Akilah Vazquez, M.A., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Akilah Vazquez, M.A., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFC # 45594), providing counseling, consultation and training. I also have a certificate in conflict resolution.

I am Akilah Vazquez a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist through the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California. My private practice serves adolescents, young adults, and families, providing therapy to clients diagnosed with a variety of presenting problems including: anxiety, depression, substance abuse issues, family conflict, peer discord, and grief/loss. I also provide and facilitate Employee Assistance Supportive (EAP) Services, group meetings, crisis prevention and emergency response. Therapy is a journey of self awareness and self acceptance. It is an excellent opportunity to enhance the areas in your life where you need support and encouragement. It can also be a painful and difficult process as you experience change and growth. Whether you are looking for short term or long term therapy, I will provide a safe and supportive environment for you to be present in your process of understanding and reaching your goals. I use variety of theoretical approaches based on the needs of the client. I don't just listen without commenting but believe in talk therapy, being direct and compassionate. I look forward to working collaboratively to help you reach your full potential in your relationships, life and work. Call now to begin your journey! To schedule an appointment or discuss services, please contact me at 510-877-0614.

✨The Weight of Being the First✨Saturday, I held my dissertation focus group, and what a privilege it was to sit in a roo...
11/05/2025

✨The Weight of Being the First✨
Saturday, I held my dissertation focus group, and what a privilege it was to sit in a room full of beautiful Black excellence. Many of these women, like me, have experienced being the first and sometimes the only in their families or professions.
I understand the weight these women carry because I, too, know what it feels like to be the first to break generational curses and push through barriers never meant for us to cross. I recognize the strength it takes to hold that space with grace, determination, and faith.
I am my mother’s dream.
I am my grandmother’s dream.
I am my great-grandmother’s dream.
I want to take a moment to thank my mom, who has always celebrated me, cooked me a beautiful dinner, and bought me a thoughtful gift to mark this milestone. Even if she doesn’t fully understand the sacrifices behind my journey, I sincerely appreciate her sacrifices that allowed me to walk this path. I would also be remiss if I did not thank my research assistant, technology guru, and camera crew — King. And to my cousin , thank you for your unwavering moral support and for helping me set up on Saturday. I couldn’t have done it without you both.
This moment isn’t just mine — it’s ours. 💜

As the former Chair of a committee that provided weekend meals for children, it warms my heart to see so many restaurant...
10/28/2025

As the former Chair of a committee that provided weekend meals for children, it warms my heart to see so many restaurants and community partners stepping up to feed kids and families right now.
But it also breaks my heart that, as we approach November 1, families are being told that SNAP (CalFresh in California) benefits will be withheld—punishing the very communities already struggling to make ends meet.
Meanwhile, our government funds wars abroad while neglecting hunger at home.
Tupac said it best:
“They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor.”
That lyric is as relevant now as it was then. Our priorities as a nation must change—because no child in America should ever go hungry. 🍽️💔 I will share places in the Bay Area on this page that provide food at no to little cost for children and families.
❤️

After listening to Gucci Mane talk about his new book on a podcast, I had to order it — and wow, it’s such a good read. ...
10/25/2025

After listening to Gucci Mane talk about his new book on a podcast, I had to order it — and wow, it’s such a good read. 🤍
I don’t want to spoil it, but he shares parts of his early life growing up in the South and the reality of facing racism and trauma at such a young age. He also does an excellent job of acknowledging that the Black community doesn’t always do well when it comes to mental health diagnoses — the stigma, the labeling, and how quickly people get dismissed or called “crazy” or “out of control.”

It really reminded me how important it is to deal with our pain — not just the kind we can see, but the kind we carry emotionally and psychologically. So often, we self-medicate to survive what we never had the space or support to process.

Healing doesn’t always start with therapy or medication (though those can help). Sometimes it begins with acknowledging the pain and saying, This hurt me — but I’m ready to heal.

🖤

💬 When Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’Oir shared their story, it hit home for many people.We need more of these honest conver...
10/21/2025

💬 When Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’Oir shared their story, it hit home for many people.
We need more of these honest conversations about mental health in our community — but we also need to talk about them responsibly. Words matter. 🖤
This conversation needs the insight of mental health advocates and licensed professionals. We have to be careful with language — casually labeling people as “bipolar” or “schizophrenic” can be harmful and misleading.
Clinically, schizoaffective disorder is a specific diagnosis that involves symptoms of both a mood disorder (like bipolar disorder or depression) and features of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia itself is a complex, severe mental health condition that requires individualized evaluation and care.
Using phrases like “having an episode” can also be damaging. It oversimplifies profound experiences, turning them into slang — so anyone having a tough day risks being unfairly labeled.
Historically and still today, the Black community experiences deep stigma around therapy and medication. That’s why I appreciate seeing individuals and couples openly share their mental health journeys — it normalizes the conversation. These are real lives, not case studies, and their openness helps break generational silence.
Now that this “Pandora’s box” is open, I hope to see more informed discussions led by experts and advocates within our community. As a therapist — and someone who has witnessed these struggles personally — I know healing begins with compassion, education, and honesty.
—
Akilah V. Vazquez, M.A., LMFT
Doctor of Marriage & Family Therapy (Candidate)
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT #45594)
Mental Health Advocate | Community Leader
—

✨ Still looking for 2 amazing Black women to join my focus group! ✨Are you the strong friend? The one everyone leans on ...
10/14/2025

✨ Still looking for 2 amazing Black women to join my focus group! ✨
Are you the strong friend? The one everyone leans on — even when you’re running on empty?
My doctoral project, The Weight of Strength: The Psychological Impact of the Superwoman Schema and Racialized Imposter Phenomenon in Black Women, explores what it means to carry strength, success, and survival all at once. 💭
I’m hosting a focus group on Saturday, November 1st at 11:00 AM in Concord, CA.
🖤 It’s a safe and affirming space for professional Black women to share, connect, and be seen.
🥐 Light refreshments provided.
📩 DM me if you’d like to join or learn more — I just need 2 more voices to complete the group.

✨ Black Girl Day Off — October 11 ✨Today reminds us that rest is not a reward — it’s resistance.Black women are often ex...
10/11/2025

✨ Black Girl Day Off — October 11 ✨
Today reminds us that rest is not a reward — it’s resistance.
Black women are often expected to be everything for everyone, yet rarely encouraged to pause. The truth is, our strength has weight.
💗 My dissertation project, The Weight of Strength, explores how Superwoman Schema and racialized impostorism affect the emotional and mental well-being of Black women.
This work creates space for us to unpack the pressures of perfection and reclaim our right to rest, heal, and breathe.
Take this day — and every day — to pour back into yourself. You deserve peace, care, and restoration.

10/11/2025

How do you move through life without getting pulled into the energy of others—especially when you know it’s not for you?

What has helped me is becoming a good observer. I can be present with the people I’m with and the places I’m in, without absorbing their thoughts, opinions, or energy.

It’s a skill worth developing: simply notice how you feel in different situations, then take the steps needed to protect your peace, strength, and ease.

Sending you love 🥰

“The weight of strength.” 💜I’m inviting Black women, ages 25–65, in Northern California to participate in my dissertatio...
10/10/2025

“The weight of strength.” 💜
I’m inviting Black women, ages 25–65, in Northern California to participate in my dissertation project exploring:
✨ Impostor Phenomenon (feeling like you’re not who people think you are)
✨ Racism, oppression, and genderism
✨ The Superwoman Schema—the pressure to always be strong
What’s involved?
💻 Online survey + two short questionnaires
💬 A 2.5-hour in-person focus group in Concord, CA area.
Your voice matters. This is a space to share experiences, honor strength, and shed light on the challenges we carry.
Interested? Sign up here 👉 https://forms.gle/5UtuaUSREQ1YNFa36
🔖 Hashtags:

There’s a big difference between parenting and trying to control.When you’re the non-custodial parent — seeing your chil...
09/30/2025

There’s a big difference between parenting and trying to control.
When you’re the non-custodial parent — seeing your child only 10–15% of the month — it is not fair to try to dictate or criticize how the custodial parent spends their time with the child the other 85–90%. The custodial parent holds the daily responsibility: school runs, meals, bedtime routines, homework, doctor’s appointments, emotional check-ins, and everything else.
Making assumptions about what happens in the other household or questioning every detail puts unnecessary stress on the child. It teaches them that love is conditional, that they’re being watched, or that they must “prove” they’re cared for. That is not parenting — that is control.
Healthy co-parenting means focusing on your time, presence, and consistency with the child. The best gift you can give your child is showing up fully when you do have them, instead of trying to micromanage what happens when you don’t.
Children deserve peace, not parental tug-of-war. 💜

🌟 Why Reading With Children After Age Five Still Matters 🌟When kids start school, handing them a book and letting them r...
09/25/2025

🌟 Why Reading With Children After Age Five Still Matters 🌟
When kids start school, handing them a book and letting them read independently can be tempting. But continuing to read with our children beyond age five is powerful.
✔️ It strengthens bonds through shared moments.
✔️ It grows vocabulary and comprehension beyond classroom lessons.
✔️ It builds confidence and fluency in reading.
✔️ It nurtures imagination and critical thinking.
✔️ It models lifelong learning.
Even 15 minutes a day—whether a bedtime story, a funny comic, or a favorite chapter book—can leave a lasting imprint on your child’s growth and your relationship. 💕
📖 What’s one of your favorite books to read with your child?

I saw this post “I’m NOT the “baby mama.”I’m the CUSTODIAL parent.I am the PRIMARY parent.I’m the MOTHERRRRR!…”As a moth...
09/25/2025

I saw this post “I’m NOT the “baby mama.”
I’m the CUSTODIAL parent.
I am the PRIMARY parent.
I’m the MOTHERRRRR!…”

As a mother, I know the weight we carry every single day—the sleepless nights, the tears we hide, the resilience we muster—not because we want credit but because our children depend on us.

As a therapist, I see the impact this absence leaves behind. Children grow up with wounds from watching their mother do it all alone. They feel the weight of abandonment, internalize the imbalance, and learn what absence feels like before knowing what love should feel like.
And yet… society loves to criticize Black women for leaving toxic, unhappy, or traumatic relationships. They drag Ciara, Cardi B, and countless others for choosing peace. Meanwhile, absentee fathers—some spending less than 15% of the month with their kids—are celebrated as “Dad of the Year.”
Nick Cannon is a running joke in the community, but still gets less judgment for one failed marriage, 12 kids, and six different mothers than Black women get for simply moving on.
The double standards are loud. But BIG MOMMAS? We keep showing up, no matter what.
🌹 To every mother holding it down: I see you. I am you. WE are BIG MOMMA.

This is a heartbreaking loss for this young man’s family and community. The incident has been reported as a su***de — an...
09/16/2025

This is a heartbreaking loss for this young man’s family and community. The incident has been reported as a su***de — and because we are in Su***de Prevention Month, it’s important to acknowledge that su***de among African American men has been increasing.
I lost my childhood best friend in a death that was called su***de; it was devastating and difficult to believe. Like many families in these situations, I have questions and doubts, and I know others do too. Whether this was self-inflicted or the result of harm by another, the grief and the need for answers remain.
In this month of awareness, let’s hold space for families, stop stigmatizing mental health, and push for better supports and investigations when questions remain. If you are struggling or concerned about someone, please reach out for help — 988 in the U.S., or your local crisis resources. You are not alone.

Address

10901 MacArthur Boulevard , Ste 201
Oakland, CA
94605

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3:30pm - 7:45pm
Thursday 6pm - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 1pm - 3pm

Telephone

+15108770614

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