Adia G., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and CEO at Unconditionally Worthy, Co.

Adia G.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist and CEO at Unconditionally Worthy, Co.

Diversity/Women Issues

Education: Stanford - DePaul

Chicago, IL, USA

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Biography

Adia Gooden, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist; she received her BA in Psychology from Stanford University and her PhD in Clinical Community Psychology from DePaul University. Dr. Adia served as a Staff Psychologist and the Coordinator for Multicultural Outreach and Support for the Student Counseling Service at The University of Chicago and the Director of the Clinic and Community Programs at The Family Institute at Northwestern before starting her own business. Dr. Adia is a sought-after, dynamic speaker who gives talks and workshops on unconditional self-worth, self-compassion, imposter syndrome, and Black women’s mental health. Dr. Adia co-authored the book Promoting Black Women’s Mental Health, published by Cambridge University Press. Dr. Adia gave a TEDx talk called “Cultivating Unconditional Self-Worth” which has over 1.5 million views. Dr. Adia hosts the Unconditionally Worthy podcast and coaches high achieving professional women to embrace their unconditional self-worth.

Passion

Self-worth, self-compassion, imposter syndrome, DEI, Belonging, mental health, mental wellness

I am willing to travel

More than 100 miles

When it comes to payments

I generally get paid for speaking but make exceptions

Topics

author book author psychology self compassion selfworth overcoming the imposter syndrome imposter syndrome diversity in the workplace diversity and inclusion cultures of belonging belonging dei compassion wellness mental wellness womens empowerment womens leadership black and latina women black women

Best Story

I walked out of the room, closed the door, slumped into a wooden chair and felt warm tears flowing down my face. I had worked for months (really years) for this moment. The long nights, working on weekends to make sure everything would be perfect. I criticized myself constantly in an attempt to make sure I was prepared for any challenge or question. I skipped workouts, missed sleep, and spent weekend nights at home on my computer instead of going out with my friends. I had done everything I could to achieve this accomplishment and when I finally got it, all I felt was exhausted and empty.

I had just walked out of my dissertation defense. I thought that passing this dissertation defense, receiving those three letters behind my name, would finally make me feel worthy. For years, I had longed to feel like I was good enough, to be at peace with myself, and I thought I could get there by pushing myself to the limit and criticizing myself after every mistake in an attempt to be perfect. But I was wrong.
I did pass my defense that day but I was crushed by the realization that getting my PhD wasn’t going to give me the feelings of worthiness and peace that I had been wanting for so long.

That experience pushed me to turn inward and look beyond accomplishments to connect to my unconditional self-worth.