Therapists of Color (TOC) Mentorship Program

Mentors Can Now Apply + Exciting New Updates!

Keonna Robinson, LMFT

Wow! What a year we’ve had thus far. Communities across the globe have been rattled from unforeseen and devastating disasters and tragedies. The TOC Mentorship Program Committee sends our hopes and prayers that our therapist of color community, along with your families and clients, are safe and have been able to receive aid following the Eaton and Palisades fires. We hope that recovery efforts commence swiftly as you begin to rebuild and heal.

As communities across the Greater Los Angeles area continue to recover, our committee remains dedicated to supporting our colleagues by providing much-needed mentorship during these challenging times as we prepare for our fifth cohort starting June 1, 2025. In the meantime, let me share a bit about what we’ve been up to and what’s ahead. 

Our 4th cohort ended on such a high note as we came together for an evening of fun and fellowship. The TOC Mentorship Program’s Dishes of Diversity: A Mentoring Potluck on November 24, 2024, was a total hit! We had a great time bringing all our mentees and mentors together to celebrate community, culture, and connection.

And guess what? We matched 100% of our 2024 mentees with a mentor – talk about success! I would like to extend a huge shoutout and many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, Discovery Behavioral Health, a provider of 130 residential and outpatient treatment programs for mental health, substance use, and eating disorders, with a focus on measurement-based care.

Each guest was encouraged to bring a dish that represents their cultural heritage or personal favorites, and honey, did we have a feast! In addition to the culinary delights, this event featured a variety of games and activities designed to nurture connections and build a sense of camaraderie.

One of our attendees stated, “This event was way more than I expected. The attention to detail and intentionality behind the gifts and food were amazing. I can’t wait until next year”.

Honestly, I couldn’t have agreed with them more. By coming together to celebrate our diverse backgrounds, we strengthened bonds that make our community resilient and so supportive of one another. It is through these shared experiences that we can continue to grow both personally and professionally. 

Looking ahead towards this year, the committee has made updates for those interested in applying or reapplying for the 5th cohort starting in June. The application and matching process has been improved this year by creating separate interest forms for mentors and mentees.

Starting this month, mentors will see the Mentor Interest Form link located on our webpage ready for submissions.

In April, the Mentee Interest Form link will become available for all interested mentees to apply.

Additionally, we have updated some of the questions based upon feedback from previous program participants. Although we do not guarantee any match made, these new questions will help guide the committee during the manual matching process. If you are a new or returning mentor seeking to become part of our mentorship community, be sure to fill out the Mentor Interest Form today on our webpage above.

Now this next update, I could not wait to share! I am pleased to announce that we have a new committee member joining our fabulous team, Ms. Angela Mull, LMFT. She may be new to the committee, but she is definitely not new to the TOC Mentorship Program.

Angela has been a TOC mentor since 2022 and brings a wealth of private practice and community mental health experience pertaining to networking and professional development resources that will be a great addition to our committee. As a dedicated mentor, she enjoys guiding students and associates to overcome imposter syndrome and achieve career success. We look forward to collaborating with her on fresh new program ideas. You can read more about Angela Mull on our TOC Mentorship Program Committee page.

As program chair, I am so excited for the future of this program and the continued impact it has had on clinicians of color. The foundation we've built will only grow stronger with the next cohort, fostering more formidable connections between mentors and mentees. 

If you or someone you know is interested and would like to participate as a mentor or mentee in the TOC Mentorship Program, save the dates and link below and be sure to apply! For more details or if you would like someone from our committee to present/speak to your team or staff about to power of mentorship for therapists of color please contact Keonna Robinson 

Interest Form Due Dates and Mentorship Start Dates: 

• Mentor Interest Form: submissions will be accepted from March 1, 2025 to April 1, 2025.
• Mentee Interest Form: submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2025 to May 1, 2025.
• 6-month Mentorship duration is from June 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025. 

Keonna Robinson, MA, LMFT

TOC Mentorship Program Chair

TOC Mentorship Webpage

Email: Tocmentorshipprogram@lacamft.org 

Images: all images were taken and designed by Keonna Robinson using a personal smartphone device.