Deeper Than Color: Social Justice & Strength-Based Psychotherapy and Consulting
  • Counseling & Wellness
    • Bedford Palmer II, PhD
    • Jacqueline Benson, PsyD
    • Mar Chung, PhD
    • Leah Oliver, Psy.D.
    • Cathy A. Thompson, PhD
    • Nicole Gibson, M.A.
    • Nekolas Milton, Psy.D.
    • Konjit V. Page, Ph.D.
  • Consultation & Training
    • Workshops
    • About Dr. Palmer
    • Press Kit
  • Fees & Services
  • Books by Bedford Palmer II, Ph.D.
    • Daddy Why Am I Brown
    • Black Joy
    • Speaking & Book Readings
  • We Are Hiring

Welcome

 One of the most difficult and most useful things that you can do in life is to ask for help. Whether you are dealing with hard times or working to enhance your strengths, identifying and building a strong support network can be the key to your success. Asking for help can give you access to a whole other set of resources, knowledge, and expertise. Most importantly, you are choosing to work proactively towards reaching your goals. You are choosing to move forward. You are choosing to become who you ought to be. 

What is Culture?

"Culture is a system of knowledge that is learned and passed on generationally through familial interactions, education, media influence, language, and all the other social interactions that we have. We use it to organize and assigns meaning to our experiences of the world." - Bedford Palmer II, Ph.D.

What is Therapy?

People seek counseling for many reasons. You may be dealing with a major life change, such as a break up, looking for a new job, or dealing with loss. Or you might be managing mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression. You may think that therapy is for "crazy" people, but what does that even mean? The reality is that folks that see psychologists are just regular people struggling with common, everyday issues. Therapy can be like going to the emergency room when a crisis occurs in your life, or it can be like going to the gym in order to get stronger and stay healthy. Either way, when it comes down to it, you are doing what you need to do, in order to live the life that you want to live. ​

Strength-Based:

Strength-Based means focusing on who you are and how you have successfully navigated life up to now; and then using that insight to help you move through your current struggles. 

What should you expect?

Phone Consult

Before the first appointment, we offer a free 5 minute phone consultation with administrative staff.  We will talk in order to see if I am a good fit for what you are looking for in a counselor.

Initial Appointment

This initial 45-50 minute session will be a time for me to really find out what's going on for you, to set goals, and to identify your expectations of therapy.

Follow-up Sessions

Follow-up sessions are typically 45-50 minutes long, though 75 minute sessions are available.  Sessions are usually weekly, but can be more or less frequent

Common Concerns

Multicultural & Social Justice 
Microaggressions | Discrimination  Impostor Feelings | Identity Acculturative Stress
Anxieties
Stress | Fear | Panic | Worry   Nervousness | Panic
 Developmental Concerns
Adjusting to College | Life Transitions | Career Planning | Choosing a Major ​
Mood
Sadness | Low Energy | Unmotivated | Irritability | Mood Swings | Insomnia
Wellness
Stress Reduction | Mindfulness | Sleep Hygiene | Time Management | Anger Management | Healthy Living | Problem Solving
Sexuality
Sexual Identity | Intimate Relationships
Grief & Loss
Concerns or Loss of Loved One | Breakup Divorce | Loss of Job  ​
Interpersonal Relationships
Forming Relationships | Setting Boundaries | Conflicts Assertiveness | Dating & Relationships

Meet Our Team

We are a team of highly skilled clinicians who work with a diverse clientele and specialize in providing social justice oriented psychotherapeutic support to Black people and other People of Color. Dr. Palmer, Dr. Benson, Dr. Chung, and Dr. Thompson are licensed psychologists; Dr. Page and Dr. Milton are registered psychological associates; and Jocelyn Lam and Nicole Gibson are licensed marriage and family therapists. We are all experienced clinicians who offer both short and long term care options, and are affirming of all intersecting identities. View our bios to learn more about each of our specialties.

Bedford Palmer II, Ph.D.

Picture
CEO & Founder | Licensed Psychologist #PSY28058
Meet Dr. Palmer

Jacqueline Benson, Psy.D. 

Picture
Licensed Psychologist #PSY32556
Meet Dr. Benson

Mar Chung, Ph.D.

Picture
Licensed Psychologist #PSY33470
Meet Dr. Chung

Nicole Gibson, M.A.

Picture
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #LMFT94690
Meet Nicole Gibson

Nekolas "Neko" Milton, Psy.D.

Picture
Registered Psychological Associate #PSB94027036
Meet Dr. Milton

Leah Oliver, Psy.D.

Picture
Licensed Psychologist #PSY33098
Meet Dr. Oliver

Konjit V. Page, Ph.D.

Picture
Registered Psychological Associate #PSB94025954
Meet Dr. Page

Cathy A. Thompson, Ph.D.

Picture
Licensed Psychologist #PSY17056
Meet Dr. Thompson

Administrative Team

Before the first appointment, we offer a free 5-10 minute phone consultation with administrative staff. We will talk in order to see if the therapist is a good fit for what you are looking for in a counselor.
Schedule Your Consultation

Psychotherapy  & Counseling Fees

  • $200 - $300 per 45-50 minute individual therapy session 
  • $50 - $80 per 45-50 minute group therapy session 
  • $225 - $475 per 50-80 minute family, couples, or multi-partnered relationship therapy session 
  • Limited Sliding Scale is available to those who qualify. 
  • We currently only accept credit cards and some HSA for payment.  We do not accept insurance. ​
  • We can provide an invoice or superbill for services so you can seek reimbursement if your insurance carrier is not listed above. 
  • Dr. Palmer and Dr. Benson also accept clients from Lyra Health.
  • Payment is expected at the time of service.

We facilitate billing for clients with out-of-network insurance coverage for Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Magellan, Optum and United).

  • Only pay your co-insurance and we will bill your insurance for the rest. (i.e., if you have 80% coverage, then you pay 20% of your session fee and we bill your insurance company for the other 80%). ​
  • We charge a fee of $15 convenience fee for this service, but we can waive that fee if you meet certain financial criteria. ​
Schedule Your Consultation

Picture
  • Counseling & Wellness
    • Bedford Palmer II, PhD
    • Jacqueline Benson, PsyD
    • Mar Chung, PhD
    • Leah Oliver, Psy.D.
    • Cathy A. Thompson, PhD
    • Nicole Gibson, M.A.
    • Nekolas Milton, Psy.D.
    • Konjit V. Page, Ph.D.
  • Consultation & Training
    • Workshops
    • About Dr. Palmer
    • Press Kit
  • Fees & Services
  • Books by Bedford Palmer II, Ph.D.
    • Daddy Why Am I Brown
    • Black Joy
    • Speaking & Book Readings
  • We Are Hiring