Meet Kathia Rosa | Psychologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathia Rosa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Since I moved from Puerto Rico to Texas I had been looking for organizations that worked with the LGBTQ+ community, and the Spanish speaking population giving them counseling services or mental health specialist specialized in working with this particular community. Every-time I stated that I was a psychologist within the hispanic community, people would asked me if I had a practice to which my answer was no. After a hard long thought process I came to the conclusion that my main purpose in life is to facilitate people with the necessary skills to endure whatever is going on in their lives without affecting their mental health.

As for the LGBTQ+ Community I only found one place within the DFW that lends their space for a group session, to my knowledge is a program formed by parents of young kinds identifying themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ community. I am trying to get to be known within the area not only for my psychotherapy services, but because I want to create a safe space for LGBTQ individuals to discuss whatever their mental issues are, whether they are related to their LGBTQ+ status or not.

I also found that there are not many Spanish speaking mental health experts and our community is in desperate need of individuals that are trained in mental health services to better empower their lives. I believe that the path to equality comes from knowledge, and an open heart to eradicate the stigmas that we have as a human beings.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started my adult life at an early age, at 16 I left my house and at 17 became pregnant with my first child. I had two children by the age of 19. It is at that time that a decided to go into the ARMY. I served two years, because of a freak accident I had which lead me to learn how to walk all over again. After being medically discharge I went back to Puerto Rico, which is where I am from. The father of my kids and I divorce when I was 24 and pregnant with my third child. That is when I decided I wanted more not only for me, but for my children. Enrolled in College and finish a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Went on to do a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. During my tenure as a teacher, I was a ninth grade English Teacher I realized that most of my students had academic problems, because of their tumultuos home life, I wanted to not only understand them but to be able to help them. I finished a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, and I felt in love with the profession.

In Puerto Rico I created my first practice, but while I was studying my Doctoral Courses the opportunity to move to Texas opens up, due to my now husband’s employment. We move and I change college as restarted my Doctoral Studies, went on to work for the Federal Government, not as a psychologist. For years my life was lacking purpose. I looked for places that gave counseling services to the LGBTQ+ community of the Spanish Speaking Community, there are not that many. My life has not always been peaches and cream, but I refuse to give up on my dreams, my goals and the example I want to give to my family.

It was laying in a hospital waiting for back surgery that I came to the conclusion that I had to stop waiting, I have so many things to accomplish, but I was static without doing anything. Since it was also during COVID season, I researched on how I could start my private practice, I created VIDA’s website, never in my life I imagined I would do this on my own, because I did not have the money to pay a professional for it. I was recuperating at home, without work. Created VIDA’s social media accounts and started my journey as a Psychotherapist in Texas.

Why VIDA you may ask, vida means life in Spanish. I many of us go through life surviving, not living. There is a big difference. To survive is to pass through life with struggle and not a real sense of accomplishment and meaning, is just moving through the motions. For many people this is he only way they know how to live, but it doesn’t have to be that way. To live is to know that there will be struggles, but also many rewards. Is having a sense of accomplishment, a meaning to what we do every day, the notion that we are important and create change.

I would like to help as many people as possible. I want to change their lives for better. I would love to break the cycle of generational trauma, and I really would like to break the stigmas created around mental health and the LGBTQ+ Community. I know I have big goals, but we need to start somewhere. I think about my grandchildren and what I want to leave for them when I am no longer physically. Came out to the conclusion that it is what you give in life what passes from one generation to the other. I understand that we are all good as humans, and it is our unresolved traumas and the way we are brought up what sometimes gets in the way of our kindness. I want to make sure that we pass love, kindness, understating and acceptance to our future generations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many places to chose from, I would take them to the Stockyards so they get to see a little of Fort Worth History, it is something we do not have back at home. There you find great food and places to hang out. But I would also take them to Down Town Dallas and the Art District. And let’s not forget Grapevine Main Street. You cannot come to DFW and not get wine tasting in Grapevine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my life purpose not only to my Hispanic Community, but also to the LGBTQ+ Community. Is through their struggles and sacrificies that I became passionate about serving them. I want to make sure they have the skills required to endure life without affecting their mental health state. I believe in empowering people through knowledge, education and wholehearted acceptance.

Website: www.vidaconsejeria.com

Instagram: @vida.bykathia

Linkedin: Kathia Rosa

Twitter: @VIDAbyKathia

Facebook: VIDA by Kathia Rosa

Image Credits
Nemesis Correa