About Nyambura
I was born and raised in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, where I attended primary and secondary school, then college at Kenyatta University. I never realized how much growing up in Kenya shaped my world view, identity and sense of belonging until I traveled abroad to live and study in the UK, Germany and the US. Then I found myself seeking security and rootedness in those familiar stories, people, places and experiences that had provided such a stable and solid foundation for me culturally. I appreciate this even more now as I grow older (and hopefully wiser).
Fast forward to today, where I call Atlanta, GA home. I’m so lucky to live here. With its urban forests, parks, creeks, trails and amazing festivals, this city is perfect for outdoorsy city dwellers. It is fun discovering hidden trails and boardwalks (they’re everywhere!). It is inspiring to live in a multicultural city immersed in Black history and achievement – home of civil rights icons like Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Andrew Young, John Lewis, Maynard Jackson and C. T. Vivian, and historic HBCUs like Morehouse, Spellman and Clark Atlanta. It is because of the sacrifice and activism of so many Black leaders and Black communities that I can thrive in this incredible city.
I worked for 14 years in the community with refugees in Clarkston, GA, as a trauma therapist with a non-profit organization, Positive Growth, Inc. I was part of a team consisting of psychiatrists, psychotherapists, nurses, social workers and case managers who provided culturally sensitive mental health and acculturation support to individuals and families who experienced war and violence in their home countries, and were resettling in the US with new hopes for their futures. Clarkston has since become a major refugee resettlement city and has been called “the Ellis Island of the South” and “the most diverse square mile in America”. It is now home to refugees from more than 170 countries speaking more than 60 languages.
My private practice is at Karuna Counseling, located at 1945 Mason Mill Road – Suite 100, Decatur, GA 30033. My wellness company is Uzima Perspectives, LLC. Uzima is a Swahili word that means wholeness of life and an experience of well being.
Decatur office at Karuna Counseling (click to enlarge)
Education and training
I got my Bachelor of Education degree in German Language and Literature from Kenyatta University in Kenya, then studied in Luebeck, Germany, where I took my language exams, later earning my language diploma at the Goethe-Institut Nairobi, where I also taught German.
I graduated with a Master of Education in Counseling and Child Development and Learning from the University of Hull, UK and taught German and English for several years in Kenya before coming to the United States to study at the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego, graduating with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology. I taught psychology at National University San Diego, Art Institute of Atlanta and Georgia State University before leaving teaching to practice psychotherapy.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia and a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist. I served on the board of the CG Jung Society of Atlanta and studied for four years in a Jungian postgraduate seminar. I love depth psychology and use Jungian oriented approaches in my clinical work.