WELCOME!!
Welcome to Clinicians of the Diaspora, where healing is not just a service but a soulful journey crafted by healers who understand and celebrate your cultural tapestry. Our practice is more than a place; it's a sanctuary where individuals of color can find solace, understanding, and genuine connection.
At Clinicians of the Diaspora, we've curated a team of compassionate clinicians who resonate with your unique experiences and honor the richness of your heritage.
Our mission is simple yet profound: to bridge the gap between health access and equitable care through holistic, identity-affirming services. Healing should be accessible to all, and it begins with a space that feels like home. With radical love, connection, and inspiration as our guiding lights, we're here to transform the world, one person at a time.
This is us!!!
Monica X. Thompson, LCSW
Monica, Executive Director and Founder of Clinicians of the Diaspora, LLC, brings over a solid decade of clinical experience to her transformative work. Deeply compassionate about crafting healing spaces, Monica is particularly dedicated to supporting people of color, with a special focus on empowering black women. Grounded in a relational, solution-focused therapeutic style, Monica's approach reflects her artistic flair, blending inspiration, confrontation, and transformation.
She harnesses the power of storytelling to facilitate healing among diverse groups, a cornerstone of her collaborative work with clients. Continuously innovating, Monica designs workshops and trainings, championing anti-racism, racial trauma, and restorative justice. Viewing healing as a revolutionary act of self-love, Monica actively contributes to initiatives like the New York City Coalition to Dismantle Racism in the Health System, provides therapy to actors at the Public Theatre, and guides students at the Icahn School of Medicine.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Monica finds joy in painting, creating jewelry, and embarking on long drives with a vibrant soundtrack
Karen Ciego, LCSW
Karen, Executive Consultant of Clinicians of the Diaspora, LLC, embodies the spirit of empowerment as a first-generation Garifuna American and bilingual (Spanish language) woman. Driven by the mission to empower people of color in directing their own healing journeys, Karen's path led her to Clinicians of the Diaspora.
As Program Coordinator at a private hospital, Karen champions cultural and linguistic affirmation practices, providing clinical and administrative supervision to a team of social workers across the hospital system. She co-founded the Bilingual/Bicultural Work Group, offering a sanctuary for multilingual/multicultural frontline workers to combat burnout and racial battle fatigue, fostering mutual support and emotional rejuvenation.
Karen is a relentless champion for ensuring that mental health access is both equitable and culturally responsive. As a consultant, she provides culturally-aware clinical supervision to mental health professionals, promoting inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in therapeutic practice.
In her role as Adjunct Lecturer at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, Karen infuses reality, humor, and theory, joyfully preparing the next generation of diverse and fulfilled healers. Beyond her professional commitments, Karen finds fulfillment in empowering others and cherishes moments of joy through laughter, culture, and community. Karen fuses reality, humor, and theory as she joyfully prepares the next generation of diverse and fulfilled Healers.
Lorenda Mable, LMSW
Lorenda Mable is a LMSW who received her Masters in Social Work from the University at Albany. Her primary work consists of hosting self care events and advocating for mental health services, especially in communities of color. Lorenda has provided therapeutic services in hospital settings, outpatient mental health programs, inpatient residential programs, crisis intervention, homeless prevention services and school social work. She hosts events that promote self-care and encourages its consistent practice. Her events also encourage attendees to consider societal norms rooted in biases and to deconstruct these in a safe and fun environment. She partners with local businesses and people who advocate for health and wellness who keep wealth within our community. She uses her sense of humor and real-world experience to help people explore their trauma, develop healthy coping mechanisms and encourage radical self love. Knowing how our past can ultimately effect our present and future, she pursues a strengths based approach. She is familiar with DBT, CBT, motivational interviewing and other modes of therapeutic practices. She is a comedian, poet, fulltime aunty and works part time at Dunder Mifflin.