Dr. Umieca N. Hankton

Dr. Umieca N. Hankton is a proud native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a 2003 graduate of Dillard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). She earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Mississippi in 2014. Following graduation, Dr. Hankton completed her postdoctoral residency at the University of Memphis in 2015.
In order to expand mental health services to those who have historically been excluded from receiving adequate trauma-informed and culturally-relevant treatment, Dr. Hankton established UNH Counseling Services in 2015. UNH Counseling Services is a behavioral health agency that specifically caters to the psychological well-being of individuals who identify as BIPOC, Women, LGBTQ+, Veterans, college students, and clergy. Dr. Hankton is licensed to practice in Tennessee and Louisiana.Treatment services offered include individual and group psychotherapy, bariatric psychological evaluations, diagnostic mental health evaluations, as well as various mental health and wellness workshops and presentations.

Dr. Hankton's areas of expertise include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), behavioral activation therapy (BA), and multicultural therapy (MT). Dr. Hankton is particularly interested in stress, anxiety, and depression management, trauma/PTSD symptom management, establishing healthy boundaries, thriving with purpose, and self-care. She is dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive therapeutic environment where individuals can openly discuss their concerns without fear of judgment or bias.

She is the author of five self-paced healing journals: "Thriving on Purpose: Reflect. Meditate. Plan. Implement," “Thriving UP!: Thriving Unapologetically & Purposefully,” “Thriving with G.R.I.T.,” "Braving the Grief," and "The Courage to Trust Love Again." Dr. Hankton seeks to empower clients to courageously explore their lives to identify areas that require more attention, healing, and love to promote thriving. She is committed to providing trauma-informed and culturally relevant mental health services to all individuals. Dr. Hankton's ultimate goal is to empower individuals to improve their lives through introspection and personal growth.