FOUNDER + LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
Dessirae Boulware, PsyD
Many people don't seek support until life feels unmanageable, but often the real struggle is the exhaustion of holding everything together for too long. You may be functioning on the surface but feel drained, disconnected, or caught in patterns that no longer work.
My work centers on that in-between space, when you’re still managing day to day but something inside you knows it can’t continue this way. In therapy, we slow things down to understand what’s happening beneath the surface, build steadier ways of coping, and create space for genuine change.
As a licensed psychologist, I draw on evidence-based approaches and years of clinical experience to help clients move from surviving to living with more clarity, confidence, and ease. Whether you’re navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, or simply feeling “off,” therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and begin to move toward the life you want to build.
My Approach
Therapy with me is collaborative, grounded, and practical. Rooted in trauma-informed care, our work centers on your safety, choice, and empowerment. Together, we’ll explore how your experiences and beliefs shape the way you move through life and relationships.
I integrate evidence-based approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), to help you build insight, regulate emotions, and develop tools that support meaningful change. Each session is adapted to your goals, balancing reflection with practical steps you can use beyond therapy.
My aim isn’t to “fix” you, but to help you understand yourself, strengthen what’s already working, and move toward a life that feels more balanced and intentional. Change happens at your pace, with care and curiosity guiding the process.
Professional Background
I’m a licensed psychologist with more than a decade of experience supporting individuals and organizations through complex challenges. My professional background bridges clinical care, psychological assessment, and organizational consulting.
I earned my Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of La Verne in California, where my research on The African American Grief Experience was later published in the Journal of Loss and Trauma. I completed an APA-accredited internship at the Centerstone Consortium in Florida and a postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas, where I specialized in grief, bereavement, end-of-life care, and neuropsychological assessment.
Since then, my work has spanned hospital systems, community agencies, and private practice. I provide comprehensive psychological evaluations for adults navigating complex medical, legal, and occupational questions, and consult with organizations seeking to reduce burnout and foster healthier, trauma-informed workplace cultures.
This combination of clinical depth and systemic understanding shapes every aspect of my work at Thrive in Wellness from individual therapy to large-scale consultation, helping clients and organizations move beyond coping toward meaningful, lasting change.