Improvisation Conversation is an unscripted, live-streamed event hosted by Will Downing and Mike Phillips. Accompanied by experts and special guests, we tackle topics such as mental health, COVID, voter’s rights and other important issues affecting our communities. Follow us for upcoming events.
PRESENTED BY
SPECIAL GUESTS
DR. DELVENA R. THOMAS
Dr. Delvena Thomas is a tireless advocate and nationally recognized mental health expert working to end the stigma of mental illness and educate the public about the brain. She is a mother, an American soldier, a scientist, and a physician who promotes healthy living to strengthen individuals, families, communities, and workplaces around the world. She is an ardent champion for sound mental health and an expert in the development of evidence-based prevention, as well as treatment strategies that foster it.
Trained in medicine and psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore (MD), she is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology, and maintains a private practice in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and alternative health.
Dr. Thomas is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and a veteran of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom who has completed three tours of duty — to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait — to provide mental health care for soldiers needing stress reduction and therapy, family connectedness and spiritual well-being.
In her private practice, Dr. Thomas provides individual, couple, and group therapy to address several issues, including performance problems experienced by serious amateur and professional athletes, addiction, sexual dysfunction, mood and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Thomas founded the nonprofit organization, The DRT Brain Love Foundation in 2018, with a mission of providing a culturally sensitive and holistic approach to mental and behavioral health for disadvantaged individuals by encompassing awareness, education, prevention, and treatment modalities to improve the quality of life.
She is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
CAMILLE BANKS-LEE
LCSW-R, MS Ed, CASAC
Camille Banks-Lee is a NYS Licensed Psychotherapist with master’s degrees from Fordham University and NYU. She is currently working towards her doctorate and brings a lifelong dedication to learning to her practice.
A lover of travel and maintaining an active lifestyle, whether it’s on her Peloton bike or going hiking, Camille is a self-proclaimed optimist, her work is steeped in discovery and empathy, “I love learning from people. I am a teacher, a healer and an empath but I firmly believe that I am merely a vessel to showing folks that they already have everything they need. I’m not teaching them things they don’t already know. I’m very lucky to do this kind of work.”
Asking for help can be really hard and most of us did not grow up with therapy as an option. In our busy lives it is not always easy to carve out time for ourselves and even more difficult to know when the issue or concern we have requires professional help. Specializing in difficult life transitions, grief, self-esteem, and achieving balance, Camille works with clients to identify recurring patterns of thinking and behavior in their lives and ways to develop healthy coping mechanisms to progress forward.
Throughout her career as a therapist, she has worked with clients dealing with a range of issues. Camille is a New York State licensed and credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor, as well as a licensed clinical social worker specializing in psychotherapy.
CBL PSYCHOTHERAPY
Camille’s office is located in downtown New Rochelle, NY near transportation (Metro North) with metered parking onsite. She offers an online therapy option (teletherapy) for NY STATE residents only, as licensing is limited to those living in New York state.
DR. DELVENA R. THOMAS
Dr. Delvena Thomas is a tireless advocate and nationally recognized mental health expert working to end the stigma of mental illness and educate the public about the brain. She is a mother, an American soldier, a scientist, and a physician who promotes healthy living to strengthen individuals, families, communities, and workplaces around the world. She is an ardent champion for sound mental health and an expert in the development of evidence-based prevention, as well as treatment strategies that foster it.
Trained in medicine and psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore (MD), she is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology, and maintains a private practice in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and alternative health.
Dr. Thomas is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and a veteran of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom who has completed three tours of duty — to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait — to provide mental health care for soldiers needing stress reduction and therapy, family connectedness and spiritual well-being.
In her private practice, Dr. Thomas provides individual, couple, and group therapy to address several issues, including performance problems experienced by serious amateur and professional athletes, addiction, sexual dysfunction, mood and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Thomas founded the nonprofit organization, The DRT Brain Love Foundation in 2018, with a mission of providing a culturally sensitive and holistic approach to mental and behavioral health for disadvantaged individuals by encompassing awareness, education, prevention, and treatment modalities to improve the quality of life.
She is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
CAMILLE BANKS-LEE
LCSW-R, MS Ed, CASAC
Camille Banks-Lee is a NYS Licensed Psychotherapist with master’s degrees from Fordham University and NYU. She is currently working towards her doctorate and brings a lifelong dedication to learning to her practice.
A lover of travel and maintaining an active lifestyle, whether it’s on her Peloton bike or going hiking, Camille is a self-proclaimed optimist, her work is steeped in discovery and empathy, “I love learning from people. I am a teacher, a healer and an empath but I firmly believe that I am merely a vessel to showing folks that they already have everything they need. I’m not teaching them things they don’t already know. I’m very lucky to do this kind of work.”
Asking for help can be really hard and most of us did not grow up with therapy as an option. In our busy lives it is not always easy to carve out time for ourselves and even more difficult to know when the issue or concern we have requires professional help. Specializing in difficult life transitions, grief, self-esteem, and achieving balance, Camille works with clients to identify recurring patterns of thinking and behavior in their lives and ways to develop healthy coping mechanisms to progress forward.
Throughout her career as a therapist, she has worked with clients dealing with a range of issues. Camille is a New York State licensed and credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor, as well as a licensed clinical social worker specializing in psychotherapy.
CBL PSYCHOTHERAPY
Camille’s office is located in downtown New Rochelle, NY near transportation (Metro North) with metered parking onsite. She offers an online therapy option (teletherapy) for NY STATE residents only, as licensing is limited to those living in New York state.