Dr. Faye Borja is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, Georgia with over 16 years of experience working in various settings such as mental health acute inpatient, adult substance abuse detox and rehab, adolescent residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient. She is the owner of GO! Therapeutic Services, LLC, an outpatient mental health practice where she works with second and third-generation immigrants struggling to find a balance between individualist and collectivist values. She is also the Clinical Director at The Hardy Clinic, a wellness center where BIPOC clients (and clinicians) have the opportunity to thrive.
Dr. Faye Borja, Psychotherapist
Can you tell us more about who you are?
I am a Filipina first. I am deeply rooted in the values that I can mostly attribute to my parents and generations of tradition from the Philippines. The cultural colors add such a vibrance to my personality that I can be greatly proud of. At the same token, the influences from my geographic home of the “mainland” (USA) with all its richness and diversity, have evenly contributed to who I am. I believe this was the goal of Dr. E.J.R. David’s book, Brown Skin, White Minds; to explore our history, understand the colonial mindset, and accept all parts of ourselves. There are pieces of me that, for a long time, I could not seem to fit together. In some ways, it seemed I was trying to fit broken pieces together (or fit them to others’ broken pieces). Then I realized that everything that makes me “me” is its unique part and that they can be equally balanced and appreciated.
Many things are encompassed in my identity as a Filipino-American. We gather to enjoy and support each other. I am very family-oriented and my family is very lively. We love to laugh, sing, dance, eat, and laugh some more!
I am a therapist second. At a young age, I had strong feelings about what was right and what was wrong. For me, “right and wrong” evolved into my understanding of ethics and human development. My goal is to understand people and guide them toward their fullest potential in a manner that contributes to their healthy interactions with others. When facing internal difficulties, external relationships may be compromised. I realized that making the world a better place starts with healing internal conflict, which heals patterns of hurt that are sometimes projected outward.
Through my self-discovery and formation of my therapeutic identity, I found that while I am passionate about helping others, I discovered that I enjoy solitary activities to recharge my well-being. I enjoy going for long runs, reading, and watching movies. I highly encourage a healthy work-life balance.
What inspired you to start GO! Therapeutic Services, LLC, and how has your company evolved since its inception?
I’ve always known that I wanted to help others in some capacity. Being a therapist came so naturally to me. I love hearing people’s life stories and offering positive perspectives. Evolution came as I began to evolve. I began to dive deeper into the history of my ethnic background as well as the histories of others. I realized that the field of counseling and psychotherapy has been dominated by a lack of diversity. I felt the need to contribute from a multicultural perspective in counseling while bridging the gap in understanding between immigrant mindset and American values. I wanted minorities to feel that they can go further in their lives and feel they deserve opportunities for self-growth in various forms and encourage momentum in attaining those opportunities.
While providing professional counseling through GO! Therapeutic Services, LLC, I also felt the need to assist clinicians of color in their endeavors to achieve similar goals of servicing these communities. With the G.O. Foundation, Inc, I fortify the mantra “The Greater the Odds, the Greater We Win.” The G.O. Foundation Inc. (Greater Odds) is an organization created to support people of color in our community. It supports individuals desiring to become mental health professionals by offering financial assistance toward licensure. Our foundation also helps provide funds for services for clients who are not able to afford fees for counseling.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
I would say that two pivotal moments go hand in hand. Running my first marathon in 2016 was life-changing for me. The training was the most rigorous, yet rewarding, experience I have ever encountered. Once I ran across the finish line, I felt I could do anything. Receiving my Doctorate of Philosophy in General Psychology was another pivotal moment in my life. The decision to pursue my doctorate had been lingering for years, but it was not until I finished those 26.2 miles that I decided to finally pursue my Ph.D. I am the first in my family lineage to obtain a doctorate, let alone complete graduate school. Today, I continue through my work to encourage others to go further beyond their perceived limitations.
What challenges do you most find when working with clients in therapy?
I concluded that we are our own worst enemies. We place our limitations because of the negative way we talk to ourselves. Perpetuated by media and this fast pace environment, it seems that all too often that people get caught up in the comparison. Why? Humans have an innate tendency to group. For example, Social Identity Theory looks at the degree of peoples’ interactions with others based on connections. Much of what we do is to be accepted by society. Even as children, we learn and obtain knowledge as a result of interacting with our environment. So, it would seem natural that we are easily influenced by our surroundings. From the time we can reason and formulate ideas, we take into account the social cues that give meaning to internal categorization. A positive sense of self is attributed to the solidarity of the group to which one feels they belong.
What are some things people can do to manage self-sabotaging behaviors?
It is important to maintain positive social support as it can be easy to get derailed from self-growth. Without a proper support system, Subjective Well-Being and life satisfaction may be at risk. Subjective well-being includes concepts such as confidence, physical wellness, and belonging. Therefore, a lack of positive social support can result in decreased self-worth, a defeatist attitude, and less appreciation to complete even the simplest of tasks. Since we are social creatures, we may find less gratification in things if we do not socialize with inspiring individuals who reciprocate encouragement.
Here are a few other tips to maintain the positive momentum and be a S.S.T.A.R. during a journey of self-discovery and enhancement:
Spend time with like-minded individuals. We are at our best when we can build relationships in ways that establish and foster trust. This might include joining a group of people on a similar journey.
Set boundaries. Express your wants and needs to friends and family who do not quite understand your goals and what it takes to accomplish them. This could begin by requesting respect for your goals.
Train your brain to be successful. This means no procrastination. As the old Nike motto goes, “Just Do It.”
Accountability. A daily checklist or schedule can help aid in keeping yourself accountable. Each day is one day closer to your overall goal!
Reframe negative thoughts into positive ones. Remind yourself daily of your positive attributes.
What is your hope for the future?
I hope that mental health help-seeking is seen as a viable outlet that contributes to self-preservation. There continues to be a stigma around mental health, but I am confident that more individuals will look to therapy as an option.
