Sulma Rowland

I have spent a lifetime working to support children, adolescents and young adults in a variety of settings. I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and spent two years working in a school for youth with significant developmental disabilities. It was in this setting that I began to apply the behavioral principles I learned to support youth's development. I observed the many ways in which children interact with the world around them and how they communicate their feelings, wants, and needs nonverbally. Most importantly, I recognized the importance of developing strong relationships built on genuineness, empathy, and trust.

I graduated from Alfred University with a doctorate in School Psychology and have worked for over a decade in public agencies. For six years I served as a School Psychologist at Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, working with children from preschool through high school who experienced learning and attentional difficulties. I developed a focus on youth with mood disorders which impacted their ability to be present to learn in school, teaching skills to help manage anxiety and depression and providing crisis intervention to youth who were overwhelmed.

After experiencing a major loss myself, I committed myself to training in grief, bereavement, and loss so that I could bear witness to those who were suffering through their own losses. As a licensed psychologist in New York, I worked for three years in foster care, working with children, teens, and young adults who experienced trauma and attachment disruptions, honing my therapy skills and supervising training psychologists.

Throughout my experiences, I have enjoyed helping people discover their voices, explore their identities, learn about their strengths, and overcome challenges successfully. I have also worked with families and foster families to learn more about their child's strengths and needs, manage stressors in the home, and deepen their bond.

In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music and traveling. I am also a movie buff and play video games; I particularly enjoy science fiction, fantasy, and superheroes.