Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC

04/20/2026

04/18/2026

🎤 I’m officially presenting at the Counselors for Social Justice Conference 2026!

✨ Beyond the Therapy Room: Reimagining Counselor Identity Through Community Healing, Advocacy, and Culturally Rooted Wellness Programming

🗓 May 1, 2026
⏰ 11:30 AM CST (Virtual)

This session is for clinicians ready to expand their impact beyond traditional therapy and show up as advocates, educators, and community healers.

🔗 Register here: https://whova.com/portal/registration/zl2w5fy9KcOKwGdSYj1K/

Come learn, reflect, and grow with me 💚

04/16/2026

🟦 Healing & Coping

Healing is not linear—but it IS possible 💙

If you’re navigating the impact of sexual trauma, here are gentle ways to support yourself:

✨ Grounding techniques (deep breathing, body awareness)
✨ Setting boundaries without guilt
✨ Journaling your thoughts and feelings
✨ Seeking therapy or support groups

Take it one step at a time.

You don’t have to rush your healing.
You just have to start where you are.

Call to Action:
Give yourself permission to heal at your own pace.

04/13/2026

Black Maternal Health Week | April 11–17** 🖤🌿

Black maternal health is more than a statistic—it’s about **lives, stories, and the right to be cared for with dignity and respect.**

During this week, we bring awareness to a critical truth:
⚠️ Black women are **2–3 times more likely** to die from pregnancy-related causes in the U.S.
And many of these deaths are **preventable.**

This is not just about healthcare—this is about:
✨ Systemic barriers
✨ Implicit bias
✨ Access to quality, culturally competent care
✨ The impact of chronic stress and trauma

As a mental health professional, I recognize that **maternal wellness includes emotional and psychological care too.**
Healing happens when we feel **seen, heard, and supported.**

💬 This week, we center:
✔️ Reproductive justice
✔️ Maternal mental health
✔️ Community-based care (doulas, midwives, support systems)
✔️ Advocacy and equity in healthcare
✔️ Culturally rooted healing practices

🖤 To every Black mother and birthing person:
You deserve safe care.
You deserve to be listened to.
You deserve to live and thrive.

Let’s continue to raise awareness, advocate for change, and support one another—because **Black maternal health matters.**

📣 Share this to spread awareness and be part of the change.

04/09/2026

Barriers in Underserved Communities

Let’s talk about the barriers—because they are real, and they matter.

In many underserved communities, survivors of sexual assault are not only navigating trauma…
they’re also navigating systems that were never built with them in mind.

Too often, survivors face:
▪️ Limited access to affordable, quality mental health care
▪️ Long waitlists or lack of providers in their area
▪️ Fear of not being believed or taken seriously
▪️ Cultural stigma that says “keep it in the family” or “don’t talk about it”
▪️ Lack of education about consent, trauma, and available resources
▪️ Mistrust of systems due to past harm or discrimination

And because of this… many suffer in silence.

Let’s be clear:
👉 These barriers are systemic—not personal
👉 Your silence is not weakness—it’s often survival
👉 Your experience is valid, no matter your circumstances

You deserve care that:
✔️ Sees you beyond your trauma
✔️ Hears your story without judgment
✔️ Honors your identity, culture, and lived experience
✔️ Meets you where you are

Healing should not be a privilege reserved for a few.
It should be accessible, inclusive, and affirming for ALL.

💬 The conversation doesn’t stop here—we have to continue breaking down these barriers together.

Call to Action:

Advocate. Educate. Support.

✔️ Share resources
✔️ Support culturally competent providers
✔️ Speak up when systems fall short
✔️ Be a safe space for someone who may not have one

Change starts with awareness—but it continues with action.