Alfonso Holmes, LPC-S Verified listing

Alfonso M. Holmes is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor. After graduating from Alcorn State University in Mississippi with a B.S in Psychology, Mr. Holmes returned to his hometown New Orleans, LA in 2008. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many Mental Health Professionals were needed. During his graduate studies in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling at Xavier University of Louisiana, Alfonso worked at a psychiatric hospital as a Mental Health Technician. Mr. Holmes experienced his practicum and internship hours in Greater New Orleans High Schools with adolescent students from the ages of 16 to 20 years old.
Alfonso’s post graduate experience includes Mental Health Rehabilitation: Home, School, Community, and Clinic Treatment where he worked with children, adolescents, and adults. Mr. Holmes’ theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with integrative techniques. He is MBSR trained (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and is a current member of the Louisiana Counseling Association. Alfonso is owner of a private practice, Awaken Counseling and Wellness. His target population are Black and Indigenous people of color with an emphasis on Men and the LGBTQIA+ community. Also, he specializes in dealing with an array of mental health issues and illness (i.e. Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Adjustment Issues).
Mental health is important for persons of color because of the daily internal struggles faced and have encountered historically. Many people of color have negative views on mental health due to issues with being accustomed to figuring things out on their own, social stigma, and spiritual beliefs being their only source of strength. Holmes' experiences with people of color has been that they express the sentiments “I’m figuring it out” and “I’m dealing with it” due to growing up in dysfunctional family systems brought on by social limitations. What is “it” you ask? It is emotional strain; it is trying to rise above stereotypical norms, it is survival, it is “us” not wanting to have another label to defend. Many people of color have strong spiritual beliefs which helps guides those who don’t feel pushed away and ostracized. In some cases, religious institutions do not provide all of the tools needed for severe mental illness. As generations change, views of mental illness began to shift. Marginalized communities are beginning to understand the importance of mental health through social media and through Mental Health Professionals of color. Holmes' goal is to help aid in awareness, education, and helping people of color understand there is no shame in addressing the stigmas around mental health.