Clinical & Forensic Psychology of Shreveport

02/28/2026

Dr. Jennifer Richeson

Jennifer A. Richeson is an American social psychologist who studies racial identity and in*******al interactions. She is currently the Philip R. Allen Professor of Psychology at Yale University where she heads the Social Perception and Communication Lab. Prior to her appointment to the Yale faculty, Richeson was Professor of Psychology and African-American studies at Northwestern University. In 2015, she was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences. Richeson was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2022. Since 2021, she has been a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology .

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Dr. Richeson is shown in a headshot, wearing a black blazer, white shirt, and gold necklace, against a blue background.

02/27/2026

Ted Talk on the changing views of mental health within the Black community, by Chante Meadows

Why don’t we make our mental health as important as our physical health? Unfortunately, because of mental health stigma. How we view mental health keeps peop...

02/26/2026

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

Dr. Tatum is the former acting president of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she served as a professor of psychology and education and later as chair of the Department. In 1998, Dr. Tatum was appointed Dean of the College and Vice President for Student Affairs. While in that position, she directed the offices of the Dean of Students, Religious and Spiritual Life, Career Development and Health Services. She also managed the academic advising system and advocated for students’ interests among faculty and senior staff. Prior to serving at Mount Holyoke, Dr. Tatum was a faculty member at Westfield State College from 1983-1989 and a lecturer at the University of California at Santa Barbara from 1980-1983. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Wesleyan University and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master of Arts degree in religious studies from Hartford Seminary.

A nationally recognized authority on racial issues in America and a licensed clinical psychologist, she has toured extensively, leading workshops and presenting papers and lectures on racial identity development. Dr. Tatum is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, which was released as a fifth anniversary edition in January 2003. Since its original publication in 1997, the book has been listed on the Independent Bookstore Bestseller list and was selected as the multicultural book of the year in 1998 by the National Association of Multicultural Education. The New York Times recommended the book as required reading for private school teachers and administrators in the greater New York area who were dealing with issues of race and class. Dr. Tatum is also the author of Assimilation Blues: Black Families in a White Community (1987) and has published widely in social science and education journals. In May 2007, Dr. Tatum released Can We Talk About Race?: And Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Dr. Tatum is shown in a headshot, wearing a red blazer and gold earrings, with trees visible in the background.

02/25/2026

Today's black mental health "fact" is another Ted Talk, by Marcus Mason, focused on the importance of representation, and the need for more black, male therapists. Check it out!

02/24/2026

Dr. Na'im Akbar

Dr. Akbar is an internationally known scholar, author, lecturer, researcher, and expert in the area of African American Psychology. He received his BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He served as chairman of Morehouse College Department of Psychology and faculty at Norfolk State University, prior to joining the Florida State University in 1979. Akbar served on the faculty at Florida State University for 28 years. Since his retirement from FSU, he has devoted full time to his consulting and publishing company.

Throughout his career, Akbar has been a distinguished author and scholar, writing numerous books and speaking publicly to share his expertise at conferences and interviews. His major contributions to the field of psychology have been centered on the topics of developing an African-centered approach in modern psychology — which for Akbar involves the deconstruction of Eurocentric psychological thought and the subsequent reconstruction/construction of an African psychology that includes the specific historical and cultural experiences of African Americans. Acclaimed by Essence Magazine as “one of the world’s preeminent psychologists in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology”, he has had numerous media appearances, and has been featured in numerous national and international publications.

Akbar’s professional service includes several terms on the Board of the National Association of Black Psychologists to which he was elected President in 1987, on the editorial board of the Journal of Black Studies, and associate editor of the Journal of Black Psychology. Along with his dedication to scholarly pursuits, Akbar has dedicated much energy and time to serving the community. He was a charter member of the Florida A&M University Friends of the Black Archives, a charter member of the Riley House Museum, co-founder of the Tallahassee chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists, president of the Board of the Frenchtown Community Development Corporation since its inception, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Akbar received the 2022 Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association, for his significant contribution to the profession of psychology, through his advancement of Health Equity by increasing psychologists of color in the profession with his effective recruitment, mentoring, and support.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Dr. Akbar is shown in a headshot, smiling and wearing glasses, a dark suit jacket, and white collared shirt, against a white background.

02/23/2026

Today we're sharing another Ted Talk about the state of black mental health. Check it out at the link below!

In this one, a hospice therapist talks about the causation of early death, specifically in racially marginalized communities. Through a mixture of real life stories and healthcare facts, Ashley provides a powerful look into this preventable crisis. Based in Washington, Ashley McGirt is an international speaker, author, and a trauma informed therapist. Aside from being the owner of Ashley McGirt Counseling Services LLC and founder of the Worldwide Wellness tour, she also serves as a hospice clinician for a non-profit organization.

McGirt’s profound interest in life and death, as well as the fascinating field of psychology and hospice, began when she first read the book “Tuesdays with Morrie”, which helped she realize how much the dying can teach us about living. Since then she has been dedicated to helping individuals to not only live well but die well. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

02/22/2026

Antoinette Kavanaugh

Antoinette Kavanaugh, Ph.D., ABPP is Board Certified in Forensic Psychology, is the former Clinical Director of the Juvenile Justice Division of the Cook County Juvenile Court Clinic, served as a clinical professor at Northwestern University’s School of Law for ten years, is a Lecturer at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, is an alumnus of the American Psychological Association’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology, and is a Fellow for APA’s Division 42, Psychologists in Independent Practice.

Dr. Kavanaugh has authored several peer-reviewed articles and routinely educates lawyers and psychologists on issues related to obtaining and conducting forensic evaluations, adolescent development, and the impact of racism and discrimination on mental health. In private practice since 1999, she evaluates youth and adults for civil and criminal state and federal cases. Dr. Kavanaugh and Dr. Thomas Grisso co-authored Sentencing Juveniles in Adult Court, which details a developmentally sensitive approach to conducting de facto life or Miller sentencing evaluations.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Dr. Kavanaugh is shown in a headshot, wearing a gray, pin-striped blazer and white shirt, and small gold hoop earrings.

02/21/2026

Today's black mental health fact is a Tedx Talk, by Curtis Jasper. It's a quick watch, about 15 minutes. Check it out!

02/20/2026

Maryam Jernigan-Noesi

When Maryam Jernigan-Noesi, PhD, left academia, a field she worked in for more than 15 years, she knew she wanted to continue advocating for historically marginalized communities and the people who live in them. She’s now doing this in a different capacity, as an applied psychologist and consultant.

Jernigan-Noesi is the founder and CEO of Atlanta-based Jernigan & Associates, Inc., a firm primarily focused on social impact and organizational consulting. Her work spans education, health care, legal, and criminal justice systems, with the goal of creating equitable and inclusive spaces and policies.

One notable project involved developing and implementing the first comprehensive racially conscious and culturally informed training program for more than a thousand psychologists, interns, and support staff in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons who provide behavioral services to incarcerated individuals. They also made policy-level recommendations for improving assessments, placements, and treatment planning.

“Our criminal justice systems have been highly examined, and there are plenty of racial disparities,” she said. “As a person who’s invested in racial equity, it’s a question of what I can do as a psychologist to ensure that folks who are incarcerated for whatever reason have access to behavioral health services, support, and resources that are racially informed and culturally responsive. And certainly, preserving their humanity was our priority.”

In Massachusetts, Jernigan-Noesi previously used her background in working with youth and families to influence policy shifts in the juvenile court clinic system. She ensured that racial socialization and identity development are included in competencies required for court clinicians who perform assessments, affecting outcomes for youth and families in the juvenile justice system.

Jernigan-Noesi notes that meaningful change requires leaders who are committed to long-term equity work despite changes in the “political winds” (i.e., legislative and political pushback against equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts), particularly in state and federal systems. Another challenge is the reactive nature of systems, which often leads to performative racial awareness and positive identity development responses rather than a commitment to sustainable change.

Looking ahead, Jernigan-Noesi is focused on publishing scholarship that aligns with her racial equity work, including an organizational model developed with her mentor, social scientist, professor, and psychologist Janet Helms, PhD. She’s also writing a book on the importance of explicit conversations about race in early childhood to promote racial awareness and positive identity development from a young age.

This year, she received an honorary degree from Palo Alto University for her humanitarian efforts and work related to racial equity in higher education, and she was the first voted recipient of the Janet E. Helms Racial Justice Award. Such achievements don’t always resonate with Jernigan-Noesi. It’s mostly when other people point out how her efforts have reshaped systems that she stops to consider the impact. In those moments, she is able to reflect on the meaning behind her long-standing career. “You’ve been in this. This is something you’re passionate about.”

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Dr. Jernigan-Noesi is shown seated, with her wrists crossed across her knees, wearing a gray blazer and white shirt, in front of a darker gray background.

02/19/2026

Today's Black Mental Health Fact focuses on disproportionate representation of the Black community in the mental health professions. While Black people make up approximately 13% of the US population, only 2% of psychiatrists, 4% of psychologists, 7% of marriage and family therapists, and 11% of licensed professional counselors, are black. 22% of clinical social workers are Black.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: The words "Let's Talk About Mental Health" are arranged into an infographic resembling a brain, on the right side of the image. On the left side, the text "The racial gap in mental health professions persists, as you can see by the following stats:
2% of psychiatrists are Black
4% of psychologists are Black
7% of marriage and family therapists are Black
11% of licensed professional counselors are Black
22% of clinical social workers are Black. Source: Black Mental Health Village" is shown, in teal font, against a gray-blue background.

02/18/2026

Dr. Olivia Ho**er 1915-2018

Olivia Juliette Ho**er was an American psychologist and professor. She was a survivor of the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, and the first African-American woman to enter the U.S. Coast Guard. During World War II, she became a member of the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve, earning the rank of Yeoman Second Class during her service. She served in the Coast Guard until her unit was disbanded in mid-1946. Ho**er then used her G.I. Bill to obtain her master's degree in psychological services and went on earn her PhD in clinical psychology. In 1973, she helped form the American Psychological Association's Division 33: IDD/ASD, which is dedicated to "advancing psychological research, professional education, and clinical services that increase quality of life in individuals with IDD/ASD across the life course."

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Dr. Ho**er is shown, smiling and laughing, with grey hair, and wearing a gray blazer with a lime green and blue scarf, and blue stop.

02/18/2026

Yesterday's Black Mental Health Fact: racial trauma is itself a consequence of exposure to racism, and findings across multiple studies indicate that it also contributes to long-term deterioration of psychological health. These impacts may include diagnosable mental health conditions, such as clinical depression, anxiety disorders , PTSD and increased vulnerability to trauma related disorders. Other mental health impacts of racial trauma include chronic stress and emotional dysregulation.

source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12628536/

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A blackboard-style background is shown, with the profile of a human head, with a brain, drawn in chalk on the right hand side of the image. On the left, the text from above is shown.