Parenting Expertise With Lived Experience
Dr. Anjali Gowda Ferguson, Ph.D.
Founder & Executive Director
Clinical Psychologist | Author | Parenting Expert
Dr. Anjali Gowda Ferguson is the founder of Parenting Culture and an Indian American clinical psychologist with expertise in parenting, early childhood mental health, trauma, and cultural responsiveness. She recently started her own parenting journey and was continually struck by the lack of resources for parents of color. While she specialized in parenting well before becoming a parent herself, she often found it hard to resonate with the interventions that existed.
Something was missing in the world of parenting. Online/offline parenting spaces are stark in their lack of representation of minoritized communities. The spaces can feel uncomfortable and unwelcoming of cultural experiences and thoughts. Raising a biracial Blindian (Black and Indian) child has its unique challenges, and she was moved to develop content that promoted understanding and competence of the cultural complexities.
Thus, Parenting Culture was created.
Our Team of Experts
Parenting Culture is led by psychologists of color who are also parents. Our work is shaped by both clinical expertise and lived experience, allowing us to create practical, evidence-based resources that reflect the realities of today’s diverse families. We believe parents deserve guidance that is culturally responsive, psychologically informed, and grounded in compassion rather than judgment.
Dr. Ariana Hoet is the co-founder of Parenting Culture and a pediatric psychologist working in primary care, primarily with a Latinx and Somali population. Her personal experience, immigrating to the US from Venezuela as a teenager, allows her to bring a cultural approach to treatment with families. Although evidence-based treatments work, they also have gaps in how to address the experience of many immigrant families. Personally, she started her own parenting journey and hopes to raise a bilingual little one with a love for this country and culture, along with understanding our privileges and how to actively work on an anti-racist society.
Dr. Vinetra King is an African American mom and trauma informed clinical child and adolescent psychologist who strives to deliver culturally competent care to high risk children and their families. Her specialties include school mental health, child and adolescent trauma, and adolescent substance use and she has expertise working in schools, primary care, and juvenile justice settings. In her practice she recognized how various “gold standard” assessments, therapeutic modalities, and practices didn’t take into account the unique needs and dynamics of African American children and their families. Additionally the stigma that is often associated with mental health care in the Black community often prevents children and families from seeking help when they need it and our inequitable health care system in the U.S., especially in poorer states like Alabama, creates an additional barrier to African American families when they want to access mental health care. There is a huge need for safe spaces for African American children and families to feel welcomed, considered, and understood.
Dr. Jide Bamishigbin is a Nigerian American health psychologist, college professor, and community program evaluator. His area of expertise focuses on three main questions. 1. What factors contribute to mental health issues in Black, Latinx, and low-income fathers? 2. How do these mental health issues impact the mental and physical health of the child, the other parent, and the father himself? 3. What steps can be taken on an individual level, a community level, and a societal level to improve paternal mental health? As a father and husband, he takes these questions seriously and feels extremely lucky that he is able to work on a topic that is so central to his own life.
Dr. Bamishigbin can be contacted for Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) consulting, survey creation, statistical analysis, and workshop/presentation about paternal mental health.
Dr. Erica Chow is a Chinese American licensed clinical psychologist. She works with school-aged children (5+), adolescents, parents, families, adults, and couples who present with a variety of concerns including anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, relationship and identity issues, trauma, and adjustment-related distress.
“I have been told that parenthood is a journey. Now, as a new, first-time mother, I wholeheartedly agree with, and believe in this statement. Parenthood is absolutely a journey; a journey that can yield both expected and unexpected paths, road bumps/potholes, detours, and even unpredictable destinations. At the same time, it can also lead to wonderful adventures. It is no secret that parenting is hard. My hope is that by bridging evidence-based parenting practices with a culturally informed lens, the journey of parenthood can be a more inclusive and enriching experience for all.”
Dr. Amanda Sanchez is a Cuban American clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at George Mason University, where she is core faculty in the Center for Evidence-Based Behavioral Health. Dr. Sanchez centers her research and clinical work on making mental healthcare more equitable, culturally responsive, and accessible for youth and families, supporting clinicians and communities in addressing the cultural and systemic factors that shape how children and families experience mental health and care. She co-developed the RESPECT Toolkit, a free online resource that helps clinicians deliver culturally responsive care to diverse youth and families with anxiety and OCD, and has trained over 400 clinicians across Fairfax and Loudoun County in evidence-based and culturally responsive practices.
She is also a proud mom to her son, with whom she loves spending time and exploring the joys and challenges of parenting. She believes parenting is a deeply meaningful and personal journey, grounded in each family's unique values, experiences, cultures, and hopes for their children. Through her research, clinical work, and lived experience, Dr. Sanchez is committed to helping create communities where all children and families feel understood and supported.
Dr. Paul Harris has been married to his wife, Taylor, since 2005, and the couple has 3 children - ages 15, 14, and 9. He serves as an Associate Professor in the Counseling and Special Education Department in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. His work is shaped by his experience as a high school counselor, teacher, and administrator, and centers on the mental health of K-12 students, with an emphasis on underserved populations. He has a particular passion for student-athlete wellness—especially Black males—and neurodivergent student thriving. He also focuses on the preparation and development of school counselors, both in training and in practice.
He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University.
Press Kit
Everything you need to feature Parenting Culture, including our story, mission, and media assets.
