma and the brain to help people develop self-compassion and internal cooperation; and most recently training in Brainspotting, a simple protocol that can be done online or in person, and follows the notion that “Where you look affects how you feel.” It offers an opportunity to process trauma and solve problems in an efficient and self-empowering way. 

I see primarily BIPOC and make space to explore the impact of oppressive systems on identity.  I have a special interest in mixed/multiracial people, transracial and transnational adoptees, Queer & Trans BIPOC, and people navigating enm/poly relationships. It's my goal to help clients learn to respond to life's challenges from their most present, resourced selves.  Though I do not hold an LGBTQIA+ identity, I do my best to hold safe space for this community, especially QTBIPOC.  I work with individuals ages 18+, so I generally refer to other therapists for children, couples, or families. If you're looking for another therapist of color, please visit the MN Mental Health Providers of Color Database.

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In my life outside of being a therapist, I enjoy art, creative movement, writing, facilitating trainings and workshops, and anything else that expands my brain. One of my proudest outside endeavors is my contribution to Within, Between, and Beyond - a multimedia exhibition that showed at Mia in 2021. See Leslie Barlow's Paintings and the video interviews I facilitated here. 

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