Founder/CEO/Executive Clinical Consultant

Born & raised in New York, Siana is an indigenous Cherokee, Blackfoot, Nassau Native, Yoruba & Fulani Nigerian woman initiated Iyanifa & Olóríṣà, who has over 15 years of experience in mental health settings where she has honed her skills in experiential therapies, program delivery, and group facilitation approaches that highlight the development of Emotional Intelligence, Self-Acceptance, and Personal Development. She has designed and facilitated personal development groups, workshops, trainings, and curricula that support insight, empathy, skills development, and sustainable recovery for those living with mental and behavioral health conditions.

Siana is a graduate of MITT - Mastery in Transformational Training and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia State University as well as multiple certifications in areas such as Life Coaching, Trauma-Informed Care, Crisis Intervention, Family Systems, Parent Effectiveness Training, and Culturally Proficient Service Delivery. Siana recently received her CPAT at Naropa University and will be starting her Practicum at the CORA Center in Colorado working towards her licensure in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy.

Her experience in mental and behavioral healthcare includes more than 8 years of experience in residential treatment and a decade of experience in client care and group facilitation including areas of expertise in outdoor and experiential therapies, 12-step informed programming, SMART Recovery, community building, behavioral analysis, and psychoeducation. She has operated all aspects of a small business and is the founder of a mental health and community empowerment consulting firm. Siana dedicates her life to impacting as many lives as she can by being of service, encouraging transformation and inspiring breakthroughs. She is a happy parent who values family, friends, community, and the power of human connection.

Chief Clinical Officer

Lauren holds a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University and 8 years of experience in residential settings, where I’ve dedicated my work to helping youth and families confront challenges associated with depression, anxiety, trauma, and thoughts of self-harm.

My approach is firmly rooted in a strengths-based perspective methodology, meaning I take a comprehensive and personalized approach. I delve into your unique history, environment, lifestyle, and spirituality. I believe that your past does not determine your future, and I’m here to ensure that your personal story is heard. I strive to create a partnership in a judgment-free space.

Using a combination of traditional talk therapy, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and psychoeducation, we delve into specific and broad psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues. Together, we identify and develop coping and communication skills, gain insight, and establish boundaries. This ultimately leads to a reduction in symptoms and an overall improvement in well-being.

Executive Director

Avonlea possesses nearly a decade of experience working with youth navigating the challenges of self-discovery and identity formation. Holding degrees in Clinical Psychology and Philosophy from Pepperdine University, she is dedicated to employing a culturally-sensitive approach in addressing gender inclusion, youth development, and holistic wellness. Having traveled and resided in Europe, the Middle East, and India, Avonlea has honed her expertise in conflict resolution and youth mental health. Her commitment extends to advocacy for women’s rights, social justice, and the enhancement of mental health services accessibility within diverse communities. Outside of her professional endeavors, Avonlea finds enjoyment in leisure activities such as spending time at the beach, engaging in gardening, and fostering a deeper connection with the world around her.

Expressive Arts Therapist in Training

Preena Surya Chand grew up as an Indo-Fijian LA native with Hindu, Christian and Muslim influences that paved her unifying world view. She serves as a connector, a builder of bridges, who supports people who want to transition from a lifestyle of pain and suffering to a deep reverence of life and why they exist. Her mission is to bridge the gap between our mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional bodies so that we remember how to discern and work as a WHOLE human being. This requires commitment to accountability, releasing trauma responses, kindness and compassion for self, and deep reverence for life and our planet.

Preena is currently earning her masters in Expressive Arts Therapy and studies psychosomaspiritual integration techniques through formal education in spiritual and depth psychology, formal training and teaching in leadership and emotional intelligence, and her experiences in releasing trauma and integrating safety and freedom. She combines her global education, experiences, and wisdom to guide people to discern their inner authority, voice, and power. She uses prana/chi techniques, archetypal symbolism, and art as a doorway to embody our truest desires. Most of Preena’s services are open for inquiry so that both her and her clients are clear with intentions and choose to work together from a place of integrity.

Creative Director, Retreat Director

Gladys Nyoth is a dedicated visionary blending cultural integration within the community and hospitality spaces. As the founder of "I Know a Place," a cultural and experiential agency, she brings her 15 years of experiential production and mindful nourishment to Los Angeles. Through her agency, she has developed community programs to nurture culture and leadership, including the Ibe I Am post-residential program in Highland Park, Los Angeles, a Transitional Support Life Skill Retreat.

With a background in Ayurvedic and tribal cuisines, Gladys has partnered with impactful organizations such as Harness, Chopra, and Nextdoor to foster conversations around community culture. As a creative director, she collaborates with clients like Meymuna Hussain Cattan to develop culturally empowered narratives around social change and self-identity reclamation.

Gladys’s work is a testament to her commitment to creative community impact and influence, continually striving to nurture cultural conversations and leadership within diverse communities

'Wisdom Keeper'

The role of 'Wisdom Keeper' holds profound significance in our company. It embodies the essence of true eldership, offering healing, guidance, and consultation to our clients. As one of our most important roles, it reflects our commitment to multigenerational cultural inclusivity by elevating voices that inspire others to reconnect with their ancestry and explore their roots. The 'Wisdom Keeper' of I BE I AM is a beacon for those seeking to find their way back to their origins, a journey home to where it all began.

Bio:
C Scoti Scott is a Practitioner, Priest & Healer with over 30 years of experience in African-based spiritual practices. She is a storyteller, shape shifter, spirit worker, and culture worker. Her work is the intersection of spirit, mind, and body played out in a public space with the intention to be a catalyst for communication and transformation.

As a spiritual practitioner/healer, she draws from ancient wisdom and universal truths to support and facilitate healing, integration, and alignment. As a multidisciplinary artist and socially engaged artist, her work embodies the concern for freedom and paradigm shifts in thinking, being, and doing. Through her work, she ignites reflection and inspires possibilities, empowering both individuals and communities to envision and realize transformative change.