Season_2 - 163 - Healing in Our Shoes: Black Men, Mental Health, and the Power of Purpose with Gary T. Taylor, LCSW

In this powerful episode of the Journey To Licensure Podcast, we sit down with Gary T. Taylor, LCSW—also known as Trey—a therapist, professor, doctoral researcher, and racial equity consultant who brings heart, depth, and lived experience to every space he enters.From the rural roots of Caroline County, Virginia, to the classrooms of Virginia State and the research halls at the University of Kentucky, Gary shares his journey of faith, healing, and fierce advocacy for Black men’s mental health and suicide prevention.We explore: • How faith and identity shaped his clinical path • Culturally rooted strategies for engaging Black clients • What racial equity really requires in professional spaces • His journey through licensure—and what he’d tell his younger selfThis is a conversation about meeting people where they are, reclaiming narrative power, and choosing purpose over performance. • Why sneakers, cars, and coffee are more than hobbies—they’re healingWhether you’re studying for your exam, showing up in the field, or searching for your voice—you’ll want to press play on this one.