Jesmond Fair (he/him/his)

I have grounded my clinical work within the context of my identities as a Black gay Christian cis-gender male. I view intersectionality as foundational for therapeutic exploration. I have actively decolonized the way I practice starting with my theoretical orientation. My theoretical orientation is Relational-Cultural Theory which blends a relational approach to therapy with social justice, diversity, and multicultural considerations found in feminist theory. In practice, I work to understand a person’s identities which shape their lived experiences, examine their relationships and support systems, and utilize this understanding to co-create interventions that help foster healing and growth towards one’s ideal self.

I am Jesmond Akeem Fair, and Jessie Jackson, Desmond Tutu, and Hakeem Olajuwon are my namesakes. You can find me at the intersection of being gay, Black, cis-gender, male, and Christian. I firmly believe that we cannot heal or grow without others and that we heal within the context of relationships and our community. “When ‘I’ becomes ‘We,’ illness becomes wellness” ~Roppel. This quote resonates deeply with me and has become woven into my clinical work to foster your healing and our collective liberation. My personality is big, but my heart is bigger. For most moments of the day, I have a random song on repeat in my head. This can be attributed to my background in vocal and instrumental music. I love anime, gaming (PS4), movies, watching tv, and a good nature trail. I often use movies, tv shows, and analogies to express myself in therapy. Additionally, I believe in being real, so clients can expect facial reactions, slang, occasional profanity, laughter, an "amen," and even tears.