Monisha Mitchell, LCSW

11/21/2025

Rooted in Gratitude: A Journey Through Transracial Adoption
(November is National Adoption Awareness Month)

When I was little, people would remark how much I looked like my mother. They were wrong. Others said I resembled my father. They were wrong too. I am adopted. When I talk about my parents, I mean the people who picked me up from the hospital after I entered the world and who loved me every day of my life.

Adoption, especially transracial adoption, is a story of love and loss. For those of us raised in families where our skin color did not match, the journey carries unique layers. It can mean experiencing the beauty of belonging to a family while also navigating the loss of connection to culture and heritage. Within that mix, gratitude has a way of taking root—gratitude for parents who love deeply and gratitude for the strength that grows as identities are explored and embraced.

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Intention and Awareness

Adopting across racial or cultural lines requires thoughtful intention. Love is essential, but it is not the only ingredient. It helps to learn the history your child carries with them—both personal and cultural. It helps to notice how your world looks through their eyes.

If your child is the only person of color in your immediate circle, it can feel isolating. Children thrive when they see themselves reflected in their communities, friendships, and role models. Representation isn’t just nice—it’s foundational to their sense of identity and belonging.

As a black adoptee raised by parents who did not look like me, I often wrestled with identity. My mother and I rarely talked about race, and yet I needed those conversations. I needed her to see me fully—not only as her daughter, but also as a child who would grow up moving through the world in a body and identity different from hers.

Every adoptee’s journey is unique, but many of us share that inner work of weaving together heritage, belonging, and self-understanding. Parents can help by creating safe spaces for questions and by listening with openness instead of discomfort.

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Gratitude with Depth

People sometimes ask adoptees if they are grateful to be adopted. Gratitude in adoption, however, is not that simple. It is not a one-dimensional feeling. Adoptive children do not owe their parents gratitude for being chosen. They are simply children, deserving of love and dignity.

True gratitude is deeper. Gratitude flows both ways. Parents express gratitude for the gift of raising their child, for the lessons in humility and resilience their child teaches them. It grows when parents commit to learning and building bridges between cultures. Adoptees, in turn, may find gratitude in the love and stability they receive, while also shaping their families into more inclusive, culturally aware spaces. For transracial adoptees, gratitude can mean saying: I am grateful for the parents that raised me. I am also allowed to honor the losses that shaped me. Both can be true.

It shows up when families surround their children with representation and belonging. It is reflected in the resilience of adoptees who integrate multiple stories into one identity. Gratitude here is not about glossing over challenges or overlooking differences, but about appreciating and valuing it all. Gratitude is not about denying pain or pretending adoption is simple. It is about acknowledging the fullness of the journey.

When gratitude is practiced this way—with honesty and depth—it becomes a source of strength. It empowers adoptees to hold the complexity of their stories and still find beauty in them. And it invites families and communities to listen more deeply, love more fully, and grow more intentionally together.

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Walking Together

Adoption, particularly transracial, is not only about a child joining a family. It is about weaving together love, difference, identity, and gratitude. Parents cannot answer every question, but they can walk with their child through the journey—with tenderness, humility, and courage.

In doing so, families discover that gratitude is not a simple answer. It is a practice—one that blossoms when children are seen, honored, and embraced in the fullness of who they are.

11/10/2025

Can you heal from trauma?
YES!
Take a listen as I chat with my friends Zionsville Alliance for Mental Wellness

Dr. Courtney Ward and Amber Nunes are joined once again by licensed therapist and trauma specialist, Monisha Mitchell. We're diving deep into the most important question: Can people truly heal from trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

11/05/2025

11/03/2025

🌿 Monday Must-Do’s (Reimagined)

Before jumping into the week’s checklist, pause and ask:
What truly must be done — and why?

So often, we rush into Monday measuring our worth by how quickly we start producing. But what if the real must-do is beginning from stillness — taking a moment to mentally prepare, breathe, and set clear intention before moving into motion?

For me, Monday must do includes a walk outside. While the Manager Part of me wants to jump right into the literal to do list, thank God for SELF. SELF reminds me I will be more present and productive in everything I do if I start the week in gentle movement and nature.

Mindful preparation isn’t procrastination. It’s protection — for your peace, your energy, and your purpose.

Start your week not with mindless production, but with presence.
That’s where clarity lives.

10/28/2025

🌾 Renewal Time

Yesterday morning, I took a long quiet nature walk — the kind that slows your thoughts and opens your eyes again. I noticed the heads of grain swaying in the breeze, and it reminded me of the moment in Scripture when Jesus’ disciples walked through the fields, plucking grain on the Sabbath. Even in our striving and rule-keeping, God invites us to rest, to be present, to find renewal in what’s already growing around us.

As I lifted my gaze, a plane traced its path across the open sky. For a moment I wondered where it was going — what stories and destinations waited beyond the clouds. And then I realized: I didn’t need to know. The beauty was in the wondering itself.

That walk was renewal for my mind — a reminder that the sacred isn’t only in big revelations, but in small pauses, the rustle of grain, the hum of an airplane, and the grace to slow down enough to notice both. 🌿
&renew

How will you renew your mind today?

10/24/2025

🍁 As the Week Comes to an End 🍁

As the week comes to an end, the world outside reminds us that change can be beautiful. The trees release what they no longer need, their colors deep and fleeting all at once.

Maybe this week felt heavy — full of deadlines, decisions, or emotions that clung like leaves in the wind. But just as autumn lets go, so can you.

Let the worries fall away like the leaves — gracefully, naturally, without force.
You don’t have to hold it all. Take a breath. Watch the season shift, and remember: even letting go is a kind of growth. 🍂
*picture is the view from my office
💚 ❤️ 🧡 💛 🤎

10/23/2025

Tonight’s How the Body Keeps Score: Understanding Trauma & Healing seminar was such a meaningful evening. ✨
I had the privilege of spending two hours in deep conversation with an intimate group, exploring how trauma impacts the mind, body, and brain — and, most importantly, how healing truly begins.

Grateful for every person who showed up with openness and curiosity.
This work continues to remind me: healing happens in connection, awareness, and compassion. 💚

10/21/2025

I’m thrilled to share that I recently joined the team at Unmasked: A Mental Health Podcast for a deeply meaningful conversation titled “A Therapist’s View: What Truly Defines Trauma?.” 🎙️

In the episode, we explore what differentiates traumatic experiences from simply difficult ones — and what it really takes to heal and move forward. I had the honor of sitting down alongside Dr. Courtney Ward and Amber Nunes to unpack this complex topic from a clinician’s viewpoint.

Being invited to share my perspective as a licensed therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with this audience was such an honor. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a space that helps shine light on mental wellness and trauma healing. If you’re looking for a deeper dive join me tomorrow for How the Body Keeps Score: Understanding Trauma and Healing (see comments)

I hope you’ll give the episode a listen — whether you’re on your own healing journey, supporting someone else, or simply curious about how trauma impacts us and what healing can look like. Thank you to the entire Unmasked team for the invitation and the meaningful work you’re doing.

💡 Feel free to drop your thoughts, reflections or questions after you listen — I’d love to hear your take!

Welcome back to  Unmasked ! Dr. Courtney Ward and Amber Nunes are joined by a special guest,  Monisha Mitchell, LCSW, CCTP  (owner of Monisha Mitchell, LCSW, LLC). In this vital episode, we dive into the complex topic of  trauma .

10/10/2025

Out of Office
Following World Mental Health Day with a few days of mental rest.

10/10/2025

10/10/2025

🌍 World Mental Health Day:
A Call to Prioritize Healing

Every year on October 10, we recognize World Mental Health Day — a global reminder that our mental health is foundational, not optional.

Established by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, this day aims to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and mobilize support for mental health across the world. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 8 people globally live with a mental health condition — and anxiety disorders have become the most common, affecting over 300 million people. These numbers remind us that mental health isn’t a niche topic — it’s a shared human experience.

This year’s theme focuses on “mental health as a universal human right.” And yet, we continue to see a steady rise in anxiety, burnout, and trauma-related distress — reminders of how deeply modern life impacts our nervous systems and sense of safety. All while there is less and less access to healthcare, which comes at greater expense as people experience more financial hardship. In the midst of this collective strain, many are beginning to recognize that what we call “stress” or “anxiety” can sometimes be the residue of unprocessed pain — the kind that lingers quietly beneath the surface.

Trauma isn’t defined only by the event itself, but by its impact. It’s the lingering imprint of experiences that overwhelm our ability to cope or leave us feeling unsafe in our own bodies or relationships.

We often minimize those impacts — pushing through, staying busy, telling ourselves “it wasn’t that bad.” But healing begins when we pause long enough to notice what our mind and body have been trying to carry alone.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s move beyond awareness toward action:
• Check in on ourselves and others
• Practice self care and rest
• Reach out for therapy -it’s not for the mentally ill, it is a means of maintaining mental well being

Promoting mental health means creating spaces where healing is accessible, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based care — exactly the kind of work I’m honored to do each day. 💚

Monisha Mitchell, LCSW, CCTP

10/08/2025

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How the Body Keeps Score: Understanding Trauma & Healing.
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