There is Nothing Wrong with You with DR. ROSENNA BAKARI

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Dr. Rosenna Bakari is a graduate of Cornell University with a Ph.D. in Psychology and is the founder of an international organization that focuses exclusively on empowering adult survivors. She is also a multiple book author, including the title “The Living Open Model of Advocacy and Support” related to mental wellness, and is herself an incest survivor. In addition to her accomplishments academically, Dr. Bakari is also a blackbelt in the martial arts and received her Ph.D. and her blackbelt while raising children.

Her incest and abuse came from within her family, and one day a family member who knew of her abuse invited the violator into her home. Although the violator didn’t show up, she felt extremely unsafe around the member of the family who tried to arrange this meeting. “I felt so unsafe that it triggered a PTSD event.” The family member who arranged this meeting thought that Rosenna had healed from her tragedy because she was successful. The violator was the family member’s husband.

"I hadn't healed my pain, I'd hidden my pain just as she had asked me to, and I told her that the only way I could get my life back on track was to heal for real. I made a commitment to heal openly for real, so no one could ever again take my silence for granted.

She had become so good at hiding that she convinced herself she was better. Rosenna went through counseling and read so many healing books, and watched shows. Starting to feel complete, she wrote books, including a memoir. "Something was still missing. I was in debt and having medical issues. I still didn't have what I felt like we're life-long close relationships with friends."

Ten years into her journey, she was invited to serve on faculty in a counselor training program. At this point, Roseena had her a-ha moment. "What counseling teaches was to reflect feelings and help people to feel better. I realized that I still didn't feel empowered."

Dr. Bakari created her organization as a survivor, not as a psychologist. People had requested that she hold 1:1 sessions, but she wasn’t ready. Once she incorporated the empowerment piece, she wanted to do therapy with clients, but not the typical treatment. Dr. Bakari’s goal was to empower survivors.

With an eight-session empowerment program, she guides clients through a professional experience based on her education and understanding of how human beings think and behave.

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