100th Episode: Meet JD

J. Denise Fuller (she, her, hers) is an African American LCSW who has over 25 years of experience as a mental health clinician, educator, writer, and consultant. With a Masters of Social Work from Smith College JD has held positions as an Adjunct Professor as well as a Clinical and Area Director for outpatient mental health programs. JD is an activist and “truth teller”.  As an advocate for equity and inclusion she constantly speaks out against inequality.  Focusing through a mental health lens, JD is a widely sought after clinician, providing education, training and consultation on ways to navigate the difficult conversations related to systemic and  internalized racism, white privilege, and the tenets of oppression. She  is esteemed for her insight, empathy, authenticity, unique perceptive, and ability to empower, while providing education. JD is a firm believer that one’s truth lives in the body and the lived experience guides the process of how we integrate new information.  

 The youngest of nine children, JD experienced how myopic teaching distorted her understanding of American history. This realization coupled with her thesis, The Racial Identity Development of the African American Female, catalyzed a lifetime of experiential learning and commitment to teaching about and advocating for others. JD works within the Black and White continuum to facilitate the learning process in the safe space she creates in order to explore the systems that have oppressed our learning. Solution-focused in guiding change, her clinical work has been girded by her dedication to help others discover their authentic selves. JD continues to speak out wherever she sees social inequity today to Change The Narrative.

What You Will Hear:

Early life and transition into a career in mental healthEducation and career trajectoryGraduate thesis “The Racial Identity Development of the African American Female.”First experience of racism and becoming obsessed with what it means to be blackRecognizing legacy and lineageManaging anger and making it useful/productiveLearning the truth about all of American HistoryChallenges faced, white supremacy, young activismEmpowering youth, accessibility and messagingCreating economic soundnessWhat drives and motivates JD.  Why therapy?How do therapists self careSelf discovery, femininity, sexuality, black gay and trans community and societyPodcast experience and lessons. Decolonization of mental healthActivism 30 years ago vs today

Quotes:

“I didn’t feel seen, kids act out what they don’t have the language for…..I was a professional acter outer.”

“I was resentful for not being taught the truth.”

“Managing the anger and turning it into something useful was the most challenging.”

“Resilient only means that you can keep knocking me down and all I’m gonna do is bouncing back.”

“To be human is not to be strong it’s just to be aware of all the plethora of feelings that we are left to feel throughout our lifetime.”

“White supremacy is a constant, constant barrier to our emotional and mental health.”

“As we expand the vision for the youth there are opportunities to see different pathways.”