About Us



UIMH provides evaluation, treatment planning, and weekly therapy sessions for a wide variety of mental health issues to include; but not limited to: depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, ADHD, behavioral disorders, and PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. We serve Adults and Families.

Our mission is to provide effective, culturally competent, and trauma-informed mental health services throughout the state of Maryland. Most importantly, we know that the right therapist makes all the difference. We promise to give you the time, attention, and special one-on-one attention that you need on your journey to healing!

Our Clinical Team

Octavia Brown, LCSW-C 

Owner and Lead Clinician/Trauma Specialist

Currently Full and Not Accepting Clients

Octavia Brown, LCSW-C is the founder and lead clinician of the Urban Institute for Mental Health (UIMH). Brown specializes in trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and behavioral modification. Brown is specifically trained in working in urban communities and has extensive experience working in racial trauma therapy.

Brown also serves the community as a political social worker, working to advocate for urban communities, eliminate social issues which greatly impact the populations we serve, and implement new and progressive policies which aid in the fight to dismantle system of racism.

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Medicaid, United Health Care (UBH), BCBS, Lyra

Mercede Robinson, LCSW-C

Advanced Clinician and Supervisor

Currently Full and Not Accepting Clients

Mercede Robinson, LCSW-C has been working in the field of human services for over 15 years. She has worked in various human services roles such as International Social Worker, Homeless and Runaway Youth Case Manager, Primary Therapist, Psychiatric Assignment Officer, Program Manager and Director.

Mercede’s focus has always been working with People of Color facing adversity and other social barriers such as systemic racism, poverty, exploitation, and police violence. She is aware these struggles can create feelings of pain and hurt and often undiagnosed trauma. For many People of Color starting psychotherapy can be an exciting and anxiety-provoking process.

Mecedes’s primary goal is to create a safe place where people can be vulnerable and explore new ways to heal. Merecde utilizes her skills in CBT, along with a psychodynamic approach to create comprehensive holistic treatment services. Treatment focuses on every aspect of the person from psychological to physical, allowing people to discover new and healthy ways to live.

In her personal life Mercede has taught Jiu-Jitsu to youth living in urban areas, teaching safety, confidence building and self-discipline. Mercede is currently licensed in Maryland, New York and Virginia.

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Medicaid, BCBS

Lucinda Richards, LMSW

Clinician

Currently Full and Not Accepting Clients

Lucinda Richards is a Licensed Master Social Worker for the state of Maryland. Lucinda received her Masters degree from California State University at Long Beach she specialized in Adulthood and Aging with an emphasis on Mental Health.

Lucinda has extensive experience in urban communities as well as with individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder and a variety of other mental illnesses. Lucinda utilizes a holistic, person centered, strength based approach using
Cognitive Behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to guide her practice.

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Cigna,BCBS

Carmella Long, LCSW-C 

Advanced Mental Health Clinician

Currently Full and Not Accepting Clients

Carmella Long has been in the field of Clinical Social Work for over 17 years. She has experience in a variety of settings and with diverse clients within the urban community.

She's treated clients in Oncology, Pediatric and Adult Mental Health, special needs, complex medical management needs, and end of life care. Of particular interest to Ms. Long is the psychological well-being of oppressed populations in America and abroad.

Considering historical racial trauma and current race relations in the U.S., she feels passionate about providing support and therapeutic tools to assist with the mental gymnastics of living our best lives. Your best life doesn't only consist of comforts you can see. It is also important to be comfortable mentally.

Therapy and the tools that one develops from the experience is key to your overall mental health. Your best mental health can be passed onto the next generation. Ms. Long has vast experience in CBT along with training in Gestalt, Humanistic, Integrative and holistic therapies. Methods such as active listening, emotional support, guided imagery, purposeful breathing and even yoga have been shown to increase relaxation, and mental clarity. She believes, we all deserve good health, and therapy is a step in the right direction. 

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Medicaid, BCBS

Shola Adebusuyi, LMSW

Clinician

Currently Accepting Clients

Shola Adebusuyi is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Certified Case Manager in the Washington metro area. Shola is a D.C native, earning her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Bowie State University and her Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina-Columbia with a Specialization in Individuals, Families and Groups.

Shola has been a Clinician well over 5 years and has worked in a variety of settings, primarily with adults, including, inpatient substance treatment programs, emergency room crisis counseling, social work/case management in acute care hospitals, and inpatient behavioral health units in acute care hospitals. Many of Shola’s clients over the years have been largely from marginalized groups which has strengthened her skill set and passion for not only the bio-medical needs of her clients but also the systematic trauma’s that are largely ignored in the person-in environment context.

Shola implements a strengths-based approach, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Techniques and breathing/visual exercises. Shola is also trained in Crisis Intervention and Solution Focused Therapy. Shola believes in working in partnership with clients, utilizing their strengths, to help them sort out their challenges while developing coping techniques to strengthen and heal self and with an ultimate purpose- to uplift and heal the coming generations of groups, communities and families for success and esteem.

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Cigna, BCBS

Aliya Gladden, LMSW

Clinician

Currently Accepting Clients

Aliya Gladden, LMSW received her Bachelor of Psychology from Towson University, and her Master of Social Work from University of Maryland, Baltimore with a specialization in clinical behavioral health.

Gladden has an abundance of experience primarily with working with urban communities in school and outpatient settings. She has worked with individuals of all ages; however, primarily adolescents and adults in minority populations.

Gladden has focused her academic career conducting research focused on young Black adults's mental health communication and literacy. She has extensive experience utilizing CBT, mindfulness, psychodynamic, and behavioral modification.

Aliya believes in enhancing client’s autonomy over their lives, and creating a safe space for clients to heal.

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Cigna, BCBS

Tia Gross, LCPC

Advanced Mental Health Clinician and Supervisor

Currently Accepting Clients

Tia Gross is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Maryland who has been in the field for 15 years partnering with adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, life transitions, women’s issues and relationship issues.

Tia has worked in correctional, outpatient, and community settings. Tia completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Towson University and received her Master of Science in Applied Psychology - Counseling from the University of Baltimore.

Tia utilizes relational, collaborative, strength based, cognitive behavioral, and solution focused approaches to therapy always maintaining the creativity, flexibility and awareness necessary to best meet the needs of every unique individual. Tia seeks to establish a warm and caring relationship with her clients in order to assist in building on their strengths, working through adversities, and empowering them to create new, meaningful, and fulfilling chapters in their lives.

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Insurance Accepted: Medicaid, BCBS, United Health Care (UBH)

Erica Carroll, LMSW

Clinician

Currently Accepting Clients

Clinician Demographics
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Insurance Accepted: Cigna, BCBS

Our Administrative Team

Chanel Langley

Program Coordinator

Chanel Langley is the Program Coordinator at the Urban Institute of Mental Health. She is the first point of contact for clients and assures a smooth transition from referral to the designated clinician.

Chanel has a bachelors degree in Mass Communication and over 7 years of experience working with clients in the hospitality industry.In her spare time, Chanel practices Zumba and can be found protesting systematic racism whenever an opportunity arise.

With a passion to serve the urban community and an understanding of the importance of mental health, she sincerely looks forward to welcoming all!  
Race: Black
Gender Pronouns: She, Her, Hers