Our Story

It all started when…

A few years ago I found myself deep into a “Pinterest pin the pin that I’m likely to never actually try” binge session in an attempt to do something fairly mindless for a few moments. In this space, I came across a pin with a picture of a Black male who appeared to be in a state of bliss with the word “ubuntu” written under his picture. This immediately caught my attention and spoke to a part of me that I’m not so sure has words.

This pin of this beautiful Black male and this word that I had never heard of before was explained as a ritual that is often practiced in South Africa. It was stated that when an individual in the tribe commits a transgression he (she) is surrounded by others in the community with an offering of compassion and praise as encouragement for the individual to re-connect with his (her) highest self. The most powerful statement of this description was “unity and affirmation have more power to influence behavior than shame and punishment.” I understood this as "we’re better together” and my perspective on support was forever changed.

I, unfortunately, have not had the pleasure of discovering the originator of this awe-inspiring post but I have a deep sense of gratitude for their willingness to share such a gift with myself and the world.

The ultimate goal of Ubuntu Counseling & Wellness is to simply show up for one another by mirroring our humanity to each other and honoring the responsibility of the love and care for each other’s “heart”.

Our Values…

Ubuntu (/ˌo͝oˈbo͝on(t)o͞o/). Alone the term Ubuntu is defined as “humanity”. It is derived from a Zulu phrase that is often translated as “A person is a person through other people”, moreover, a more popular translation is “I am because we are”. At Ubuntu Counseling & Wellness we wholeheartedly believe in the philosophy of Ubuntu and we strive to connect with individuals and walk alongside them as we journey through this human experience, mirroring our humanity to each other.

Acceptance. We acknowledge that words have power; however, when it comes to acceptance we are more inclined to shout actions speak louder than words. Through the efforts of willing participation, warmth, openness, and personal dignity we want to show you and our community that we accept you by providing you with developmentally appropriate and culturally competent care, creating/supporting wellness initiatives, and quality education and training.

Celebrate Cultural Differences. Our target population is characteristic of racial/ethnic minorities and underserved populations. We believe that it is your rich and unique culture and quirks that contribute to the individual you are or are becoming. All individuals are welcome to benefit from our services regardless of racial/ethnic identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status as we do not discriminate.