Speaking, Training & Media

I’ve spent my career on a mission to reduce healthcare disparities and bring affirming, evidence-based mental health care to the communities that need it most. That mission doesn’t stop at my caseload. I bring it to every stage, every training room, every podcast mic, and every interview.

I’m available for speaking engagements, corporate and organizational workshops, clinical training, media commentary, and podcast guest appearances. If you’re looking for a speaker who is direct, engaging, deeply knowledgeable, and doesn’t do boring, let’s talk.

Who I Am

I’m Dr. Monica Johnson, PsyD, a Licensed Psychologist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and the founder of Kind Mind Psychology. I’ve been in practice for over 15 years across outpatient, inpatient, and forensic settings, including serving as lead psychologist at a homeless clinic. I hold individual licenses in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Delaware, and I am PSYPACT authorized, practicing across 40+ states.

I co-authored Addressing Race-Based Stress in Therapy with Black Clients: Using Multicultural and Dialectical Behavior Therapy Techniques (Routledge), a book that gives mental health professionals a practical framework for culturally responsive treatment. I also wrote and recorded Push Back: Assert Yourself in Relationships, an Audible Original that teaches people how to set boundaries, communicate their needs, and foster mutual respect in their everyday interactions.

I’m the current host of ADHD & through Understood.org, where I explore how ADHD intersects with relationships, identity, parenting, and daily life. I’m the former host of the Savvy Psychologist podcast through Macmillan / Quick and Dirty Tips, where I spent years making psychology practical, accessible, and real for a wide audience. I’ve also made guest appearances on podcasts including ADHD Aha, Parenting Problems, and the Change Academy.

My Instagram @kindmindpsych reaches over 76,000 followers with evidence-based content on mental health, ADHD, emotional regulation, relationships, and sexual wellness.

As Featured In

My work and expert commentary have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, British Vogue, Self, the Associated Press, Ebony, Psychology Today, Popsugar, Them, Girlboss, and The Next Web. I’m a regular contributor to Psychology Today, where I write about boundaries, body image, self-esteem, trauma, and the intersection of identity and mental health.

I was featured in Ebony discussing how implicit bias and the assumption of criminality affect the Black community, how media exposure to racial violence creates cumulative trauma, and practical strategies for coping with race-based stress. I’ve provided expert commentary on topics ranging from ADHD and dating to grief to assertiveness in relationships to the psychology of boundary setting.

I also appeared as a featured guest alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race star Thorgy Thor for Queen of the Night at WQXR’s Greene Space, a live event blending classical music, drag performance, and a mental health check-in with a live audience.

What I Speak About

All of my talks, workshops, and trainings are tailored to the specific needs of your organization. I don’t do canned presentations. I learn about your audience, understand what you’re dealing with, and build something that’s actually useful when people walk out of the room.

Some of the topics I speak and train on most frequently include:

Race-Based Stress & Culturally Responsive Care — How race-based stress shows up clinically and what providers, organizations, and institutions can do about it. This is my area of published research, and I draw directly from my book and over 15 years of clinical work with BIPOC communities.

ADHD Across the Lifespan — The emotional, relational, and identity impacts of ADHD that go beyond focus and organization. How ADHD intersects with race, gender, relationships, parenting, and burnout. Informed by my work as host of ADHD & through Understood.org.

DBT Skills for Real Life — Practical dialectical behavior therapy skills (emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness) adapted for clinical audiences, organizational teams, or community groups. I’ve trained clinicians and led groups in comprehensive DBT for years.

Sexual Wellness & Sex Therapy — What mental health professionals and organizations need to know about sexual health, desire, intimacy, and identity. Informed by my certification as an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and my clinical work across diverse sexualities and relationship structures.

Assertiveness & Boundary Setting — How to communicate needs, set limits, and foster mutual respect in personal and professional relationships. Based on my Audible Original Push Back: Assert Yourself in Relationships.

LGBTQ+ & Alternative Lifestyle Affirming Practice — What it actually means to provide affirming care, how to move beyond surface-level competence, and how to serve clients in polyamorous, ENM, and kink communities without centering your own discomfort.

Cultural Competence & Diversity in Clinical Practice — Going beyond the checkbox. What cultural competence looks like in action: assessment, treatment planning, supervision, and the therapeutic relationship.

Trauma-Informed Care — Understanding the impact of trauma (including racial trauma, complex trauma, and intergenerational trauma) on individuals and communities, and how to build trauma-informed systems and clinical approaches.

Supervision & Clinical Training — I provide individual and group supervision for pre-doctoral externs, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career clinicians. I also train clinical teams at organizations on evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, EMDR, CPT, and IFS.

Workplace Mental Health & Burnout — Supporting employee wellbeing, recognizing burnout, building psychologically safe teams, and reducing stigma around mental health in professional settings.

Who I Work With

I’ve spoken and trained for a wide range of audiences including mental health professionals, universities, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, corporate teams, and media outlets. I’m comfortable in front of a room of 20 clinicians or a live audience of hundreds.

Whether you’re looking for a keynote, a half-day workshop, a multi-session clinical training, a panel appearance, or expert commentary for a story, I’m here for it.

Book Dr. Johnson

To inquire about speaking engagements, training workshops, media requests, or podcast guest appearances, please contact us here or email Hello@KindMindPsych.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics does Dr. Monica Johnson speak about?

Dr. Johnson speaks on a wide range of topics including race-based stress and culturally responsive care, ADHD across the lifespan, DBT skills, sexual wellness and sex therapy, assertiveness and boundary setting, LGBTQ+ and alternative lifestyle affirming practice, cultural competence, trauma-informed care, clinical supervision, and workplace mental health. All presentations are customized to the audience and organization.

Does Dr. Johnson provide clinical training and supervision?

Yes. Dr. Johnson provides individual and group supervision for pre-doctoral externs, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career clinicians. She also leads clinical trainings for organizations on evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, EMDR, CPT, and IFS, with a focus on culturally responsive adaptation.

Is Dr. Johnson available for media interviews and podcast appearances?

Yes. Dr. Johnson has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, British Vogue, Self, the Associated Press, Ebony, Psychology Today, and more. She is available for expert commentary, interviews, and podcast guest appearances on topics related to mental health, ADHD, race-based stress, relationships, sexual wellness, and culturally affirming care. Contact the office to inquire.

How do I book Dr. Johnson for a speaking engagement?

To book Dr. Johnson for a keynote, workshop, training, panel, or media appearance, contact Kind Mind Psychology or email Hello@KindMindPsych.com with details about your event, audience, desired topic, and timeline.