Dialogues - CAHSS Winter 2018

5 NSU CAHSS Dialogues Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I have experienced firsthand the stigmas associated with mental health issues not only in the neighborhoods I grew up in, but within my own family. As a result of my experiences, I aspire to advance the field of marriage and family therapy, as well as mental health treatment, so they become more acceptable in the urban communities in which I grew up. After graduating cum laude from Delaware State University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I was fortunate enough Student Spotlight: CAHSS Graduate SGA Treasurer to be able to make my first mark on the world. Determined to continue my education and broaden my understanding of families and their impact on mental health, I returned to Philadelphia, where I earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a first-generation college student in my family, I continue to set the tone for those after me by pursuing a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy here at Nova Southeastern University. Today, I am working as an in-home marriage and family therapist for Gerena & Associates, where I primarily focus on trauma-based clients and their families. I have dedicated my work to providing a safe space for my clients to be heard and understood in a world where they are often marginalized. My passion for in-home therapy provides me with a platform of opportunities to learn from the various environments in which I conduct individual and family therapy, as well as change the stigma of what therapy should look like. When I am not providing individual and family therapy, I work steadfastly as the treasurer of the CAHSS Graduate Student Government Association, where I am responsible for accounting and distributing funds to support multiple organizations within NSU. Achieving honors at many levels has opened the door for me to also be a proud member of other organizations such as the Doctoral Family Therapy Club and Delta Kappa Omicron Honors Society. Promoting Strength Recently, I cofounded the “House to Home Development, LLC” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is an organization that works diligently to provide temporary housing within the local communities to young boys in foster care who have been in the system for an extended period. I hope to continue these developments worldwide to reduce the number of children who end up aging out of foster care, and to promote the strength of being supported within the community. In what little spare time I have available, I love to cook and try new recipes. I enjoy hosting Sunday dinners with my closest friends, where I can showcase the new recipes I’ve learned. I also enjoy taking long walks with my dogs and embracing the occasions where I can live in the moment. Portiaatrice Morse