Chief Executive Officer | The Bridges Wellness Group
Dr. Latonia Laffitte is a licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, educator, and behavioral health leader with more than two decades of experience in mental health counseling, trauma-informed care, and organizational leadership. As Chief Executive Officer of The Bridges Wellness Group and Treasurer of the National Association of Black Counselors (NABC), she is committed to expanding access to quality behavioral healthcare, supporting the professional development of clinicians, and advancing culturally responsive mental health services.
Dr. Laffitte earned her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC), with professional counseling experience in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Her academic and professional interests include trauma, military and veteran populations, and the behavioral health needs of justice-involved individuals.
Clinical Experience and Approach
Dr. Laffitte brings extensive clinical experience working with individuals navigating a wide range of mental health, emotional, and relational challenges. Her areas of practice include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, sexual and physical abuse, relationship difficulties, divorce, anger management, and life transitions.
Her approach to counseling is grounded in person-centered therapy, emphasizing authenticity, empathy, collaboration, and respect for each client's experiences. She believes that meaningful therapeutic relationships begin with understanding individuals within the context of their lives, recognizing their strengths, and creating an environment where they feel heard and supported.
Dr. Laffitte also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), tailoring interventions to the needs and goals of each client. Rather than relying on a single therapeutic approach, she works collaboratively with clients to identify concerns, develop practical strategies, and establish meaningful treatment goals.
Her clinical philosophy reflects The Bridges Wellness Group's guiding commitment:
“Meeting you where you are, and assisting you in getting to where you want to be.”
Commitment to Veterans and Trauma-Informed Care
With more than two decades of experience supporting military personnel and veterans, Dr. Laffitte has developed a strong professional commitment to addressing the mental health needs of individuals who have served.
Her work includes crisis management support, involvement in the Wounded Veterans program, and services addressing trauma, adjustment, emotional wellness, and the challenges associated with military experiences and transitions.
She recognizes that trauma and its effects are shaped by individual experiences, relationships, cultural influences, and the environments in which people live. Her work emphasizes understanding these factors while helping individuals develop coping strategies, strengthen resilience, and pursue meaningful personal goals.
Her professional interests also extend to justice-involved populations, with particular attention to the relationship between trauma, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and access to appropriate mental health services.
Leadership at The Bridges Wellness Group
As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Laffitte provides organizational leadership and strategic direction for The Bridges Wellness Group. Her work supports the organization's continued development as a multidisciplinary behavioral health, consulting, and professional development organization.
Her leadership encompasses clinical service delivery, professional standards, organizational operations, workforce development, strategic partnerships, and opportunities to expand behavioral health services and educational resources.
Dr. Laffitte recognizes that strengthening behavioral healthcare requires attention not only to the individuals receiving services but also to the professionals, systems, and organizations responsible for providing care.
Through her leadership, she works to support an organizational environment that values clinical quality, professional accountability, collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and opportunities for continued learning and development.
National Leadership and Professional Service
Dr. Laffitte serves as Treasurer of the National Association of Black Counselors (NABC), a national professional organization committed to advancing the counseling profession, supporting Black counselors, promoting culturally responsive mental healthcare, and advocating for the behavioral health needs of Black communities.
As Treasurer, she contributes to the organization's financial stewardship, fiscal accountability, and long-term sustainability. Her role supports NABC's ability to advance its mission through professional development, advocacy, organizational partnerships, and community engagement.
Her involvement with NABC reflects her broader commitment to strengthening professional organizations, expanding opportunities for Black mental health professionals, and addressing disparities in behavioral healthcare.
Grounded and Free: Publications and Educational Resources
Dr. Laffitte is a coauthor and developer of Grounded and Free™, a growing collection of books, workbooks, therapeutic resources, and structured curricula created in collaboration with Dr. M. Nickleson Battle, Jr.
The collection reflects their shared commitment to making behavioral health knowledge accessible and providing practical resources that support emotional wellness, personal development, healthier relationships, and intentional living.
Together, they authored Grounded and Free: A Practical Guide to Sobriety and Building a Life You Can Stay In, a resource designed to help individuals explore substance use patterns, emotional triggers, coping strategies, relationships, boundaries, and the broader process of building sustainable recovery.
The Grounded and Free collection is expanding to address additional areas of personal and relational wellness, including couples and relationships, parenting, family life, grief, caregiving, identity, and aging.
Dr. Laffitte's involvement in developing these resources reflects her commitment to extending behavioral health education beyond traditional clinical settings and creating tools that individuals, families, clinicians, and organizations can use to support growth and meaningful change.
Clinical Supervision and Professional Development
In addition to her clinical and organizational leadership, Dr. Laffitte is committed to the education, supervision, and professional development of emerging and practicing behavioral health professionals.
Her work as a clinical supervisor emphasizes ethical practice, clinical judgment, cultural responsiveness, professional accountability, and the development of effective therapeutic relationships.
She recognizes that professional growth involves more than acquiring clinical techniques. It also requires self-awareness, critical reflection, an understanding of diverse lived experiences, and the ability to apply professional knowledge thoughtfully and ethically.
Through clinical supervision, mentorship, and educational initiatives, Dr. Laffitte contributes to the preparation and continued development of professionals serving individuals, families, and communities.
Professional Affiliations
Dr. Laffitte's professional affiliations and leadership roles include:
National Association of Black Counselors (NABC), Treasurer
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
Military and Government Counseling Association (MGCA)
Maryland Counseling Association (MCA)
Virginia Counseling Association (VCA)
Chi Sigma Iota, International Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society (CSI)
These professional connections reflect her engagement with the broader counseling community and her commitment to professional development, clinical education, organizational leadership, and the advancement of behavioral healthcare.
A Commitment to Meaningful Change
Throughout her career, Dr. Laffitte has remained committed to supporting individuals as they navigate challenges, recognize their strengths, and develop practical approaches to personal growth and emotional wellness.
Her work brings together clinical practice, trauma-informed care, professional supervision, organizational leadership, national professional service, and educational resource development.
Whether working with clients, supporting clinicians, developing therapeutic resources, serving as NABC Treasurer, or leading The Bridges Wellness Group, she emphasizes the importance of understanding people's experiences, respecting their individual goals, and creating opportunities for meaningful and sustainable change.
Her leadership reflects a belief that quality behavioral healthcare should be compassionate, collaborative, culturally responsive, and grounded in the needs of the people and communities it serves.