Dr. Kia Silva, Atlanta Prosper Psychological Services

11/04/2024

Sometimes I get bored with posting or I run out of words or my battery dies (phone and/or emotional), but I try my best to chime in with birthday reflections each year. This year feels different, yet here I am, here I go…

A couple of weeks ago I was in my mother’s bedroom packing her things, a task that anyone who has experienced loss understands is filled with a range of emotions. Thankfully I had the luxury of taking my time to pause and look through pictures and choose sentimental items that my brother and I could keep and some we could share with loved ones. Somehow even at my slow pace, I managed to knock over a glass decoration filled with marbles. As I watched the shards of glass and marbles crash to the floor, I figured I could either collapse in tears or I could just start cleaning up, so naturally I did both! As I reflect on my birthday today I think this is, like everyday since my fun-loving, hilarious, opinionated, sweet mom transitioned in September, another chance to choose both! I will grieve with my whole body and soul AND celebrate all of the beautiful, messy, sometimes blissfully uneventful days that I get to live. I’ll do it for my mom, for myself, and for all of us living with grief! Life is fleeting, love is eternal!

P.S. I took the first picture as I was cleaning that day because I noticed I was wearing my mother’s peace bracelet and I laughed thinking that it was a true illustration of making peace with losing my marbles!

03/12/2024

One of the ways I celebrate Women’s History and Black History (which for me doesn’t start or end in February) is to embrace that there are multiple ways to lead. My supervision style emphasizes empowerment and support.

As a supervisor, I collaborate with the clinical team at Midtown Psychotherapy Associates to provide an environment that helps postdocs identify growth areas and strategize on how to best serve their clients. I have a passion for working with postdocs to increase confidence in their strengths and unique perspectives as they develop their identity as psychologists. I’m also invested in collaborating to increase accessibility and diversity on caseloads, while upholding the value of the postdoc’s, time, energy, and financial needs/goals.

For anyone interested in learning more about MPA’s Fall 2024 postdoc opportunities, click the link below (in bio on Instagram) to apply!

https://www.midtownpsychotherapy.org/join-us

12/25/2023

Whenever my family poses for a pic I put it in video mode with the hopes that at some point I’ll catch everyone looking relatively happy and facing in the same general direction. Neurodiversity, strong personalities, and attitudes be damned! 😂 I take a screenshot then edit the hell out of the pics (the out takes are pretty funny, but they also include me scowling as I bark directions), then I post. Real life isn’t that way. We don’t get the best from life by deleting the parts that don’t fit our picture perfect ideals. Living life fully means acknowledging the grief and the heartbreak right alongside the happiest times. I’m thankful for the lessons (even as I PRAY that I can have fewer lessons to learn next year 😊) and all of the beautifully messy experiences that this life and this holiday season have to offer. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays Instafam! Sending love to you all! 🎄🎁

11/13/2023

At some point in the past month, as I learned of the massacres of the Palestinian people and inhumane/deadly conditions in Gaza, I totally violated my media consumption boundaries. I (inadvertently?) crossed the line into self harm, and dysregulated the hell outta my nervous system. I think it started because I was alarmed by the lack of coverage where I naively expected to find it, so I started seeking out different sources which were often accompanied by photos/videos, until I found myself dazed and depleted. By no means is my experience unique. I’m sharing this because I’ve been struggling to formulate something helpful to post and I understand now that I need to be transparent about the fact that this time, balance and boundaries have eluded me. None of us are exempt from vicarious trauma. It’s important to take space for ourselves when possible and support each other, so that we don’t get so burned out that we can’t speak up.

When evaluating/formulating opinions about something that evokes such visceral emotions and polarizing views, I refer back to my value system. I’ve found that when I do this, things become clearer, and also, unfortunately, a whole lot messier. It’s often a process of disillusionment, reorganization, and grief. I’ve gone through similar value assessments in my relationship with Christianity, politics, and even with friends and family. It can be a painful process. I keep doing it and I hope you will too, because I believe it’s a necessary part of growth, progress, and peace. I saw something recently that said freedom is contagious and that rings true to me. We can and we ARE changing the world together.

11/04/2023

Another trip around the sun and here I am! If you’re reading this, that means we’re here together taking on the challenge of a new day and I am SO proud of us! I don’t know if every year of the 40s is full of intense emotions and lessons (they skipped that part in my handbook 🤔), but either way I’m here for it. I continue to feel the growing pains in my circle and the tragedies in this world, and yet, in the midst of it all, life still has so much beauty and love to offer. I say every year, and I’ll say again today, I feel super grateful that my family and friends chose to travel together again in this life. I’m especially honored that my boys and my bonus babe chose me and that they give me grace as I figure out this mommy thing! One of the wild things about being a therapist is that there’s a whole group of people I hold in my heart that I can never talk about! Please know that even if you’re part of my confidential crew, I count you among my blessings too!

For birthday 42, I wish for peace, that we’ll be defined by our humanity, and guided by the love in our hearts. I wish that when one mother grieves the whole world will feel her pain so deeply that any narrative that tries to make us think we have to turn a blind eye will be shattered! I wish for collective healing. I’m sure I could keep going, but for now, light a candle for me Instafam, make a wish, it’s my birthday! 🎂 🤩 #42

10/17/2023

Good times at our Hibachi 🔥 send off for Cle! We learned a lot together (my first experience as a postdoc sup) & I’m so happy to see you making big moves & doing great things in your practice and beyond!

09/29/2023

Public speaking was something that used to make my stomach ache for days before an event. I’d get in my head about what I would say and what people would think about everything from my outfit to my education. My journey in rediscovering self acceptance taught me a lot about the root/role of anxiety (hint: if it’s not about love it’s about fear); one thing I now know for certain is that when I believe in the message and I’m grounded in love, there’s no place for the inner critic/director/ micro-manager! I’ve learned that when I’m speaking my truth and creating space for others to share theirs, the message will flow freely.

Last night we got together to talk about how each of us can use our passion/calling to shift to a perspective of wellness rather than reinforcing a system that perpetuates sickness. I believe we’re all here to heal inter-generational traumas and leave this world better than we found it! With that in mind, I happily tucked my inner manager in early last night and gently assured her that we would always be safe when answering the call of life’s purpose!

08/09/2023

True love is when your kid loves squeezing your round cheeks SO much that he wants your wig off for full access! I talk a whole lot about body acceptance, but Jordan offers the experiential version with cheek squeezes & belly jiggles! 🤣It’s moments like these when I’m the most thankful for this body and the experiences it provides! 😂 💙

08/05/2023

🙌🏿🤩 🪷🌱

Washington Pop Up

07/07/2023

When I was in Galveston a couple of years ago I took this pic of a family sitting on the beach. I felt a little like a lurker, but I was so drawn to this moment! They looked so serene that I wondered if they were posing for a picture, but there were no cameras (other than mine 😊) in sight. Another lesson learned in the acceptance and recognition of real life serenity. Honestly, even if they were posing I wouldn’t feel differently. Everything about this image represents peace for me. When I look at this picture I see the beautiful coexistence of stillness and flow. No hurry, no goal oriented behavior, no expectations or explanations. Just people sitting in the sand, cuddled up, watching the waves. ☮️

06/25/2023

This week was a whirlwind and I didn’t get many pics, but I made sure to get this one! 12,000 deep and I look up to see my cousin going down the escalator as I’m going up! I didn’t have my glasses on and we don’t see each other often, so it’s a miracle that I recognized him in Denver, in the midst of all the excitement and commotion! I had no idea he’d be there or that he had any interest in a conference or crowd like that one! We agreed that this is a reminder from the ancestors that healing begins at home! I called my dad and told him to call his cousins because it’s time for a family ceremony (he’s not convinced…yet😂)!

I met quite a few people this week who expressed feeling like they were living double lives. I definitely expected to get some blank stares when I first shared my experiences with psychedelic education and healing practices and I did get a few, but I’m still amazed by how many people in my personal and professional circles who either give me knowing smiles or seem genuinely curious and interested. There are so many access points to pain, trauma, judgment, and separation in this world; I don’t see the value in hiding or obstructing any path that promotes wellness, love, understanding, and peace.

06/20/2023

This cracked me up! 🤣 I celebrated Juneteenth this yr by supporting black business…my own 😊Had to put some work in before I fly out to Denver tomorrow! ✈️ Next yr I want to go back to Galveston and enjoy the beach life for a few days! May you give yourself permission (and maybe even a mandate) to show up EXACTLY as you are and let the world bask in the wonder and beauty of YOU! ❤️🖤💚