Yaminah Carter (Associate Therapist)

About Me

As a person-centered, culturally aware therapist, Yaminah Carter, MEd, believes that each of us is the expert of our own life. Her role is not to give the answers, but to help illuminate paths and offer tools. She is here to walk alongside you as you make sense of your story, reconnect with your strengths, and move toward greater self-trust and well-being.

Yaminah is especially passionate about holding space for the Black community, communities of color, and LGBTQIA+ and gender nonconforming individuals. Whether you’re navigating the complexity of identity, working through historical and intergenerational trauma, or simply seeking a culturally aware therapist who sees and honors all of you— Yaminah welcomes you.

Her approach to therapy is grounded in deep respect for your lived experience and your innate capacity for healing. She views therapy as a collaborative process—one that honors your autonomy, culture, identity, and values. No two people are the same, and neither are their healing journeys. That's why Yaminah tailors her work to fit each client’s unique needs, drawing from a range of evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), somatic therapy, and mindfulness.

Yaminah is a therapist in Society Hill, Downtown Philadelphia, working with both individuals and couples. She specializes in supporting people through anxiety, depression, trauma, gender identity exploration, identity, grief and loss, life transitions, and low self-esteem or self-worth. Yaminah also offers an affirming space to explore issues related to sexuality and desire, including support for polyamorous or open relationship structures and concerns around low sexual desire or arousal.

My Education and Professional Journey

Yaminah Carter received her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling Psychology from Temple University, where she deepened her understanding of trauma, multicultural counseling and systemic mental health barriers. As part of her graduate training, she interned in culturally aware private practice settings where she applied what she practiced and read about in class with real clients. Prior to that, Yaminah earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience from Carnegie Mellon University, where she developed a strong foundation in psychological theory, research, and ethics. Her early professional career includes cognitive neuroscience and clinical addiction research. She found that within the research space, she was missing the essential element of genuine connection that therapy has provided.

Yaminah is currently working toward licensure in the state of Pennsylvania under the supervision of a licensed professional counselor. In her clinical training and ongoing work, she has focused on creating therapy spaces that are culturally aware, inclusive, nonjudgmental, and attuned to the complexities of each client’s lived experience and unique history.

Yaminah's commitment to professional development is ongoing. She continues to pursue training in somatic healing practices, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and sex therapy, in order to best support the needs of her clients—especially those navigating the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and mental health.

Why I Became a Therapist

Even before she officially began this career, Yaminah often found herself in the role of the listener. Within her family and among friends, she became someone people turned to for understanding, empathy, and space to share. That trust has always been something Yaminah deeply cherished.

It wasn’t until she began her own journey as a therapy client that she fully understood the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship. Working with her own therapist, Yaminah was able to rediscover herself—her voice, her strength, her clarity. That experience was profoundly healing and, at the same time, illuminating. She realized that this was more than just something she was good at—it was a calling.

Now, as a therapist herself, Yaminah feels a deep sense of gratitude for the trust her clients place in me. It is a sacred responsibility to witness someone’s story and hold space for their growth. She doesn’t take that lightly. The stories of People of Color, Black people, and Queer people, are so often overlooked that Yaminah is honored when entrusted with their journeys.

How I Work

Because Yaminah Carter’s foundation is person-centered and culturally aware, the work together begins with you. She believes that healing doesn’t happen through advice-giving or diagnosis alone—it happens through authentic connection, emotional safety, and deep listening. Yaminah takes the time to get to know who you are, what matters to you, and what you hope to shift in your life.

For clients experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, Yaminah often integrates cognitive behavioral strategies that help increase awareness of unhelpful thought patterns and build tools for emotional regulation. She also incorporates body-based (somatic) practices that invite you to reconnect with your physical self and notice how anxiety shows up in your nervous system.

If you’re grieving or navigating a loss, the work may focus on making space for your feelings, honoring the meaning of what’s been lost, and exploring how you can live alongside grief. If you’re exploring gender identity or navigating transition, Yaminah offers a supportive, affirming space where you don’t have to educate your therapist or justify your experience.

Yaminah also works with couples—monogamous, polyamorous, or somewhere in between—on communication, desire discrepancies, emotional disconnection, and relationship ruptures. Her relationship work is rooted in consent, equity, and openness to all forms of loving connection.

In sex therapy, Yaminah’s approach is grounded in the belief that every person has the right to understand, define, and express their sexuality in a way that feels safe and authentic. She holds space for clients to unpack shame, navigate desire, process trauma, and explore pleasure without fear of judgment. Whether you’re questioning your sexual identity, struggling with arousal or orgasm, choosing celibacy, or trying to rebuild intimacy with a partner(s), Yaminah offers a trauma-informed and affirming environment to reconnect with your sexual self. Together, you work at the pace that feels right for you, honoring your body, your boundaries, and your values.

And if you simply find yourself feeling “stuck,” also known as “meh,” lost, or unsure of where to go next, that’s okay, too. Therapy is also a space for reflection and discovery—for exploring who you are beneath the noise of outside expectations and internalized self-doubt.

My Values as a Therapist

Yaminah Carter’s work is shaped by a deep commitment to social justice, intersectionality, and radical empathy. She recognizes our mental health is not separate from the systems we live in, and that therapy must be a space where power, identity, and structural harm are named and held with care. She strives to honor the cultural, spiritual, and ancestral wisdom you bring into the room, and to be a culturally aware therapist who not only listens—but witnesses.

Yaminah also believes in the power of softness—in creating a space where you don’t have to be "on," where you can let your guard down and speak freely. So much of the world asks us to perform, to shrink, or to survive. In therapy, Yaminah wants you to have the freedom to just be. That’s where healing begins.

What You Can Expect From Working With Me

You can expect warmth, transparency, and thoughtful challenge when it’s helpful. You’ll never be pushed to go somewhere you’re not ready for, but Yaminah will walk with you if you decide it’s time to go deeper.

She doesn't believe in quick fixes or cookie-cutter approaches. Instead, Yaminah believes in building a trusting relationship that supports sustainable change. Together, you’ll explore your internal world and the external forces that shape it. You’ll reconnect you with your inner resilience and your right to live a life that feels meaningful and aligned.

Whether you’re navigating trauma, asking big questions about your identity, working on relationship challenges, or just trying to feel more at home in your own skin—Yaminah Carter welcomes you to reach out.

Areas of Specialization

Anxiety & Panic Attacks
Depression
Gender Identity
Grief & Loss
Black Identity
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy
Culturally Aware Therapy
Life Transitions
Low Self Esteem
Low Sexual Desire
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Multicultural & Intersectional Issues
Non-monogamy, Poly & Open Relationships
Trauma & PTSD

My Hobbies & Passions

Outside of her work as a therapist, Yaminah loves to fully experience life. She’s passionate about exploring the world—traveling to new places, learning about different cultures and histories, and trying new foods. She finds a deep sense of joy and connection in stepping outside of my comfort zone, whether that’s through travel or through the thrill of adventure activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, or scuba diving.

Yaminah is passionate about stories in all forms. She loves watching anime and getting lost in fantasy TV, movies, and books—worlds that let us dream beyond what we’ve known. One of her greatest literary inspirations is Toni Morrison, whose ability to ground magical realism in the real-world experiences of Black life, trauma, joy, and emotional complexity continues to move her deeply. Her work reminds Yaminah of the beauty and brilliance in our stories, even the ones shaped by pain. And if there’s a Beyonce concert, Yaminah will probably be there.

Most importantly, she cherishes quality time with the people she loves. Whether they’re sharing a meal, laughing until we cry, or simply being present together, those moments keep her grounded and nourished. Connection—both in her personal life and in my work—is at the heart of everything Yaminah does.