About Sankofa
Our Approach
At Sankofa, we do not approach treatment through the lens of pathology or illness. We work to develop your awareness and understanding of how both personal history (exposure to chronic stress; presence of diagnoses, etc.), combined with structural trauma and experiences of oppression have impacted their developed sense of self and current level of functioning. This combination of psychoeducation, historical perspective taking, while centering cultural and clinical mental health practices, is a unique and powerful model.
We seek to reduce stigma associated with mental and emotional health, respond to barriers directly impacting the Black community, reduce risk factors associated with limited/restricted access to culturally appropriate care, and intentionally create opportunities to develop and build upon current health and resiliency factors.
Since opening doors in 2017, of all clients served:
70% identify as B/I/POC
38% identify as Transgender/Nonbinary or LGBQIA
80% are in trauma recovery
Guiding Principles of Sankofa Counseling:
We seek to decrease mental health disparities within the Black community through increasing access to highly skilled, antiracist & trauma-informed therapists
We commit to a decolonized view of health & do not assess cultural practices through a lens of pathology nor illness
We recognize that racism is inherent in the medical and mental health field. Without commitment to and engagement of antiracist practices, policies & procedures, individuals & communities with racialized, minoritized and intersecting identities will continue to experience predictable and disproportionate harm
We utilize a lens of critical race theory, trauma informed care & liberation psychology to guide actions and decision making within all levels of our organization and with the clients we serve, including repair & reconciliation
We believe in the inherent healing nature of community, ritual, ancestry, tradition & family
We commit to actively name and disrupt oppression as it shows up in the therapy room and the therapeutic process
History of Sankofa
This is the story of what happens when systems fail and people choose not to disappear inside them.
It began with hard truths, real barriers, professional harm, and shared grief. Over time, those realities shaped a vision rooted in care, resistance, and responsibility.
This timeline traces how Sankofa Counseling and Village Resiliency emerged in response to inequity, trauma, and exclusion, sustained by persistence, community, and ethical leadership.
What follows is a record of lessons learned, choices made under pressure, and the ongoing commitment to build something life-affirming, even when the cost was high.
