Women's History Month is celebrated annually in March to honor and recognize women's contributions, achievements, and struggles. GlobalMindED is proud to highlight the voices and work of influential women.
Tiamo Katsonga-Phiri, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of Colorado. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of the Trauma Disaster Recovery Clinic at the Graduate School of Psychology, University of Denver.
From Malawi to Mental Health Awareness, Advocacy and Action: Meet Dr. Tiamo Katsonga-Phiri, Making Dreams a Reality
What is your personal/professional story?
I was born in Malawi, often referred to as the warm heart of Africa, where I spent my formative years in a family of achievers. As the youngest of three daughters to parents deeply entrenched in their professional pursuits, I was raised in an environment where the importance of education and personal success was emphasized, yet never imposed upon me. My parents instilled in me the courage to dream, with my mother always expressing her desire for her daughters to surpass her own accomplishments.
At the age of 12, while immersing myself in the pages of Sidney Sheldon's "Tell Me Your Dreams," I encountered a character undergoing profound psychological trauma and a large part of the novel was about her healing journey under the proficient guidance of a Psychologist. It was then that my calling became clear – I aspired to help individuals navigate their inner turmoil and emerge stronger. This was despite being in a society where mental health was misunderstood and almost completely inaccessible. At that time, mental health resources in Malawi were scarce, with barely a handful of professionals specializing in the field.
Fast forward to today, I stand as Malawi's first female clinical psychologist with a doctoral degree, paving the way for many more to follow. The journey was fraught with challenges, and there were moments when I contemplated abandoning my dreams. However, my unwavering determination carried me through.
Fortune smiled upon me when I received a generous scholarship to pursue my undergraduate studies in Psychology and Anthropology at DePauw University in Indiana. Subsequently, I ventured to Chicago, where I was accepted into the Clinical-Child Psychology program at DePaul University. Following this, I embarked on a pre-doctoral internship in Denver, where I served as an intern at Aurora Mental Health Center's Child Family North Clinic, Intercept Clinic, and Colorado Refugee Wellness Center.
My pursuit of knowledge led me to continue on to a post-doctoral internship at the Colorado Refugee Wellness Center and the Asian Pacific Development Center. During this time, I seized the opportunity to contribute to the University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology Clinic. Here, I assumed roles ranging from clinical supervision to becoming a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Trauma and Disaster Recovery Clinic.
In my most recent endeavor, I established Mudita Psychological Services PLLC, a small yet impactful private practice. This venture has allowed me to explore new avenues in my field, offering a different perspective and enriching my professional journey.
Each step of this journey has shaped me, fueling my passion for mental health advocacy and trauma recovery. As I continue to tread this path, I remain committed to empowering individuals to overcome adversity and discover resilience within themselves.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
The pivotal moment of reading that novel undoubtedly left an indelible mark on me, yet it was not the sole catalyst for my journey into understanding human behavior. Childhood experiences, albeit traumatic, served as an early introduction to the intricacies of the human psyche, priming me to delve deeper into these complexities.
During adolescence, while Malawi remained an oasis of peace amidst economic hardship, my awareness of the turmoil plaguing neighboring countries grew. Learning about the atrocities in war-torn regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where women and men endured unimaginable suffering, stirred within me a fervent desire to contribute to healing and restoration.
However, as people began to question my desire to pursue a career in mental health, doubt crept in, leading me to contemplate alternative paths, including obstetrics and gynecology. This way I would still be able to help women. One July, I was on a tour of Malawian schools and orphanages with secondary school girls from the UK. At one orphanage, the caregiver of the girls explained to us that so many of the girls had suffered all kinds of mental, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, yet they had no way to resource and support them. The one psychologist in town could not do it all. I casually muttered that I had considered that field of work but was starting to give up. She grabbed me by the collar and exclaimed, almost in a whisper “My dear, you need to do it, these girls need you!” Her words, reverberated within me, reigniting my passion and affirming my purpose.
This encounter remains etched in my memory, a guiding light that continues to fuel my commitment to mental health advocacy. Without her intervention, I might have found myself delivering babies elsewhere, undoubtedly fulfilling, but incomparable to the sense of purpose I derive from my current vocation.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
My passion is deeply rooted in the experiences and convictions I've shared above, but it's also fueled by the profound sense of meaning derived from my work, which has been reaffirmed at pivotal junctures in my career.
Presently, the program where I serve, stands as one of only a handful of clinics offering specialized services tailored to refugees, asylees, and other immigrant populations, complete with interpretation services. Remarkably, we may even stand alone in providing comprehensive training to students in these essential skills. Through structured classes, didactic sessions, and supervised field placements, our students learn the art of conducting therapy with the aid of interpreters.
The significance of this work cannot be overstated. It stands as a beacon of inclusivity and accessibility in mental health care. In moments when Imposter Syndrome attempts to cast doubt, I am resolute. Recently, we encountered three high-risk clients on the brink of suicide, all of whom were reliant on interpreter assistance. Through our intervention, one was hospitalized, while the other two were eventually able to be de-escalated with the collaboration of a team. It's moments like these that underscore the urgency and impact of our work. In many places, individuals in similar circumstances would be denied access to therapy due to language barriers. Knowing that we bridge this gap is what ignites my fervor and reaffirms the importance of our mission.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?
I believe it's crucial to spread awareness about our services, to ensure that students from all backgrounds – regardless of nationality, race, religion, or language – understand that there is a place for them in our field. They should never doubt the value of their contributions or abandon their dreams. GlobalMindED is a platform that supports this crucial awareness, advocacy and action.
