Meet the Founder
Dr. La’Toya Nicole Edwards
Therapist. Strategist. Healer. Visionary.
Who I Am
I help high-performing professionals, families, and teens figure out this thing called life — and do it in a way that feels rooted, whole, and honest.
I’m Dr. La’Toya Nicole Edwards — a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Board Certified Diplomate (BCD), professor, emotional strategist, and the visionary behind Thriving Well Holistic Wellness Solutions.
I’m not your nod-and-smile therapist. I’m the one who will hold space for your truth, challenge the parts of you that are performing, and gently guide you back to yourself.
For over a decade, I’ve walked alongside people who’ve spent their lives holding it all together. Perfectionists. Professionals burning out under pressure. Parents and teens carrying unspoken trauma. Women who are “strong” for everyone but themselves.
I created Thriving Well because I wanted to build a practice where people — especially those who’ve been overlooked or overwhelmed — could heal at the root.
A space that affirms culture. Embodies safety. And welcomes truth.
At my core, I’m committed to helping our communities heal at the root — emotionally, spiritually, and somatically.
Why I Built Thriving Well
I created Thriving Well because I saw the same story repeating: brilliant, capable people — especially Black professionals and families — barely holding it together. Achieving on the outside. Hurting on the inside.
Traditional therapy wasn’t enough. It didn’t hold space for the body. It didn’t honor culture. It didn’t address what people were really carrying. I built Thriving Well to change that.
Today, our practice is known for specializing in complex trauma, emotional burnout, and nervous system healing— integrating evidence-based care with Afrocentric, somatic, and holistic approaches.
My Approach
I use a blend of EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, narrative therapy, IFS, and indigenous healing practices to support transformation from the inside out.
I developed the Sankofa Method — a signature framework that guides clients and organizations through emotional clarity, trauma resolution, and deep nervous system healing.
Whether I’m working with a high-performing woman navigating burnout, a teen rediscovering their voice, or a leadership team struggling with communication — I help people move from emotional survival into embodied, sustainable wholeness.
This work is personal to me. It’s sacred. And it’s powerful.
Credentials + Recognition
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Board Certified Diplomate (BCD)
- Reiki Master, Shaman, Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor, Sound Practitioner
- Certified in EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, IFS
- National speaker on trauma recovery, leadership, and emotional wellness
- Consultant & trainer for national organizations, universities, & leadership groups
- Named one of Top 40 Under 40for mental health and leadership
- Recognized by NASW as one of the Top 1000 Mental Health Experts in the Nation
- The first and only Black woman trained directly by Brainspotting developer Dr. David Grand and the First Brainspotting Consultant in Hampton Roads, Virginia
- Founder of the first therapy practice in Virginiato integrate EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, IFS, and Afrocentric healing into a holistic trauma recovery model
- Featured in CBS, NBC, Fox, MTV, ID Channel, Vogue ATL, Who’s Who, NABSW, and more
- Thought leadership and healing framework featured in multiple publications, panels, and conferences across the U.S.
Education & Academic Research
- Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) – Simmons University
Dissertation: leadH.E.R. (Helping Eliminate Racism): An Inclusive Leadership Program for African American Women - Master of Clinical Social Work – Norfolk State University
- First cohort for Military Social Work specialization
- Clinical track with advanced training in substance abuse, trauma, and family systems
- Interdisciplinary instruction across STEM and Social Work departments
- Only student in the cohort to intern with both active duty service members and veterans
- Bachelor of Science (Dual Degrees) – Old Dominion University
- B.S. in Sociology (Concentration: Social Welfare)
- B.S. in African American and African Studies
- Double Minor: Women’s Studies and Political Science
What Clients Say About Working With Me
“She sees through the BS — but with love.”
“It’s like talking to someone who gets it — but can also challenge it.”
“She reminds you who you are. And helps you come back to it.”
Let’s Work Together
If you’re ready to heal from the inside out and shift from surviving to thriving — I’d be honored to walk with you.