Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Akua Hunter.
Tamara, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My earliest memories of childhood are of me pretending I was the teacher and my dolls were the students. The other is of me dancing all through the house & spending Saturdays at dancing school. Children and dance were my two first loves & continue to be the themes of my life. When I was in Junior High School, I have entrusted the job of a babysitter for my dance teacher. That experience sparked a love of guiding and nurturing children. I loved being around children for their purity, honesty & freedom.
I come from a lineage of educators & counselors so naturally when it was time to choose a major, I charted the same course. My first teaching job was in the Dekalb County School System. Two years in I began a master’s program in School Counseling. I felt if I could assist with addressing the socioeconomic barriers with students & their families, it would increase their academic success. After 11 years of teaching, I transitioned from the field to concentrate on clinical mental health. I received my Master’s in Dance/Movement Therapy, a discipline that promotes healing from a body based perspective. At last, I found a modality that incorporates mental health, movement & mindfulness.
My healing path led me to soul search & heal myself as well. I am an Okomfo which is a West African traditional priest. My training informs my approach to therapy: mind, body, & spiritual alignment. My work has come full circle from working directly with children to supporting women, Mothers/families, & Mothers in waiting.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Coming into your purpose is never an easy road! Lol. In 2009, while in my last semester of Graduate school my father died suddenly. My dad was a Social Worker and always instilled in me that we were put on earth to help people. I knew I owed it to him to finish my degree. After completing my degree, I began working with adults in inpatient & outpatient substance abuse programs. During that time I became pregnant. I was over the moon, only to discover I suffered the first semester reproductive loss. Two years later I discovered I had infertility issues & began infertility treatments. After those treatments, I became pregnant then suffered a second first trimester reproductive loss. I remember feeling lonely, embarrassed, shame & guilt. I would later learn from my infertility specialist/reproductive endocrinologist that my condition was more severe. Through extensive testing, he discovered I have thrombophilia (blood abnormality). My infertility issues included fibroid’s, endometriosis, & an ovarian cyst. Talk about zoning out! On one hand, I was glad to know the cause of my reproductive losses however, on the other hand, I didn’t want to have surgery & engage in more trauma to my body.
I experienced intense emotional pain & what I perceived as my body betraying me with nowhere to release it. I had difficulty finding support groups nor did anyone in my community, meaning the African American community talk about reproductive loss or infertility, it’s sort of taboo in our community. I suffered in silence; my pressure & societal pressures resulted in me internalizing my inability to conceive as I wasn’t a “real” woman if I wasn’t able to conceive & bring forth life.
I began sharing my story out of a desperate need to release. I realized through sharing my story with friends/family they too were suffering in silence. It was my personal experience with profound loss and grief, postpartum anxiety & depression that led me to my purpose.
Eventually, with infertility treatments, my husband & I were able to conceive and sustain a pregnancy. It was a difficult pregnancy & postpartum recovery. I am elated to say we are proud parents of a spirited 4-year-old girl!
Would I have preferred to not experience those losses & depression/anxiety?? Heck yeah!! However, my experiences have helped me grow, identify my passion & helped me support other women.
Please tell us about your work.
My experience includes working with adolescents, adults, couples, families and group therapy. I am a Perinatal Mental Health Trained Provider. My specialty training has prepared me to work with clients experiencing mood reactions related to infertility, pregnancy, reproductive and infant loss, still birth, birth trauma, women’s issues and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.
I’m known for providing pregnancy, post-partum, & perinatal loss counseling. Postpartum support groups & infertility support groups for women of color. In addition, I’m an advocate for Black women’s reproductive health, mental health and maternal mental health.
I’m most proud of turning my pain into purpose by launching my Womb Wisdom podcast on Soundcloud. This podcast features black women’s reproductive health, mental health, & maternal mental health journeys. It provides a healing platform for Black women to share their womb stories through the power of storytelling.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Black women and women of color are underrepresented in research, media stories, visual images, & in the medical field as it relates to reproductive health, maternal mental health, & the black maternal mortality rate. I believe awareness of these issues will be raised with an increase in representation on local and national levels.
My contribution to this shifting trend is to increase my presence in advocacy, provide resources to underserved communities, facilitate provider/ birth worker training, mental health workshops & speaking engagements. I also plan to grow my podcast, provide on-line courses and launch the Womb Wisdom summit!
Contact Info:
- Website: tamaraakuahunter.com
- Phone: (470) 344-9962
- Email: tamaraakuahunter@gmail.com
- Instagram: @tamaraakuahunter, @wombwisdompod
- Facebook: http://tamaraakuahunter.com/
- Twitter: wombwisdompod
Image Credit:
DamonPeeblesPhotography
LovesLifePhotography
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