Today we’d like to introduce you to Thema Bryant-Davis.
Thema, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up as the daughter of a pastor and many members of the church and community would come to my father for pastoral counseling. I was inspired by his work to become a psychologist. My expertise is in trauma recovery and racially marginalized communities.
As an African American woman, I have witnessed and experienced multiple traumas, including the trauma of racism and I know how valuable it is to have access to healing and empowerment. I completed my doctorate at Duke University and my post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center. I am now a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University and I have a private practice. I also lead the mental health ministry at First AME Church in South Los Angeles where I have provided workshops on mental health, coping, stress, and grief. A year ago, I started the Homecoming podcast and it has been a popular resource for mental health information nationally and internationally.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the struggles was seeing that many of the communities I care about have been marginalized or overlooked in mainstream psychology literature and training. These groups include communities of faith, African Americans, and women of color. I sought out those who were doing this important work for mentorship and learned from them. I now am a researcher on these neglected areas and I mentor future psychologists, preparing them to attend to the margins and to promote psychology as a liberation practice.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a licensed psychologist and professor of psychology. I teach in the graduate school of Pepperdine University, both on ground and in our online program. I teach multicultural psychology, trauma in diverse populations, and clinical skills for those beginning to see clients. I have received awards for more work in trauma psychology and my work around gender and race. I appreciate the opportunities that I have had to become a psychology representative to the United Nations and to be a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women. This year I was honored by the division on International Psychology for my work on women and gender in Africa and the African diaspora. I am proud of my work integrating the Arts, culture, and spirituality in psychological practice to help trauma survivors cope, heal, resist oppression, and thrive.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was compassionate, sensitive, hard-working in school, and a lover of the Arts. I was in learning and performing diverse dance forms from lyrical to African dance. I also loved poetry and won several dramatic reading contests and later won slam poetry competitions. I had the opportunity to spend two years of high school in Liberia, West Africa and that changed by life-giving a broader, deeper understanding of the world and my heritage.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drthema.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dr.thema
- Facebook: facebook.com/themabryantdavis
- Twitter: twitter.com/drthema
Image Credit:
Pepperdine University for the magazine cover and website screenshot
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