Therapist

In Inspiration January 24, 2025 By Esther Ijewere

Exceptional Counselors, Coaches, Therapists Transforming Lives

In a world filled with challenges, uncertainties, and emotional turbulence, therapists, coaches, and counselors emerge as beacons of hope. They create safe spaces where individuals can confront fears, explore emotions, and begin the journey of healing. Counselling transcends mere advice; it is a deeply personal process that brings clarity, peace and hope to lives once weighed down by pain and confusion.

This article celebrates a group of extraordinary professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping others find resilience, rediscover themselves, and overcome trauma. Through empathy and unwavering commitment, these counselors and therapists exemplify the transformative power of their work.

Praise Fowowe: Championing Family and Sexuality Education

Praise Fowowe is a Family Life Strategist and founder of Praise Fowowe Research LLC in Irving, Texas, with two decades of global impact. He specializes in innovative family dynamics and leads the Family Systems Engineering approach to create sustainable family structures.

His work spans five continents, impacting families, governments, and faith organizations. Notable innovations include the Family Systems Engineering Certification Program, Out of the Box Parenting, Human Engineering Programming, Strategic Junior Church Leadership Systems, and the Ready for Life Child Development Program. Praise was recently awarded the USA Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the Family Life Coaching Association USA and the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.

A devoted husband to Oluwatosin and a proud father of two, Praise balances his professional endeavors with his commitment to family life. Through his work, he inspires positive change, empowering individuals and communities to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Marie-Claire O’Donoghue: Healing Through Movement

Based in Calgary, Alberta, Marie-Claire O’Donoghue specializes in somatic and embodiment-based therapies. She helps clients navigate challenges like Autism, ADHD, and anxiety through mindfulness and movement. Founder of The Moving Self Therapy, she blends creativity and empathy to support healing journeys.

Her social media platform is a hub for mental wellness insights, making her a source of inspiration for many seeking emotional balance.

Modupe Ehinrin – Building Healthy Relationships and Emotional Well-being

Modupe Ehinrim is a counselor, therapist, and family life advocate passionate about helping individuals and families build healthy relationships. She is actively involved in the Family Systems Engineering Certification (FSEC) program, equipping professionals to address family dynamics effectively. Through her work, Modupe provides tailored guidance to help clients navigate life’s challenges and foster emotional well-being.

Dr. Margaret E. Machara: Empowering Families Through Education

A professor at Tennessee State University, Dr. Margaret E. Machara combines academic expertise with practical family life coaching. Specializing in child development, she co-founded the Family Life Coaching Association to provide support to families worldwide.

Her research and teaching focus on parenting, interpersonal relationships, and play-based learning, all aimed at fostering healthier family systems.

Chidinma Nwobi: The Queen of Happiness

Known as the “Queen of Happiness,” Chidinma Nwobi is a Nigerian Applied Positive Psychology practitioner and family life consultant. As the founder of the Happify Humanity Project, she empowers families to lead joyful, purposeful lives.

Chidinma’s work at the Institute of Family Engineering and Development Africa equips future practitioners with tools to nurture emotional intelligence and resilience, creating stronger relationships.

Dr. John M. Gottman: Redefining Relationship Science

Globally renowned psychologist Dr. John M. Gottman has spent decades unraveling the mysteries of marital stability. His “Love Lab” research has provided groundbreaking insights into relationship dynamics.

Co-founder of The Gottman Institute, he continues to empower couples with his research-backed advice, as seen in his best-seller The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.

Dr. Gary Chapman: Speaking the Language of Love

With his revolutionary Five Love Languages theory, Dr. Gary Chapman has transformed relationships worldwide. His books and radio show, Building Relationships, offer invaluable insights into understanding love and connection. Dr. Chapman’s decades of counseling experience inspire couples to create healthier, more fulfilling bonds.

Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo: Advocating for Family Empowerment

A prominent Nigerian pastor and relationship coach, Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo, has dedicated his life to strengthening families. Founder of David’s Christian Centre and Heart and Mind Consulting Services, he provides training and resources to improve family dynamics.

Through books and seminars, he and his wife, Pastor Mildred Okonkwo, inspire healthier relationships and personal growth.

Wendy Ologe: Guiding Parents with Intention

As the founder of The Intentional Parent Academy, Wendy Ologe equips parents with tools to navigate the journey of raising well-rounded children. Her books, including From Yelling to Calm, have earned her international recognition, and her online community has impacted over 30,000 parents.

Pastor Bisi Adewale: Strengthening Families Globally

Founder of Family Booster Ministries International, Pastor Bisi Adewale has written over 120 books on family life, including Marriage Without Tears. His radio and TV programs, along with the popular Singles and Married Lagos Conference, have helped countless families build stronger connections.

Bose Fawehinmi: Faith-Based Relationship Coach and Counselor

Bose Fawehinmi is a certified Christian counselor and infidelity recovery expert, dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate relationships with grace and faith. With a unique blend of faith-based guidance and practical strategies, she empowers clients to rebuild trust, heal emotionally, and create fulfilling connections.

Originally trained as an engineer, Bose transitioned into life coaching and entrepreneurship, bringing analytical precision and a passion for personal growth to her practice. Her authentic, empathetic approach, grounded in both professional expertise and personal experience, has made her a trusted advisor in relationship counseling.

Karen Morley: Supporting Youth Mental Health

With over 26 years of experience, Karen Morley specializes in helping children and young adults overcome anxiety and OCD. Based in New Jersey, she uses evidence-based therapies like CBT and DBT to empower her clients to manage emotions and develop resilience.

Ayodeji Lawrence: Bringing Joy to Families

Nigerian family life consultant Ayodeji Lawrence, or “Ayo,” combines her expertise in mathematics with her passion for emotional wellness. As the creator of the Balanced ME™ brand, she offers counseling, coaching, and resources that inspire individuals and families to thrive.

Desola Sosan: Bringing Emotional Resilience to Families

Desola Sosan is a therapist and counselor based in the UK, founder of The Desola Sosan Foundation and The Daisy Place UK Limited. She educates individuals on mental health and provides coaching, therapy, and support, specializing as a Parenting and Teen Coach. Recognized for her efforts in mental health advocacy, Desola collaborates with organizations to reduce stigma in both Nigeria and the UK.

Akinropo Akinola: Advocating Positive Parenting Across Africa

Akinropo Akinola is a parenting coach and founder of ParenMark Academy. Formerly an accountant, he transitioned into parenting consultancy, empowering parents with training and resources. Akinola is a passionate advocate for fatherhood, fostering balanced families across Africa.

Kemi Tony-Akinwunmi: Strengthening Relationships Through Compassionate Counseling

Kemi Tony-Akinwunmi is a life practitioner, psychotherapist, and intimacy coach. She offers premarital counselling, therapy, and corporate training. Her initiatives, like “ON-ONE THERAPY FOR MEN”, address emotional and behavioral growth. Kemi uses social media to foster mental health awareness and personal development.

Nike Folagbade: Family Life Coach and Relationship Expert

Nike Folagbade is a renowned Family Life Coach, Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, and SYMBIS Facilitator. Through Nike Folagbade International, she empowers singles and couples with faith-based and practical strategies to build thriving relationships and marriages.

As the founder of the Warrior Brides Network and President of The Life in the Ark Global Ministry, Nike has impacted lives in over 20 countries, helping individuals heal, discover purpose, and elevate their relationships.

Aameenah Yunus-Ali: Guiding Families Toward Healing and Growth

She is a family therapist, trauma recovery specialist, and teen transition coach. She combines therapy with cultural sensitivity, helping clients heal and strengthen relationships. Aameenah is also an author of Whispers of Salaam, advocating for peace and mental health awareness.

Olawunmi Esan: Embracing Emotional and Sexual Well-being

Olawunmi Esan is a psychologist, sex therapist, and pleasure coach with over 16 years of experience. She is the author of Sexcapades: My Book of Erotic Adventures, promoting intimacy and sexual health. Olawunmi uses social media to share insights and empower individuals to embrace emotional and sexual well-being.

Maryam Lemu: Inspiring Purposeful Lives and Harmonious Relationships

Maryam Lemu is an Islamic scholar, educator, and author. As a director at ProStart Consultants and Head of Administration at New Horizons College, she focuses on personal development and relationships. With 30+ years of experience, Maryam is a sought-after speaker and counselor, inspiring others to live purposeful lives.

Bisola Adebajo Nathaniel: Empowering Minds Through Healing

Bisola Adebajo Nathaniel, founder of The FountainHead Academy, is a passionate coach and mental health advocate. A certified Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner and Trauma-Informed Coach, Bisola’s own journey through abuse and emotional pain fuels her dedication to freeing others from limiting beliefs.

After overcoming years of trauma, she created The FountainHead Academy to guide individuals on their healing journey, offering support and empowerment to those facing emotional challenges. Bisola’s mission is to transform pain into healing, helping others find strength and liberation.

Funmi Fatona-Ayowole: Founder of The Soul Clinic

Funmi Fatona-Ayowole is the founder of TheVirtualSoulClinic, a nonprofit providing free, accessible mental health support through virtual safe spaces. By connecting trained volunteer coaches with individuals in need, the clinic offers diagnostic surveys, support calls, and personalized recommendations to help clients begin their healing journey.

Focused on empowering immigrants and young leaders of color, Funmi’s mission is to foster mental and emotional resilience while leaving a legacy of impact for future generations. Through TheSoulClinic, her private coaching practice, she delivers group and individual programs designed to build clarity, independence, and soul strength.

In Editor's Choice December 11, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Esther Ijewere: Repressed Emotions-Finding And Releasing Them (Personal Experience)

Repressed emotions refer to emotions that you unconsciously avoid. These differ from suppressed emotions, which are feelings you purposely avoid because you don’t know exactly how to deal with them.

When you realize that you are repressing your emotions, you have to take drastic measures to stop it for your emotional and physical health.

I have struggled with this for many years, and it got intense when life happened.

I look back at some of the challenges I dealt with silently this year, and wonder how I survived.

I was in between repressing and suppressing my emotions just to stay grounded.

I battled with arm injury for many months, was on strong medications, yet I put on a brave front.

At some point, I couldn’t sleep for months as my pain kept me awake. I’d binge series on Netflix or pace my apartment, just to get my mind off the pain. Sometimes I practice “Mindfulness” through meditation.

I was struggling with balancing my duty as a parent, working, home schooling my daughters, and staying on top of things. I’d speak with folks and act “normal” even while I was breaking apart, drained and numb.

I have lived the past 11 months with repressed and suppressed emotions. Perhaps all of my almost 4 decades on mother earth.

I was encouraging people to stay positive, and telling them to keep faith, and keep pushing, yet I as dealing with my own physical pain that almost made me relapsed into depression, maybe I did and wish not to call it that.

I couldn’t lift the affected arm to say “Halleluyah” . Just giving a visual representation of how bad it was lol.

I was sleeping on one side for months, couldn’t sleep on my back either, as my shoulder blade and back were badly affected.

Esther Ijewere – At the beach In June 2021 for “mindfullness” while battling with arm Injury

While dealing with my physical pain, I had other matters that threw me off balance; from breech of privacy, Gmail account hacked, laptop bugged, trespassing, and attempted theft. Just to mention few…

I almost lost my mind, but for God, my commitment to his word and prayer, plus Therapy.

Through my pain I found a stronger purpose in Christ. I started praying better and objectively without season.

I even turned my prayer to conversations, like God was sitting right in front of me.

I can’t also downplay the role Physio-Therapy played in my healing journey. Grateful to my Physio-Therapist (s). Two amazing humans who focused on my healing, and made sure I didn’t downplay the level of pain I was In. I guess they saw through my “Repressed emotions” approach. *Laughs*.

However, I had to also address my repressed emotions through therapy, on the count of separating spirituality from reality. I committed more time to Therapy.

I became intentional with Therapy, digging deep into my repressed emotions, and sharing some of my painful experiences with my Therapist (s).

What emotions are you repressing or afraid to confront?

How do those emotions affect your life ?

What measures are you taking to address those emotions?

What kind of emotions are you trying to repress? Anger, frustration, sadness, fear or disappointment?

Perhaps you grew up hearing things like:

“You don’t have any reason to be sad.”
“Calm down.”
“You should be grateful.”

Childhood trauma is one of the major causes of repressed emotions, and could lead to chronic illness if not addressed.

It’s not always easy to recognize when you’re dealing with emotional repression, and there’s no definitive test you can take.

If you do have repressed emotions, however, you might notice a few key signs. These signs might show up in your feelings or your behavior — both toward yourself and other people.

People with repressed emotions often have trouble naming and understanding their emotional experience; I do. This can make it tough to describe how you feel to others, but it also makes it difficult for you to recognize when certain aspects of your life aren’t serving your needs.

You might:

regularly feel numb or blank
feel nervous, low, or stressed a lot of the time, even if you aren’t sure why
have a tendency to forget things
experience unease or discomfort when other people tell you about their feelings
feel cheerful and calm most of the time because you never let your thoughts linger on anything significant or upsetting
feel distressed or irritated when someone asks you about your feelings

Emotional repression can affect your ability to:

talk about things that matter to you
build intimate relationships
understand how other people feel
encourage of praise yourself

You might also notice that you:

go along with situations instead of expressing what you really want and need – I’m guilty of this one.
use TV, social media, or other activities to help you numb and avoid feelings you don’t want to explore
spend most of your time with other people to avoid being alone
exhibit passive-aggressive behaviors to deal with situations that upset you

If you have trouble expressing or regulating your emotions, talking to a mental health professional is a good first step. A therapist can help you explore potential causes of repressed emotions and offer guidance and support as you begin to address these reasons.

Therapy also provides a safe space to:

work on naming and understanding your feelings
increase your comfort level around talking about emotions
learn more helpful methods of emotional regulation

What worked for me?

Using “I” statements. Expressing my feelings with phrases like; “I feel confused. I feel nervous. I feel terrified.”
Focus on the positive. I do this through therapy and positive affirmations, using the “I statements”. I often say things like; “I am healed”, “I am whole”, “I am resilient”, “I am a magnet for light and love”, “I am winning at life”, “I am highly favoured by the divine”, “I am at peace”, “I have will-power”, “I am fine”….You can choose what resonates with your situation or midframe.
Let go of judgement. No matter what emotion I am feeling , I am learning to avoid judging myself I shouldn’t feel a certain way. Instead, I try finding a reason for the feeling: “I feel nervous because I just read something that triggered me”. “I am afraid because I don’t feel safe”. etc
Make it a habit. I name and share my emotions with the people I feel closest to, and encourage them to share their feelings, too. That way I create balance.

Above all, I take therapy seriously.

I am still on a journey of healing, and releasing baggages and things that no longer serve me.

I hope you find comfort in my article and confront your repressed emotions before the end of the year.

You can also read my article on Understanding the Impact of Trauma Here

Sending love, light and peace to anyone on this journey of releasing repressed emotions.

You are not alone.

At least since I became a single parent.