Visibility Campaign: Samantha Micael

Throughout Black History Month, we are continuing our Visibility Campaign series where we look to increase visibility of our Black staff, as well as our staff who have a passion for support and advocacy. Today's spotlight goes to Samantha Micael, LMFT, Senior Integrated Healthcare Clinician.

Samantha joined Wheeler Health in June of 2016 and has been part of the Adult Outpatient Program in Hartford for the last two years. She was trained in school to think systemically when treating clients – that is, to understand how their mental health is shaped by micro and macro systems, from family relationships to larger social issues like racism and systematic oppression. By conceptualizing mental health as systemic and having her own personal experiences as a Black woman navigating the world, Samantha has been able to provide a unique perspective as a mental health provider for her clients.

As a first-generation American, Samantha’s understanding of racism in America is something that became more noticeable as she has gotten older. During her school years, her classmates assumed she advanced academically solely because of Affirmative Action and not based on her own merit. In the workplace, racism can take the form of worrying about your hair style being deemed “unprofessional,” or not wanting to speak up for fear of being seen as too aggressive by your colleagues.

What are some ways people can advocate for the Black community right now? One of the best ways people can advocate for the Black community is by listening to them. Hear and validate their experiences and continue to actively provide spaces for them to openly talk about the unique issues they may be going through.

How do you feel we can better reach the Black community? One way that I hope we can do more as an organization to reach the Black community is through outreach efforts and creating more outlets to hear from our clientele about their experiences in treatment. The more we create spaces to make clients’ voices heard, the more likely they will trust us to advocate for their needs.

Thank you, Samantha, for sharing your story!

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