Who is Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings?
“I got my Master’s in Social Work in New York City in 1988. I went into social work because I initially wanted and thought that I could change the world. I discovered quite quickly that I needed to redefine what “changing the world” meant and if the world needed changing, why was it my responsibility? Because I was easily bored, smart and would not put up with B.S. from employers, I had many jobs as a social worker and touched every population that social workers engaged with. Decades after getting my Masters, I realized that most of the problems I was seeing on a micro level stemmed from macro level/systemic/social determinants of health issues. This led to my pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health. I use “Dr. Hemmings” in professional circles as an acknowledgement to my ancestors who could never dream of going to college much less attaining a Doctorate. It is also an acknowledgement that less than 5% of PhDs are held by Black Women. Additionally, I recognize for some, it creates cognitive dissonance to look at me embodying this amazing melanin and call me Dr. Hemmings.”
When did you see the need to start BTC PDX? Why is BTC PDX important? What is your passion behind it? What is the goal for the company and the mental health community?
“Black Therapist & Company, LLC (BTC) was created out of my private practice that I had for over 20 years. BTC was specifically created to address the inequities and harm that occurs for those who are seeking mental health services when trying to find clinicians who share their identities and/or lived experiences. Majority of our clinicians identify as people of color, and all are committed to the unique partnership that is required when working with populations who have been systematically othered. My mission was to create a different type of space for clinicians with similar lived experiences and/or identities and passion as my own to thrive in. Let’s be honest, there were other reasons why I created BTC besides fulfilling my redesigned version of “wanting to change the world”. I discovered a long time ago that if I worked for someone else, they had control over my time, my money and sometimes my voice. I was over that!”