Trailblazer Interview: Ruqaiyah Rogers
Trailblazer Interview: Ruqaiyah Rogers
One of my favorite things to do is connect with passionate individuals using their talents to help the community. I like to call them trailblazers, visionaries who help us understand more about our health and emotions.
Today's trailblazer is Ruqaiyah Rogers, a dedicated social worker with experience spanning over a decade and a half. With a master's degree in Social Work and a passionate commitment to mental health advocacy, Ruqaiyah has made significant strides in educational settings, shaping the lives of children grappling with trauma as the founder of Purple Pen Therapy. Her work not only addresses the immediate needs of these young individuals but also champions the broader cause of social justice and wellness in her community.
About Ruqaiyah
Ruqaiyah has devoted her professional and personal life to social welfare, channeling over fifteen years into fortifying child welfare in educational systems. With her Master's degree in Social Work, she’s a paragon of advocacy, dedicated to untangling the complex trauma affecting children, while intertwining mental health awareness into her holistic approach.
Ruqaiyah is the founder of Purple Pen Therapy in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The business's name pays homage to the very tool that facilitates clients' introspection and self-discovery- a purple pen, which is emblematic of the transformation and personal empowerment that Ruqaiyah fosters within her clients. This therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals grappling with the complexities of chronic illnesses, like lymphedema and lipedema, conditions Ruqaiyah intimately understands and has personal experience managing. The purple pen is used as an instrument for clients to track their well-being, mark milestones, and navigate their emotional and physical health journeys. Through her therapy practice, Ruqaiyah extends her expertise and compassionate support to those who are often misunderstood and overlooked by conventional therapeutic practices, enabling them to author their own stories of resilience and health.
An Innovative Approach
Ruqaiyah Rogers enriches her therapeutic repertoire with specialized approaches for a diverse range of mental health challenges, including innovative techniques like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and brain spotting. EMDR is a psychotherapeutic method designed to lessen the emotional impact of traumatic memories through guided eye movements, a technique Ruqaiyah skillfully inceffects of past trauma.
In addition to EMorporates to help clients navigate and mitigate the lingering effDR, she utilizes brain spotting, a cutting-edge therapy that leverages the brain's self-scanning and healing capabilities. This method is particularly effective in locating and processing trauma that is physically manifested and retained in the client's visual field, facilitating deep neurological healing. Ruqaiyah's adept application of brain spotting offers clients a transformative avenue for addressing deeply rooted emotional and physical trauma.
Moreover, Ruqaiyah’s therapeutic practice extends to address the unique needs of individuals with ADHD and ADD, employing strategies that enhance focus, organizational skills, and emotional regulation. Her commitment to personalized care is also evident in her relationship therapies, where she assists couples and families in forging stronger, healthier connections. By integrating these focused treatments with EMDR and brain spotting, Ruqaiyah underscores a comprehensive approach to mental wellness, affirming the profound connection between mental, emotional, and relational health.
Chronic Illness and Mental Health Advocacy
Ruqaiyah stands at the intersection of personal struggle and professional advocacy, her life deeply marked by the silent yet impactful presence of lymphedema and lipedema. As she prepares to share her journey through her upcoming book, Ruqaiyah is not merely chronicling her experiences but also laying down a blueprint for navigating the complex interplay between chronic illness and mental health. Her narrative is a beacon of hope and a source of strength for those who are often misunderstood and marginalized by mainstream health narratives.
Her professional commitment as an educator and consultant is fueled by her personal trials, driving her to break the silence around conditions that affect the mental wellness of so many yet remain invisible to the broader public. Ruqaiyah's forthcoming book aims to bridge the gap between lived experience and clinical understanding, shedding light on the intricate ways in which the body and mind are intertwined, particularly for those with hereditary health conditions.
Ruqaiyah uses her voice to highlight the importance of recognizing chronic conditions beyond their physical manifestations, advocating for a holistic approach that encompasses emotional and mental health. She understands that chronic conditions like lymphedema and lipedema are not just medical challenges; they are life experiences that require a compassionate and informed response—a response that she is shaping through her advocacy, writings, and public discourse.
This dual lens of personal empathy and professional insight makes Ruqaiyah a formidable advocate for those battling against the psychological implications of chronic illness. Her work serves to empower individuals to not only seek understanding and treatment but also to demand a place in a societal narrative that frequently excludes them. Ruqaiyah’s journey underscores a fundamental truth: advocacy is most powerful when it is rooted in the reality of personal experience, and cultural impact is deepest when it changes both the story and the storyteller.
Testimonial
Interested in getting the word out about your mental health approach? Be sure to connect with me.
Forging Community Strength
Ruqaiyah’s dedication to mental health advocacy transcends individual care, propelling her into the heart of communal support and empowerment, particularly within the African-American community. Her founding of the Black Social Workers RA Facebook group and the Black Mental Health Collaborative on Instagram reflects a profound commitment to establishing supportive networks. These spaces serve as sanctuaries for dialogue, mentorship, and activism, catering specifically to the needs of Black mental health professionals and those they serve.
Within these forums, Ruqaiyah confronts the stark lack of culturally responsive mental health resources and advocates against the systemic barriers that perpetuate racial disparities in healthcare. Her initiatives are a clarion call for inclusivity, stressing that mental wellness is intertwined with cultural identity and racial equality. They offer a platform where discussions on identity, race, and mental health are not only encouraged but are essential to the healing process. This integration of support and advocacy paves the way for a holistic approach to mental health, which includes education, community solidarity, and social activism.
Ruqaiyah’s efforts emphasize the significance of a collective voice in addressing and dismantling the structural inequities that marginalize mental health in the Black community. Her work, exemplified through these community spaces, is not just about creating a hub for shared experiences but also about inciting change and fostering a future where mental health care is a fundamental, accessible right for all. Through her leadership, Ruqaiyah champions a movement that seeks to empower, heal, and elevate the mental wellness conversation to ensure it encompasses and respects the diverse tapestry of the human experience.
If you're inspired by Ruqaiyah Rogers' advocacy and wish to learn more or engage with her initiatives, check out the Black Social Workers RA Facebook group or explore the Black Mental Health Collaborative on Instagram.
Article Edited by: Ashley McCrea
If you're in need of working through stress, anxiety or trauma and feel you would benefit from a holistic therapeutic approach, Contact me today for a session.
Join my Facebook Community, The Wellness Solution: Mind. Body. Home . The Wellness Solution community is open to women who seek wellness using holistic approaches by taking steps to address their mind, body, and home. In this group, members ask and answer questions, encourage, and support one another.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel here Reynelda Jones Channel
Subscribe to the Chat Trap Blog
