We built this practice because the people working hardest often have the least support. Culturally affirming therapy for Washington and Illinois.
Black Space Therapy is a virtual practice for people in Washington and Illinois who are carrying more than they let on. Career weight, family weight, the work of being the first or the only. We keep our new-client intake limited on purpose. When a clinician’s schedule fills, we open a short waitlist rather than stretch the work thin, because the people we take on get our full attention, not a fraction of it. You are matched to a clinician who already understands your context, so the real work starts on day one instead of after a long explanation. Insurance covers most of our clients. The care does not change based on how you pay.
Where real life meets real support.
Black Space Therapy was built on a simple belief: the people working hardest to hold everything together often have the least space to fall apart. We created this clinic for people who are done white-knuckling their way through life and ready to actually do something about it. We bring clinical excellence, cultural fluency, and a deep understanding of modern pressure: career, family, identity, and relationships, together in one place. We don’t just treat symptoms. We help you understand what’s underneath them.
Why Choose Us
Finding the right therapist is personal. Here is what sets us apart:
We understand your specific world. Our therapists have direct experience working with professionals navigating high-pressure careers, first-generation family dynamics, relationship strain, and burnout. We don’t need you to explain the context. We already get it.
Culturally fluent, not culturally limited. Cultural awareness isn’t a checkbox for us. It is built into how we listen, how we ask questions, and how we understand what you bring into the room. Every client’s background, identity, and experience is treated as an asset, not an obstacle.
We treat the whole person, not just the presenting problem. Symptoms are signals. We work with you to understand what’s driving them, and build solutions that last beyond the therapy room.
The people behind Black Space Therapy
Tamera Gittens
Founder and CEO
Dr. Nicól Igoche
Clinical Director
Aaron Gabriel
Chief Operation Officer
Katherine Torres
Executive Assistant
Your therapists
Our team at Black Space Therapy is committed to creating a safe, welcoming space where you can feel seen, heard, and supported. Each of our therapists brings unique expertise, passion, and a deep understanding of the experiences of BIPOC communities. Learn more about our team and how they are dedicated to your journey of healing and empowerment.
Tamera Gittens, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC
Tamera Gittens is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, School Counselor, and Clinical Supervisor who earned her Master's degrees in Mental Health Counseling from Medaille University and New York University. She takes a collaborative, client-centered approach to therapy, tailoring treatment to meet each individual's unique needs and goals.
Tamera is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
As co-founder of the practice, Tamera helped create a space where clients feel seen, heard, valued, and comfortable. She understands the barriers that often deter many individuals, especially those from historically marginalized communities, from seeking mental health support. For this reason, she is deeply committed to providing culturally responsive care that honors each client's lived experiences, identities, and strengths.
Dr. Nicól Igoche, PsyD, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, PsyD, Clinical Supervisor
Dr. Nicól Igoche is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Doctor of Psychology, and Clinical Supervisor who provides therapy to adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her work is grounded in Black Psychology, recognizing the importance of culture, identity, community, and lived experience in the therapeutic process. She works with clients navigating persistent worry, low mood, the weight of difficult experiences, life transitions, relationship concerns, and racial and cultural stressors.
As Co-Founder of Black Space, Dr. Igoche is dedicated to creating a therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, valued, and empowered. She integrates evidence-based approaches with culturally responsive care, helping individuals build resilience, strengthen self-awareness, and navigate life's challenges while honoring their unique experiences and strengths.
Rhonda Averhart, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor / Mental Health Clinician
Rhonda Averhart is a Licensed Professional Counselor and obtained her Master's in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. As a Mental Health Clinician, she is dedicated to providing a safe, affirming space where individuals can breathe, heal, and grow. Rhonda believes in the power of community, culture, and personal empowerment, and she works alongside my clients as they navigate life’s challenges, rediscover their strengths, and pursue their goals with confidence. Her approach is rooted in compassion, authenticity, and a deep respect for each person's unique journey. Whether you are seeking clarity, healing, or support in achieving your dreams, she is here to walk with you every step of the way. Rhonda will honor your story, celebrate your victories, and support you in building the life you deserve.
Dr. Rosetta Caraballo, DSW, LCSW
Licensed Social Work
Therapist
Dr. Rosetta Caraballo is a dedicated and compassionate social worker with a profound commitment to fostering positive change in individuals and communities. With a Doctorate’s degree in Social Work and teaching experience in academia, along with a Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on child and family welfare, and over 4 years of hands-on experience, she has honed my skills in addressing complex social issues and supporting marginalized communities. Her passion for social justice and advocacy is evident in my tireless efforts to empower marginalized populations and promote inclusivity.
Jazmin Andrews, LSW
Licensed Social Work
Therapist
Jazmin Andrews is a Licensed Social Worker with an abundance of experience in individual and community-based practice. She has an innate ability to connect with people by listening actively and using her education to provide mental and behavioral health support. She has experience working with individuals who have carried generational trauma and struggled to maintain hope during the challenges of life. She has a passion to help reframe the outlook on life's experiences using knowledge in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques. She has more than 5 years of experience working with individuals who feel marginalized within underserved communities to help them access resources for holistic living and health. She has an aspiration to become a pillar for social work, to build connections through engagement, encouragement, and establishing hope.
Yaritza Castillo, LSW
Social Worker and
bilingual therapist
Yaritza Castillo is a Licensed Social Worker and a bilingual therapist (English/Spanish) with over 10 years of experience working with individuals across the lifespan, from age 10 to 100. Throughout her career, she's supported clients in navigating a wide range of challenges and reaching personal goals through a collaborative and compassionate approach. Her therapeutic style is grounded in relationship-building, fostering safety, trust, and even laughter, because healing doesn't have to be heavy all the time.
As a culturally aware and open-minded clinician, she draws from her own cultural background to create affirming, inclusive spaces where people of all identities feel seen, heard, and supported. In a world that is constantly evolving, she strives to help her clients not just survive, but thrive.
Kieyun Washington, LSW
Licensed Social Worker
Kieyun Washington is a Licensed Social Worker with dual master’s degrees from Prairie View A&M University, in Social Work and Public Administration, with a concentration in Public Management. With years of community-based practice, she has supported clients navigating life transitions, grief, trauma, fear, and bullying. Kieyun is deeply committed to advocating for teens who have aged out of foster care and to raising awareness of systemic racism’s impact on the African American community. She meets each client where they are, offering steady support through the weight of life’s most difficult chapters.
LaWonta Turner, LSW
Licensed Social Worker
LaWonta Turner is a Licensed Social Worker dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s most demanding chapters: relationship strain, persistent stress, major life transitions, and the slow work of personal growth. Her approach is supportive, nonjudgmental, and focused on building stronger coping skills and deeper connections.
LaWonta holds a Master of Social Work from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Arts in Human Services from Liberty University. With over 14 years of experience across social services and behavioral health, she draws on trauma-informed, person-centered frameworks, including CBT and Motivational Interviewing, and brings additional expertise in substance use counseling.
Brittany Williams, LSW
Licensed Social Worker
Brittany Williams is a licensed therapist with extensive experience supporting individuals across the lifespan, from children and adolescents to adults and older populations. She takes a client-centered, collaborative approach, helping people build healthy coping skills, improve emotional well-being, and navigate life transitions with confidence.
She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift negative thought patterns and behaviors. Brittany believes therapy should be tailored to each person's unique needs and brings culturally sensitive, compassionate care to every session. Her goal is to help clients build resilience and lasting change, grounded in a relationship built on trust and respect.
Kemisha Swan, LSW
Licensed Social Worker
Kemisha Swan is a licensed therapist providing virtual mental health care across the lifespan. She takes a collaborative, partnership-driven approach, working with clients to build effective coping skills, navigate life's challenges, and develop the resilience to move forward with confidence.
Ms. Swan holds a Master of Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University and brings a warm, easygoing presence to every session. She believes a strong therapeutic relationship, built on trust, empathy, and shared goals, is the foundation for real progress. Outside the office, Kemisha draws inspiration from travel, cultural exploration, and a deep love of 90s R&B. Her humor and genuine warmth create a space where clients feel seen, heard, and ready to grow.
Associate Therapists
Our associate therapists are trained clinicians completing their supervised hours toward full licensure, working directly under our co-founders. You get fresh, culturally matched care with senior clinical oversight built in. Each associate brings real training and a deep understanding of the experiences of BIPOC communities.
Vannesa Cruz
Social Work Intern (MSW)
Vannesa Cruz is a bilingual Master of Social Work Clinical Intern who works with individuals, children, adolescents, and families navigating life's challenges with compassion and resilience. As a first-generation college student who grew up in a low-income family, she saw firsthand how limited access to care affects families, and it shaped her commitment to breaking cycles of generational hardship and expanding culturally responsive mental health care. With more than six years serving diverse communities, Vannesa provides therapy in both English and Spanish, so clients can get support in the language they feel most comfortable using.
Sanayia Harvey
Social Work Intern
Sanayia Harvey believes healing happens when people feel understood, both emotionally and in context. She works with individuals and couples navigating high-stress environments, complex life transitions, and legal-related challenges, and also supports children with coping skills and emotional regulation. Drawing on CBT, DBT, and ACT, she helps clients build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and values-based decision-making. Her earlier experience as a paralegal lets her uniquely support people facing legal stressors or working in high-pressure legal and corporate environments. Her approach is grounded, compassionate, and practical, helping clients move through challenges with clarity and confidence.
Chevelle Patterson
Mental Health Counseling Intern
Chevelle Patterson is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern completing his graduate training at Walden University, specializing in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. He brings a grounded, steady presence and is committed to culturally responsive, identity-affirming care for individuals, couples, and families, particularly within BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. His interests include relationship dynamics, intimacy, communication, sexuality, and identity development, along with the weight of difficult experiences and persistent low mood or worry. With experience in mental health intake, crisis support, and client advocacy, Chevelle blends person-centered, strengths-based, and cognitive-behavioral approaches. His style is warm, direct, and collaborative.
Sherron Bond
Social Work Intern (MSW)
Sherron Bond is a Master of Social Work intern from Eastern University dedicated to compassionate, client-centered care. She builds strong, empathetic relationships through active listening and cultural humility, and is deeply committed to social justice, advocating for individuals in under-resourced communities and working to address systemic barriers to care. Sherron conducts thorough psychosocial assessments to understand each client's history and circumstances, then partners with them on customized plans with clear, measurable goals. Her practice draws on evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing, along with crisis de-escalation. She practices under clinical supervision to deliver a high standard of support.
Briana Dotson
Mental Health Counseling Intern
Briana Dotson believes therapy can be a space to pause, process, and reconnect with yourself, especially when you are carrying the weight of painful experiences, difficult relationships, or life transitions. She sees people as defined not by a single moment but by the fullness of their story, and works to help clients recognize they are stronger than the narratives handed to them. Her approach is trauma-informed, relational, and collaborative, drawing on psychodynamic, somatic, narrative, attachment-focused, and emotion-focused work, with CBT and DBT skills when helpful. Faith and spirituality are welcome parts of the work when they matter to a client.
Our Locations
Virtual Therapy In Washington
Access professional, culturally responsive virtual therapy in Washington from the comfort and privacy of your home. At Black Space Therapy, our licensed therapists provide online counseling for individuals, couples, and families across the state. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or life transitions, our Washington-based therapists offer compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your unique needs. Flexible scheduling and a secure telehealth platform make it easier than ever to prioritize your mental health.
Virtual Therapy In Illinois
Black Space Therapy offers convenient and confidential online therapy across Illinois. Our licensed Illinois therapists provide virtual counseling for individuals, couples, and families, supporting you with concerns like anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and more. Enjoy the flexibility of teletherapy with therapists who understand the importance of culturally sensitive, inclusive care. All sessions are conducted via a secure online platform, ensuring privacy, comfort, and accessibility, no matter where you are in Illinois.
Mission & Values
At Black Space Therapy, our mission is to provide mental health support through a lens of cultural competency, equity, and justice. We aim to offer services that center the experiences of marginalized communities, advocating for healing and empowerment in an affirming space.
Cultural fluency
We understand that identity, background, and lived experience shape mental health. Our therapists bring genuine cultural awareness to every session, not as an add-on, but as a foundation.
Performance and well-being
Ambition and mental health are not opposites. We help high-achieving individuals and professionals build sustainable success without sacrificing their relationships, identity, or peace of mind.
Whole-person care
We look beyond symptoms to understand the full picture of your life: your history, your pressures, your goals. Real healing addresses all of it, not just the parts that are easiest to fix.
Sustainable success
Our goal is not to keep you in therapy forever. It is to give you the tools, clarity, and self-understanding to build a life that actually works, and to know how to maintain it.
Your Questions Answered
Explore answers to common questions about our services, process, and more. We’re here to provide clarity and support as you embark on your journey to mental well-being.
We offer individual therapy, child and teen therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, group therapy, career coaching, and ESA letters, all via secure virtual sessions in Washington and Illinois.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just like something is off. That’s reason enough to reach out. Therapy isn’t only for crisis moments. It’s for anyone who wants to understand themselves better, process life’s challenges, and grow. We offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions and see if we’re a good fit. No commitment needed.
Most individual sessions run 50–55 minutes. Couples and family sessions may be slightly longer depending on your therapist’s approach. We’ll talk through timing during your free consultation.
Yes, we offer virtual sessions for therapy at your convenience in Washington and Illinois.
You can reach out through our online booking link to schedule a consultation, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.
Ready to take the first step?
You deserve support that actually understands your life. Book a free 15-minute consultation. No pressure, no commitment. We will meet you where you are.
