why i work in mental health advocacy

After a near-fatal first dance with lupus at 20, I spent the following decade moving around the hemisphere chasing waterfalls and dreams, seeking excitement and satisfying curiosities, fueled by fear of leaving life goals unmet upon the disease’s inevitable tragic return. That time spent “living like a motherfucker” showed me the healing ability of joy, the paralyzing power of hopelessness and fear, and the strength in storytelling.

Navigating mental illness, homelessness, and the accompanying hopelessness and shame in my 30s inspired the launch of GetSomeJoy, a creative wellness agency promoting wellness through dynamic storytelling, interactive events, and accessible wellness resources. Wanting fewer people to experience the bewilderment, isolation, and cluelessness I felt led me to tap into my experiences and traumas in an attempt to offer solutions amidst governmental shortcomings and presidential swamp-donkery.

My method of creating a world where Rita Louise Watson would thrive involves testifying, spacemaking, trainings, and pushing joy. But no single ChocolateyWonder—not even one on the right side of The Grits Debate—can fill care, infrastructure, and health equity gaps left by decades of dumpster-hearted policy, structural exclusion, and institutional melanin envy-flavored hateration in the socioeconomic dancerie.

But I can partner with community organizations and passionate organizers harnessing soul, brilliance, magic, and wisdom to make the world less terrible.

I can also put my years dancing, teaching, and studying in Panama to use by leading Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid Trainings in English and Spanish.

I can host events and lead group therapy sessions and publish content and share stories and distribute resources that encourage folks to bust their emotions open, seek treatment, choose joy, and support loved ones when possible while loving on oneself. And I can implore folks to always ask more more gravy. Every time.

And so here we are.

past situations

Curator/Moderator, Exploring: Black Queer & Trans Lives Matter @ The Each-Other Project. Brooklyn, NY
Facilitator, GetSomeJoy LGBTQ Peer Support Group @ GMAD (Gay Men of African Descent). Brooklyn, NY (ongoing, monthly, message for info)
Facilitator, Mental Stimulation: A Youth Open Mic & Panel Discussion on Mental Health @ Brooklyn Public Library. Haitian American Caucus. Brooklyn, NY
Facilitator/Panelist, “The Art of Healing: A Conversation On Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Trauma” @ Impulse Group DC Annual Retreat. Upper Marlboro, MD
Facilitator, Literary Therapy: Writing (for) Your Life Workshop. Adler University. Chicago, IL; New York University. New York, NY; AIDS Health Foundation/Carl Bean House. Los Angeles, CA; DENIM. Hyattsville, MD

Keynote Speaker, “Joy & Healing: Your Self-Care Check-In” @ Sentara Careplex. Peninsula Lupus & Fibro Support Group. Hampton, VA
Keynote Speaker, “Saving Yourself While Saving The World.” @ Young People For’s national summit. Arlington, VA
Panelist, First Lady of New York City’s Mental Health & Technology Roundtable @ Gracie Mansion. New York, NY
Panelist, "The Check Up: Healthy Minds/ Healthy Bodies” @ 2018 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Brooklyn, NY
Producer/Host, #GetSomeJoy: A Blackstravaganza for Mental Health Awareness @ Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Harlem, NY (recap)
Producer/Host, Colored Boy and Friends: Mental Health Edition @ Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Center. Washington Heights, NY (recap)
Trainer, English & Spanish Adult Mental Health First Aid @ 199SEIU Healthcare Workers Education Fund. New York, NY

What is this?

“Literary Therapy: Writing (for) Your Life” is a dynamic, interactive, non-clinical six-week therapeutic writing program that harnesses the cathartic power of honest reflective writing, group readings and discussion, and collective vulnerability to explore mental and emotional wellness (joy, stress, loss, isolation, trauma, self-love, affirmation, fear, shame, etc.), curate self-care strategies, and thrive amidst uncertainty, conflict, oppression, violence, etc.

By busting our emotions open ‘pon the page, we will create space for healing, awaken our imaginations, and armor ourselves for the War on Spiritual Ashiness.

The sessions underscore writing's effectiveness as a vehicle for catharsis, personal exploration, grounding, and entertainment; and provide tools for stress management, prioritizing joy, self-care, and community wellness.

Sessions consists of writing-based grounding techniques for ritual or acute stress relief, affirmations, group readings & discussion, and using our words to explore our pasts, reimagine our futures, and thrive amidst uncertainty and transition in the global dancerie.

See all “Literary Therapy: Writing (for) Your Life” information in PDF format.

How’s it going down?

Okay, so here’s the low-down. “Literary Therapy: Writing (for) Your Life” consists of SIX weekly sessions that meet for two hours via Zoom. There will be breaks.

There is an AM Group meeting from 11am to 1pm EST / 8am to 10am PST.
There is a PM Group meeting from 7pm to 9pm EST / 4pm to 6pm PST.

Meeting dates are as follows:

Tuesday, September 16
Tuesday, September 23
Tuesday, September 30
Tuesday, October 7
Tuesday, October 14
Tuesday, October 21

The next round of Literary Therapy sessions will begin Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

Audience.

“Literary Therapy: Writing (for) Your Life” is suitable for anyone who knows, loves, feeds, raises, manages, has been harmed or loved by, or shares an office or household with humans, and anyone who is open to using introspective writing—in a safe, intimate space—as a tool to make sense of life (in this raggedy moment in history and beyond) and find clarity, freedom, and healing.

Objectives.

The “Literary Therapy: Writing (for) Your Life” course aims to

explore mental and emotional wellness through introspective writing activities,
offer writing-based strategies for literary therapy; radical honesty; self-love & self-affirmation; forgiveness; processing uncertainty, anger, shame, anxiety, grief, trauma, etc.,
encourage vulnerability, creative expression, mindfulness, and interconnectedness, and
provide a safe space to bust our emotions open and armor ourselves for the War on Spiritual Ashiness.

Couse Outline.

To support each of the six two-hour sessions, participants receive a weekly newsletter-style reading list and resource roundup for additional exploration.

1. Sept 16: Establishing a sense of safety
We explore literary grounding techniques for daily rituals and acute stress relief, envisioning safety, creating a sanctuary, establishing healthy routines, etc.

2. Sept 23: Resilience & self-love
Stuffing your healing toolkit, recognizing strengths and assets, acknowledging what’s going well, pouring into yourself, and self-affirmation. More writing-based grounding techniques.

3. Sept 30: Giving yourself grace & forgiveness
What are you doing well? Engaging with & quieting the Inner Hater. Being kind(er) to yourself and deciphering negative self-talk. Working through shame.

4. Oct 7: It takes a village (boundaries & community healing)
Is your tribe healthy? What do you need to be your best self? How can we set healthy boundaries while inviting connection? Is your community contributing to or detracting from your wellness?

5. Oct 14: Facing & reframing the past
What lessons have we learned from trauma and transition? How have our raggedy moments made us better or stronger?

6. Oct 21: Looking to the future

Envisioning a joyful future. Declaring dreams and engaging support. Embracing abundance.

Logistical Considerations.

During this session, we will explore potentially sensitive topics around healing and wellness. Here is how to make the most of our time together:

To maintain the confidential, safe nature of the environment, use headphones if possible if attending in a shared living/work space (if possible).
Due to the nature of the material explored in this session, please make sure you're in a space where you can speak as freely and safely as possible.
We will have time for reflection and writing, so feel free to use a notebook or blank Google or Word doc to keep your thoughts and words in one place. Whichever works best for you.
We can collaborate on a safety strategy if you or another participant requires additional support during or after our sessions.