Meet Black Therapist & Company, LLC
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Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings, LCSW,CCTP-ll (she/her)
CEO/Owner
Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings has a Masters in Social Work, Post-Masters Certificate in Structural Family Therapy, and a Ph.D. in Public Health. Furthermore, Dr. Hemmings is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 practitioner. With over 30 years of experience as a social worker, Dr. Hemmings has been in private practice as a psychotherapist for over 15 years where she has focused on working with adult Black, Indigenous and other people of color, couples and families. Dr. Hemmings has provided clinical supervision for social workers seeking licensure for over 20 years. Additionally, she serves as a mentor to several BIPOC social work students and social workers in the Portland area and consults with various organizations on Diversity Equity and Inclusion related matters.
Ramata Adebawo, LCSW (she/her)
Psychotherapist/Task Supervisor
My name is Ramata Adebawo. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon with several years of experience working as a therapist in a diverse community. My cultural competency is built on lifetime experience. Growing up and moving to the United States, surrounded by cultures different from my own, I was encouraged to identify and value the commonalities and differences of the human life experience. Exposure to and working with diverse people was instrumental in shaping my worldview and values. My awareness and appreciation of cross-cultural understanding grows as a journey of life. I highly respect and value individuals from different cultural backgrounds, religions, and experiences. I speak French, English, and Lingala fluently. I feel strongly about working with people who don’t have a voice and collaborating with individuals as a team. I want to be an advocate and a partner and pursue a role allowing me to work with as many people as possible. I chose this profession because I feel passionate about it. Not many people are fortunate enough to find a job or a career that they help and teach me how to value and respect individuals who are going through some kind of life circumstance in life and trying to find a way out of the situation with the support of community and therapist. I am grateful for the opportunity.
My counseling style is empathetic, caring, mindful, and client-centered, and my counseling style is very understanding, caring, aware, and client-centered. I approach my counseling with the combination of Strengths therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, solution-focused therapy, Trauma Focused Approach, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy to ensure that the highest outcomes are achieved as outlined by a unique treatment plan that will focus on your needs precisely. Most importantly, I am committing myself to demonstrate compassion for all and being sensitive to the needs of others. I am interested in learning about others’ cultures by traveling worldwide, and I greatly appreciate my family.
Olivia Bormann, MSW, CSWA (she/her)
Psychotherapist Associate
Olivia is a pre-licensed Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) who is a queer, biracial (Black and white) domestic violence sexual assault survivor. She has a range of experience working with adults and college students as a therapist, case manager, advocate, and program manager.
Olivia is drawn to working with clients who are survivors of abuse and trauma. She also works with clients navigating dissociative disorders, grief and loss, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, Olivia works with couples (monogamous and non-monogamous) to navigate relationship conflict, attachment wounds, and explore relationship scripts. Her style is humorous, caring, and direct. She draws from Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Somatics to work collaboratively with clients toward their therapeutic goals.
To take care of herself, Olivia sings karaoke, cooks meals for loved ones, plays sports, and fosters dogs.
Julie Ellerman (she/her)
Administrative Assistant
Julie has worked in the medical field her entire career. Starting with an AAS in Radiologic Technology, she rose to supervisory positions. After a much-needed break, she returned to the workforce with CoverOregon and then CareOregon. Julie retired from the position of Program Coordinator for the Advanced Illness Care Program with Housecall Providers, a subsidiary of CareOregon.
Antoun Kehdi, MSW, CSWA (he/him)
Psychotherapist Associate
Antoun Kehdi is a pre-licensed Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) with a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from Simmons University with a Trauma Practice Specialization Certification. Antoun has several years of experience working with adults and children in case management, resource identification, psychoeducation, and advocacy. He utilizes a multidimensional approach to therapy, exploring everyone’s biological, psychological, social and spiritual needs. His approach also includes evaluating each person within their environment, providing support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges, and with compassion and understanding, he works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing. Antoun desires to come along side others to assist them in healing from trauma, building self-worth, and reaching their goals. Antoun believes that healing is a collaborative process that requires honest caring without judgment.
Rather than adopting one methodology for all individuals and issues, Antoun draws from a variety of methods to create a tailored approach for each individual and situation. Antoun incorporates approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy, all with a Trauma Focused approach in his work with clients. He also uses MI (Motivational Interviewing) techniques and Strengths-Based Perspectives and interventions, combining experience, education, and creativity with a realistic approach to counseling.
His areas of expertise include stress management, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and personal growth. His mission is to eliminate racism, empower individuals, and strengthen communities as well as to raise awareness and take action to end racial and social injustice. Antoun believes that change happens when people are given the support they need to draw on their own strengths and realize their potential to live fulfilling, happy lives.
Wynona Lee, MSW, CSWA (she/her)
Psychotherapist Associate
Wynona Lee is a pre-licensed Social Worker who identifies as Samoan and Asian. Wynona is first generation college graduate, has received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Oregon and Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University.
Wynona has experience in residential treatment services, crisis management, drug and alcohol counseling, and intensive in-home stabilizations for kids, teens and families. Wynona has received training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Suicide Prevention, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
Wynona believes in the holistic approach of therapy to address the “whole” person, and that therapy is a collaborative process with client being the expert of themselves.
As part of her self-care routine, Wynona likes to try new restaurants, drive to the coast, be creative through art, and spend time with loved ones.
Yasharet Lopez Valencia, LCSW (she/her)
Psychotherapist/Task Supervisor
Yasharet Lopez Valencia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes in the philosophy of resiliency and determination. She is a fierce advocate for the BIPOC community. Yasharet received her undergraduate degree from George Fox University and a Masters in Social Work from Simmons University. As a first-generation Latina immigrating from her hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico to Portland, Oregon, she understands the challenges of being an immigrant in a world that is dominated by the white majority and the challenges that come with growing up in two cultures. Yasharet is passionate in providing services to the Latinx community. Yasharet has experience working with a variety of clients and is passionate about working with survivors of abuse, complex trauma, PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. Yasharet is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Additionally, Yasharet has experience working with children and their families in the clarification process in treatment of families affected by incest.
Yasharet specializes in incorporating approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Yasharet incorporates the connection between mind, body, and soul in her therapy approach and believes in these components in guiding her work with each individual client. She seeks to encourage and bring awareness to each of her clients in supporting them to find purpose and fulfilment in their life.
Levin Manabat, MSW, CSWA (he/him)
Psychotherapist Associate
Levin Manabat is a pre-licensed Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) and Certified Financial Social Worker with several years of experience working with diverse adults 18 and up. He has received his Master’s degree in social work (MSW) with a clinical social work concentration and a Trauma Practice Specialization Certification from Widener University. He also versed in case management, resource identification, psychoeducation, and advocacy. His current qualifications include Financial Social Work certification (CFSW), a Clinical Military Counselor Certification (CMCC), and a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) certification.
Additionally, Levin has experiences working with the LGBTQ+ community, HIV/AIDS, chronic health, foster care, medical complexities, military veterans, trauma, substance use, grief, anxiety, depression, sleeping difficulties, oppression, and discrimination and, houselessness
His therapeutic practice consists of a trauma focused approach, decolonizing practices, with a clinical social work lens. He uses MI (Motivational Interviewing) techniques, Strengths-Based Perspective, and interventions with that includes somatic techniques for grounding, along with evidence-based and experiential treatment modalities.
As a part of his own self-care plan, he’s continuously working on his inner self through utilizing mindfulness skills and meditation, working out in the gym, playing the guitar, and enjoying his free time traveling and camping through various national state parks with his partner and 3 dogs.
Monica Ontiveros, BSN, RN, CHPN (she/her)
Monica has 13 years of nursing experience working with vulnerable population.
