ABOUT
Allow me to introduce myself!
Hi, I’m Ijeoma N. Ezeofor Harris, PhD, MPH. Thanks for taking the time to learn a little bit about me! Choosing a therapist is a deeply personal decision, so I absolutely encourage you to learn more about me to see if we would make a good fit. It’s as important to me as it is to you that you find the right therapist for your needs and feel confident in your choice.
Below I’ve included what I like to call “the 4 T’s of Getting to Know Me”—relevant background information that I think will help you gain a better sense of who I am as a therapist, how I work, and what you can expect from our time together.
If you have any questions or there’s something you’d like to learn more about that isn’t addressed here, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to connect and provide any information that will help you make an informed decision. Thank you again for considering me to be a part of your journey. I look forward to the possibility of working together!
I treat a range of emotional and mental health concerns. Below are some of the treatment areas I commonly help people navigate:
- Boundary Setting & Assertiveness
- Communication Skills
- Coping Skills
- Stress Management
- Time Management
- Relationship Issues
- Cross-cultural Issues/ Acculturative Stress
- Family Issues
- Identity Development
- Life Transitions
- Self-Criticism/Self-Doubt
- Work/Life Balance & Self-Care
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Trauma
My approach to therapy emphasizes validation, embraces curiosity, fosters insight, facilitates change, and is rooted in cultural consciousness.
Validation
Validation
I haven’t met you yet, but I already know one thing about you. And that’s that you matter and your experiences are valid.
There is no one right way to live life and your feelings, thoughts, and best efforts to figure out life, warts and all, won’t be judged here.
Curiosity
Curiosity
In grade school, I was nicknamed “The Observer” because, well, I was always observing.
Since then, my observational skills have grown a bit more refined, but I’m still always observing and wondering. So be prepared for me to approach your concerns with a relentless but compassionate and constructive curiosity.
Insight
Insight
Increased insight is the engine that will drive our work. Helping you to understand the factors that have contributed to and sustain your presenting concern is not only necessary, it’s essential to any progress we hope to make.
Change
Change
Change can come in many forms. Over the course of our work together it may come in the form of increased awareness, greater acceptance, new skills acquired, or improved behavior.
Whatever form it takes, the point is, change will come.
Cultural Consciousness
Cultural Consciousness
I actively engage with and reflect on how one’s culture impacts identity, power, and experiences. Because only by understanding this can I begin to understand you, your challenges, and your pathways forward.
I am an integrative clinician who draws from multiple evidence-based approaches to provide individualized, client-centered care.
My work with individuals is informed by Adlerian Individual Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and attachment theory. I also integrate mindfulness practices and Dr. Kristin Neff’s research on self-compassion to support emotional resilience and self-awareness.
In my work with couples, I incorporate the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help partners strengthen their connection, improve communication, and navigate conflict more effectively.
Dr. Ezeofor Harris is a licensed psychologist, and the owner and founder of Inquiry Embraced Psychology Solutions. Dr. Ezeofor Harris has 14 years of clinical experience that includes therapy, consultation, supervision, and assessment. In addition to her therapy work with individuals, groups, families, and couples, Dr. Ezeofor Harris has experience with specialized populations such as veterans, incarcerated individuals, college students, and individuals with severe mental illnesses.
The diversity of Dr. Ezeofor Harris’ clinical experience fueled her appreciation for environmental, structural, and cultural factors in conceptualizing individual’s mental health. Dr. Ezeofor Harris was compelled her to obtain her Master of Public Health from Harvard University where she specialized in the study of social determinants of health and health communication. Dr. Ezeofor Harris’ diverse clinical experiences and her background in public health naturally informed her work in the social impact sector.
In addition to practicing as a psychologist, Dr. Ezeofor Harris has worked across the social sector as a consultant to nonprofits; foundations and other philanthropic organizations; and city, state, and federal initiatives. Over her tenure, Dr. Ezeofor Harris’ was instrumental in developing actionable insights for partners like the Knight Foundation, the Obama Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, ViiV Healthcare, and UnidosUS.
Dr. Ezeofor Harris is also an experienced researcher and has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in the areas of social cognition, acculturation, and race and well-being. From developing a measure of critical consciousness to conducting racial audit studies in mental healthcare to predicting satisfaction among international students, Dr. Ezeofor Harris’ research interests coalesce around the singular goal of understanding the nuances of promoting well-being in diverse populations.
Most recently, Dr. Ezeofor Harris has brought her research experience to bear on the area of self-care. Motivated to advance perceptions of self-care and coping beyond self-soothing acts of consumption and instant gratification, Dr. Ezeofor Harris identified a framework for self-care that emphasizes process, intention, and the self as the agent of change. The Intentional Self-Care Framework is the model upon which Dr. Ezeofor Harris’ Self-CARE Coaching is based.
The breadth of Dr. Ezeofor Harris’ experience is one of the strengths of her practice as a psychologist. It has engendered a wealth of knowledge and exposure and a depth of humility, all of which underscores a practice characterized by nonjudgment, curiosity, and validation of her clients’ unique stories.
Education & Selected Training
- APA-Accredited Postdoctoral Residency | Kaiser Permanente
- APA-Accredited Predoctoral Internship | Illinois State University
- PhD & MA | University of Maryland, College Park
- MPH | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- MA | New York University
- BS | Massachusetts Institute of Technology