Jay Okereke

Jay is a doctoral-level advanced practicum student from The Chicago School. They received a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and minored in Health Care Social Issues. Their experience at the UCSD Empathy and Emotion Lab sparked their interest in emotion and reappraisal strategies, particularly in the long-term effects of emotion suppression strategies among families within diverse populations. More specifically, they learned and advocated for encouraging emotional expression and open communication among ethnic youth to avoid adverse health consequences associated with chronic emotional suppression strategies, such as depression and cardiovascular disease. During their graduate program, Jay has dedicated themselves to researching and working with diverse and marginalized individuals, gaining keen analytical and conceptual skills that aid in therapeutic intervention and neuropsychological assessments with severely mentally ill (SMI) individuals across age groups. They continue to assert the importance of investigating early intervention strategies among adolescent ethnic minorities while considering unique factors that influence their emotional and psychological development, such as acculturation, generational conflict, ethnic values, and varying perceptions of mental health and illness within their communities. Jay is committed to working with diverse and marginalized individuals to help eliminate stigma in seeking mental health services, build trust between mental health professionals and marginalized populations, and foster hope in a bright and peaceful future.