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Emmanuela "Emma" Collado, Counselor
I was born and raised in Haiti. I moved to Brooklyn, NY in 2008. My parents are my inspiration to keep working hard everyday. I describe myself as Black Caribbean woman. I speak Creole, French and English.
I’m a proud graduate of City University of New York (College of Staten Island). I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Philosophy in 2016. I started my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness at New York University and graduated in 2018.
I’m currently a PhD graduate student at Pace University in School Psychology. My research interest is focused on exploring racial preference in terms of therapist selection and exploring the role that “Black History Knowledge” plays in the decision making.
Since I was a child, I have always been interested in wellness, mindfulness, meditation and getting to know people at the core. What makes you, you? What makes you happy, what makes you sad, what are your pet peeves, what do you enjoy the most about your life? How often do you remind yourself to smile throughout your day? Oftentimes people let everyday life get to them and forget about their wellbeing. As a therapist, I remind my clients their happiness and wellness comes before everything else in life. There is no greater feeling than when my clients implement wellness and mindfulness into their daily lives.
There is a shortage of Black Counselors in the U.S. and right now we need people that can relate to our pain and struggles in these difficult times. But most of all we need counselors like myself that reminds us “It’s ok to be happy, it’s ok to smile, it’s ok that we are not feeling our best today.” Black people's pain is often ignored by counselors who cannot relate to us. That motivated me to be in a field that gives me the space to work with the people that I have a shared history with. We can be from two different countries or states but there is always that instant relief when the person you see serving you looks like you. I know that’s how I feel every time I go to an office in this country.
There is no one correct way to deal with racism and racism looks different for everyone. Personally, I always use it as time to educate my peers or colleagues when I feel uncomfortable.
No one person is the same. A technique that works with one client will most likely not work with another. My approach is Holistic. I was trained in psychodynamics with special training in CBT and DBT.
My clients have always voiced a positive experience in their work with me. I remind them that they are the author of their life, especially during the time they spend with me. Clients have also said I am easy to talk to, that my smile breaks down their nervousness during my first meeting with them, that I am caring.
I always travel with my Bichon Poodle named Moca.