BIPOC Therapist Social

Come join us at McCarren Parkhouse for a BIPOC Therapist Social!

This is an opportunity for BIPOC Therapists to breathe, share, and be in community with others who understand the unique weight we carry in this work. So often, we pour into others while holding the complexities of our identities, often in isolation. But healing work isn’t meant to happen alone.

Whether you're a seasoned therapist, just starting out, or somewhere in between, you are welcome here.

Guest Speakers:

Mavis Smith (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, researcher, and adjunct professor committed to culturally responsive care and community empowerment. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University, where she honed her clinical expertise in evidence-based interventions, trauma-informed care, and holistic treatment approaches.

Mavis currently balances multiple roles as a medical social worker at NYU Hospital, the founder and lead clinician of Chasing Serenity Psychotherapy, PLLC, and an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level courses on cultural diversity and mental health. Her private practice specializes in serving BIPOC communities across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware, with a focus on trauma, chronic illness, anxiety, and life transitions.

As a Ph.D. candidate in Social Welfare at Yeshiva University, Mavis’s research centers on diabetes distress and coping mechanisms among African American, Afro-Caribbean, and African immigrant populations. Her academic interests include chronic illness management, racial and ethnic health disparities, and the intersection of mental and physical health.

Mavis is deeply committed to mentorship, public education, and expanding access to equitable mental healthcare. Through clinical supervision, speaking engagements, and continuing education initiatives, she is building a more inclusive future for mental health care, one that honors culture, resilience, and lived experience.

Follow Mavis on Instagram: @ChasingSerenitypsychotherapy

Alena Aguilar, LMSW. (further information coming soon!)

Excited and want to dive deeper into the presentation topics? (us too!)

Each presenter chose a book that pairs with their presentation, inviting people to dive deeper into the subjects. Find it at our local bookstore, Mil Mundos in Bushwick! They carry books that elevate Black, Latinx, and Indigenous writers. You can also grab one at our event!

Mavis & Alena's' pick: Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women

Follow us on Instagram: @bipoctherapistcollective

Interested in joining but can’t make it this time? Share your info here and I’ll keep you in the loop for future events: BIPOC Therapist Social Future Events

Contact the host of October BIPOC Therapist Social