Introducing myself and my journal: Embracing my voice

About Me:
My name is Naomi Daniel Roanhorse-Thomas and I believe I can make a difference in this world. I know that the term “making a difference”, is such an enormous goal but sometimes it can be simplest. I know that it will take a life time for me to fully understand that term and fulfill whatever challenges/accomplishments it may bring for me. The most enlightening goal for me right now, is to become a mental health therapist. Mental health has recently become a passion of mine. I believe that counseling should strive to be a diverse field and should not ignore such aspects as culture & ethnicity. As a victim advocate I was inspired to continue to pursue a career which allows me to aid others. For three years working at a domestic violence agency on the Navajo Reservation I was able to understand the compassion and dedication it takes to act as a voice for victims. I saw that this type of work takes dedication to remain open-minded and committed to understanding how diversity is important when working with others in such delicate situations. During my time there I was able to witness and understand the need for mental health professionals. The counselors we did have available were often frustrated with the cultural barriers that they encountered on a daily basis. Witnessing their frustration made me understand how important diversity was, especially in a field of such significance. My hope is to always be in a field that will help me to continue working as a victim advocate and to gain more experience in the field of behavioral health and counseling services, and to never lose my dedication to become a therapist. And taking yet another step along the path that will allow me to contribute to the field of mental health in more meaningful ways. Because of my unique view on how mental health can be viewed culturally, I believe that counseling can be made to surpass the boundaries of culture. The cultural aspects that should constantly be considered are gender dynamics, race/ethnicity, adolescents/young adults, students, sexual orientation, elders, culture and any individual who feels that their differences set them apart. I hope as a counselor to gradually understand and embrace such cultural barriers by holding on to my belief that human nature is universally known and felt. I am taking steps on going on to graduate school to become a mental health counselor and continuing to be an advocate.

My Passions:
Mental Health, Equality, Feminism, Family, Social Justice, and much more