Early in life,

there was a lot of pressure for me to succeed.
I came from a single family home and was primarily raised by my grandparents. Growing up in Los Angeles offered many benefits and beautiful experiences, but I also got a glimpse into what my life could be. I witnessed the impact of addiction, mental illness, incarceration, and so much more impact the families around me. Even my own.  Fortunately, my grandparents instilled strong values in me and constantly pushed me   to become the best version of myself. But still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to do something more. Needing to do something more. Guided by faith, I decided I wanted to pursue a degree in psychology, hopefully to help communities that looked like me.

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP-LA), a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from National University with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), and my Doctor of Psychology degree with an emphasis in Multicultural Community from the CSPP-LA. I always wished my community had the proper resources and tools to cope with the never ending list of challenges communities of colors face and because I didn’t see that growing up, I was determined to become a resource for others.

I began my career  working in government institutions as a mental healthcare provider and advocate. This was truly the foundational work that helped aid the rehabilitation of offenders. But there were still so many demographics I wanted to help so I began working with a variety of populations such as geriatrics, foster youth, couples, immigrations, and those with chronic and severe mental conditions. Although yes, I was helping these communities, I also found that so many of these clients and patients helped me understand so much of what I saw growing up.

But still, I knew there was more work to be done.
I then pivoted to teaching doctoral, master, and bachelor level courses in psychology, human development, early childhood education, sociology and criminal justice.

I spearheaded workshops and lectures that covered a wide range of topics such as higher education, women empowerment, Christian counseling, diversity issues, and race within the correctional system.

Shaping the young and impressionable minds of our future reminded me that so much can still be done to help these underrepresented communities.

On a mission to provide underrepresented communities of color quality mental health services, I started Ubuntu Psychological services in 2020 to service these communities with clinicians that looked like them.

Having a culture-first business model and mission meant providing a space for people of color to have their cultural nuances understood and begin their healing journey.

On a mission to provide underrepresented communities of color quality mental health services, I started Ubuntu Psychological services in 2020 to service these communities with clinicians that looked like them.

Having a culture-first business model and mission meant providing a space for people of color to have their cultural nuances understood and begin their healing journey.

It was in 2021 I decided to roll out tangible resources to better the wellness of those around me: enter the Dr. J Reed Wellness Collection.

The Dr. J Reed Wellness Collection is a catalog of various products such as journals, weighted blankets, mugs, and more. It was important for me to have physical products that could be used every day to build foundational habits that can positively impact a person’s mental and spiritual health.

Wellness is an essential aspect of a person’s health, and my collection of products ensures individuals can learn and apply healthy habits in their home and daily routines. So instead of just surviving day in and day out, you’re thriving and becoming a better version of yourself. With consistent journaling prompts in the Wellness Wednesday Newsletter, people have access to tackle and reflect on various subject matters in hopes of learning more about themselves and finding new ways to address challenges they may face. “