Holistic Mental Health Support
That Honors Your Story

A compassionate therapist grounded in culture, identity, and liberation.

mental health challenges maryland and dc

At Life Migration Therapy, healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Charika provides holistic mental health support tailored to Black women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants, and first- and second-generation professionals navigating life transitions, trauma, and systemic stressors. Through culturally affirming care, Charika helps you reconnect with your truth, reclaim your peace, and grow with clarity—on your own terms.

Meet your therapist, Charika White.

mental health treatment

Healing is not a one-size-fits-all process and many times there are no quick fixes. Props to you for being here and taking the first step.

As a licensed mental health professional, I provide culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care designed to support your emotional well-being through every chapter of life. Whether you're exploring identity, navigating life transitions, or healing from systemic harm, I’m here to help you feel seen, safe, and supported.

As a queer Black immigrant woman from the Caribbean, I understand the impact and crucial role of intergenerational trauma, cultural adjustment, and the isolation that can come from feeling misunderstood.

My practice is grounded in anti-oppressive therapy models that prioritize mental wellness, cultural connection, and autonomy for your daily routine while supporting mental well being and fulfilling lives.

Through holistic mental health support, I shed light and offer strategies to reduce anxiety, manage symptoms of depression, and build emotional resilience in various aspects. Together, we’ll use person-centered, strengths-based tools—like mindfulness-based therapy, trauma recovery, and identity-affirming conversations—to help you embrace your authentic self.

Because your healing journey deserves to reflect you.

“I don't want to be fake. I'm just being me. And I have the power to break stereotypes and whatever useless rules that society puts on us”

— Bad Bunny

My Approach to Holistic Mental Health Support

There’s no single path to healing — that’s why I use a personalized, integrative approach tailored to your lived experience.

As a culturally responsive therapist, I draw from evidence-based and liberation-focused modalities that support your mental wellness while honoring your identity, values, and community for long term mental health.

The tools we use together may include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – to challenge harmful thoughts and patterns that disrupt emotional well-being.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – to build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to help you live in alignment with your values, even through pain or uncertainty.

  • Trauma-Focused Therapy – to process past experiences, reduce trauma symptoms, and support long-term recovery.

  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – to cultivate presence, reduce anxiety, and ease rumination.

  • Culturally Sensitive & Multicultural Counseling – to center your cultural identity, spiritual beliefs, and lived realities in every session.

  • Strength-Based & Attachment-Focused Practices – to rebuild trust, confidence, and healthier relationship patterns.

Whether you're seeking therapy for trauma, support for anxiety and depression, or help navigating a life transition, our work together will always be person-centered, collaborative, and rooted in empowerment for your overall well being.

Healing Looks Different for Everyone.
Here's What It Felt Like for Them.

  • Ms. White is very endearing, charismatic and such a great listener. She truly asks the right questions to help me connect the dots for my therapy. Her vast knowledge and constructive feedback has helped me work on my traumas over the year. In the past, I’ve struggled to connect with other therapists because I am a 1st generation immigrant but Ms White was able to relate to my story because of her immigrant background and her understanding of the cultural challenges I faced. Ms White is kind but she challenges me constantly which I desperately needed in a therapist to really “do the work.”

  • Charika has completely changed my life! I came in not knowing who I was and left feeling the most certain about my identity and what I wanted for my life.

  • I can't express enough how grateful I am for the incredible support and guidance I’ve received from Ms. White. From the very first session, I felt heard, understood, and safe in a way I never expected. The strategies and insights she provided have been truly transformative, helping me work through issues I thought I would never overcome. Not only did she help me see things from new perspectives, but she also gave me the tools I needed to navigate life's challenges with confidence. Ms. White has been a beacon of support, and I am beyond thankful for her professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to my well-being. Thanks to her expertise, I feel stronger, more self-aware, and better equipped to handle whatever comes my way. I can't recommend her enough!

  • I cannot recommend Ms. White enough. Truly a gifted therapist—mindful, careful, and deeply professional in their approach. What stood out most was their ability to create a safe and non-judgmental space while remaining refreshingly down-to-earth. Every session felt meaningful, and I always leave with new insights and tools to help me grow. Their genuine care and thoughtful guidance have made a lasting impact on my life. Thank you, for all you’ve done!

  • Charika helped me to face my fears, decrease my drinking, and taught me how to sit with the discomforts and navigate in life with the use of healthy coping tools.

  • It's great to work with a therapist who is also from a different. She is warm, knowledgeable and culturally in tune with practices of my country making the sessions feel like I'm with a friend who truly cares.

  • To find a queer, Black immigrant therapist is like finding a unicorn. Charika indeed has been that for me and I cherish the moments we have that allow me to bring all of my true self to our sessions.

Have a Question?

Want to reach out before scheduling a call? Let us know what’s on your mind below.

holistic treatment approach to mental health

What I Believe

At Life Migration Therapy, healing isn’t just clinical — it’s cultural, emotional, and deeply human.

I believe mental health support should honor your lived experience, not ask you to set it aside. That means creating a space where your identity is seen, your voice is heard, and your truth is safe to speak.

My work is rooted in cultural humility, anti-oppression values, and an unwavering belief that you deserve to feel whole — not just functioning.

My philosophy centers:

  • Liberation over perfection

  • Affirmation over assimilation

  • Curiosity over judgment

Therapy with me is not a one-size-fits-all model — it’s a relationship.

One built on trust, truth-telling, and deep respect for your journey. Whether we’re processing trauma, exploring identity, or cultivating emotional wellness, my goal is to help you reconnect with your authentic self and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Together, we’ll challenge outdated narratives, release what no longer serves you, and create space for growth on your own terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Curious about how therapy works with me?
These frequently asked questions offer insight into my approach, values, and the kind of holistic mental health support I provide.

Whether you're exploring care for the first time or returning to therapy, you'll find answers rooted in compassion, clarity, and cultural understanding.

  • That’s okay.

    Healing is not linear, and readiness looks different for everyone. If you’re exploring your options, I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation — no pressure, just a safe space to ask questions and see if my approach to holistic mental health support feels right for you.

  • Holistic mental health support means I see you as a whole person — not just a diagnosis or a set of symptoms.

    Our work together goes beyond symptom management to address the emotional, spiritual, cultural, and relational layers of your experience.

    Whether we're discussing stress, identity, or intergenerational trauma, our sessions are rooted in emotional wellness, self-compassion, and authentic healing.

    As a licensed psychotherapist serving Maryland and Washington, DC, I provide individual therapy that centers your story.

    Whether you’re navigating depression, anxiety, identity questions, or emotional stress, I offer culturally-responsive support tailored to your needs.

    You deserve care from a mental health professional who sees your full humanity.

    Its less about solution focused therapy, and more about commitment therapy to your own current space.

    I get to know you, address challenges with a person centered approach where I provide compassionate guidance that’ll bring positive change to your world.

  • Yes. As a therapist who understands migration and cultural transitions firsthand, I provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to first- and second-generation immigrants.

    Together, we explore identity, family dynamics, and the pressures of assimilation while honoring your strengths and heritage.

    Being the first in your family to navigate life in a new country can feel isolating.

    You may carry unspoken pressure, cultural conflict, or guilt. I offer therapy for immigrants and children of immigrants that addresses intergenerational trauma, identity exploration, and code-switching exhaustion.

    You don’t have to choose between honoring your heritage and building your future — together, we make space for both.

  • My practice blends evidence-based modalities like CBT and ACT with strengths-based, liberation-centered frameworks.

    This means our sessions prioritize empowerment, autonomy, and healing that supports both your mental health, your cultural identity, personal growth and daily life.

  • Absolutely. I provide inclusive therapy that honors the unique experiences of queer, trans, and nonbinary clients.

    My goal is to offer mental health support that is affirming, trauma-aware, and deeply respectful of your identity.

  • I integrate tools like mindfulness, boundary-setting strategies, and body-based techniques to support emotional regulation and reduce stress.

    We’ll identify patterns, reframe internalized expectations, and build a plan that protects your peace and fosters emotional well-being.

  • For many of my clients, cultural identity is at the core of their challenges and their healing.

    Many individuals are navigating generational trauma, cultural disconnection, or code-switching fatigue, we’ll work together to restore clarity, self-trust, and alignment with your values.

  • I offer virtual therapy throughout Maryland and Washington, DC, as well as limited in-person sessions in Beltsville, MD.

    My practice is designed to increase access to mental health support for those who need flexible, affirming care.

  • I offer trauma therapy that is relational, somatically informed, and culturally attuned.

    Whether you’re healing from systemic oppression, family trauma, or identity-based stress, I tailor my approach to meet your emotional and psychological needs with care and intention.

  • Yes, I provide ADHD support and neurodivergent-affirming care.

    I create therapy spaces that reduce shame and empower clients to build routines, manage overwhelm, and advocate for their needs in ways that feel authentic.

Empowering Resources to Support Your Emotional Well-Being

Therapy isn’t confined to one hour a week—and neither is your healing.

At Life Migration Therapy, I believe in equipping clients with empowering, accessible tools that extend the work we do in session. These curated resources are designed to nurture self-awareness, encourage emotional resilience, and help you feel grounded as you navigate life’s stressors.

Whether you’re exploring strategies to manage anxiety, seeking culturally attuned wellness practices, or simply needing a space to exhale, these insights are offered with you in mind—especially if you hold layered identities and are seeking inclusive, culturally sensitive mental health care.

Here’s a sample of how we’ll work together:

  • Stress-reduction practices for professionals experiencing burnout, including grounding techniques and breathwork

  • Self-care strategies for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and first-generation individuals who carry invisible emotional labor

  • Emotional wellness tips to support your healing journey between therapy sessions

  • Mindfulness-based coping techniques that align with trauma-informed care principles

  • Somatic exercises to reconnect with your body after prolonged stress, trauma, or dissociation

  • Journal prompts that reflect the experiences of adult children of immigrants and folks navigating identity shifts

  • Resources to support neurodivergent clients including ADHD-friendly routines and sensory regulation tools

  • Articles and guides exploring decolonized frameworks of therapy, inner child work, and ancestral healing

This resource collection is ever-growing. During our work together, I’ll often recommend specific practices that fit your unique needs—because therapy should extend beyond the therapy room and meet you where you are.