The Unseen Load: A Workshop for Women of Color on Mental Well-being, Authentic Leadership, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Presented by Dr. Lenese S. Barnes
For Women of Color, leadership is often a double-edged sword. While we bring immense value, innovation, and perspective to the table, we frequently navigate environments not designed for us. This journey is often accompanied by a unique psychological weight: the pressure to be exceptional just to be seen as competent, the micro-aggressions that accumulate over time, and the internal whisper of "I don't belong here"—otherwise known as Imposter Syndrome.
This interactive and affirming training is a dedicated space for Women of Color in leadership roles—those aspiring to enter into leadership space, those who are either providing behavioral health counseling services/support and clinical supervision—to explore the specific intersection of mental health and leadership. We will move beyond generic advice and dive deep into how systemic racism, gendered racism, and cultural expectations contribute to burnout, anxiety, substance dependence, high functioning depression and the imposter phenomenon.
This workshop is aimed to support behavioral health providers servicing WOC in leadership with engagement designed to provide the necessary tools that will aide in leading with resilience, moving beyond survival mode, setting fierce boundaries and dismantling any forms of self-doubt that holds WOC back in seeking leadership roles.
Dr. Lenese S. Barnes is a counselor educator, licensed mental health clinician, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program at Trinity Washington University, where she prepares graduate students to become ethically grounded and socially conscious clinicians.
In addition to her academic role, Dr. Barnes is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hopeful Counseling, a CARF-accredited group outpatient mental health practice established in 2018 that serves clients across the DMV region. Under her leadership, the practice provides high-quality, trauma-focused services to diverse populations while also functioning as a training site for emerging clinicians. She provides clinical supervision to a team of licensed therapists and graduate-level interns, with an emphasis on trauma-focused treatment, culturally attuned care, and clinician development.
At the core of Dr. Barnes’s work is a deep commitment to helping individuals access their voice, exercise their power of choice, and move toward their fullest potential. She integrates a strong spiritual foundation into her life and work, viewing holistic wellness as essential to personal and professional fulfillment. Through her roles as educator, clinician, supervisor, and speaker, she remains passionate about empowering others, fostering resilience, and creating spaces for growth and transformation.
Cost: LCPCM members - $30 / Non-members - $40 ($5.00 fee for all refunds)
CEUs: 2 (10am to 12pm) No partial credit will be given
Registration is limited!
Registration will end and payment must be received by June 8 at 11:59pm.
Zoom link will be emailed to those registered approximately 24 hours prior to class.
Class evaluation and CEU certificate link will be sent on the following Monday (June 15, 2026)
