Therapy for adults who are tired of translating themselves.
Telehealth psychotherapy for adults in Georgia and New York. People come in with anxiety, depression, identity, relationships, burnout, grief, and life transitions. You will not have to explain where you come from before we can get to the point. Available to clients physically located in Georgia or New York at the time of session.
Who comes here.
- Adults of all genders working through identity, culture, belonging, and life transitions.
- Black professionals and high-achieving adults carrying more than people see.
- Women, men, and nonbinary adults seeking culturally responsive care that honors their whole story.
- LGBTQ+ people, including queer women, femmes, trans, and nonbinary adults, seeking affirming care.
- Individuals and couples dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, relational patterns, and change.
- Anyone who wants care that does not flatten culture, identity, spirituality, ambition, or complexity.
In a first session, clients will sometimes log on smiling and tell me they have been talking about this appointment for days. There is excitement there, and relief. Many have sat with therapists who missed the nuances of their cultural world, or offered so little feedback that they left each session wondering what the therapist was actually thinking.
I lean into that hope. And then, early in our work, I ask a question: how will you know when it is time to give me my pink slip?
There is usually a pause. Sometimes they laugh. They have just told me how excited they are to work with me, and now I am asking them to imagine a time when they will no longer need me. That pause is where the work starts. We are moving from "I finally found someone who gets me" to "what do I actually want my life to look like, and how will I know when something has changed?"
So our work is intentional. We set goals. We use measures and assessments to see whether the work is moving. Sessions may feel like natural conversation, but there is intention underneath, and the work continues in what you practice, notice, question, and choose between sessions. The goal was never for you to need me forever. The goal is for the work we do together to become something you can carry for yourself.
How Dr. Vance works.
My clinical work is culturally responsive, relational, direct, and grounded in evidence-informed practice. I draw from CBT, ACT, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, identity-aware practice, and African-centered frameworks when clinically appropriate. My clinical training includes a Clinical and Research Postdoctoral Fellowship in LGBT Health at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
I do not pathologize identity. I do not ask you to translate yourself to be understood. I work with the full context of who you are and the systems that shaped you.
Honest limits protect good care.
- Emergency, crisis-response, after-hours, or on-call services.
- Court-mandated treatment. Custody evaluations. Workers compensation services. Forensic or independent medical examinations for litigation.
- Disability evaluations are offered as a separate, standalone service and are not available to current therapy clients. Read about disability evaluations →
- Specialized treatment for active psychosis, acute suicidality or homicidality, severe substance dependence, active domestic violence, specialized eating-disorder treatment, or needs requiring frequent crisis access.
What the first weeks look like.
You should know what you are walking into. Here is what happens, in order.
A complimentary consultation. We start with a free 15-minute call. This is not a therapy session or a clinical relationship. It is where we both talk openly about what brings you in, your needs, logistics, fees, and how I work, and decide together whether we are a good fit.
Intake and paperwork. Once we both agree it is a fit, I send your intake forms and a few brief assessments. When everything is returned, we schedule your first session.
The first session, a clinical interview. The first one or two sessions are what clinicians call a clinical interview. Early on it can feel a little more structured as I ask questions to understand your context and history, begin talking through symptoms, and we build rapport. You are also telling me how you work best, and we shape the approach together, mine and yours.
A treatment plan we build together. After those first sessions, I develop a treatment plan and bring it back to you for your feedback, questions, and clarity. We talk through the likely length of therapy and the modalities I tend to use, and we adjust until it fits before we go on.
The ongoing work. Once we agree, sessions become more process-oriented, focused on your symptoms and goals. Session length depends on you and the work in front of us.
Nothing is required of you except showing up as you are. Sessions are private and held over HIPAA-secure telehealth, so you can settle in from wherever you feel most comfortable.
If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, call 911, call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency department. ClearMinds is not an emergency service.