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SPRING 2026 • VOLUME 16
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DR. L K. WINLEY (WINLEY K.), PSYD, LP, HSP-P
LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (USE WINLEY - NO GENDERED PRONOUNS)
Please tell us about a recent accomplishment that’s meaningful to you.
One of the most meaningful accomplishments for me has been the continued development and public sharing of Growth-Promoting Conversations™, a framework I created to support safer, more honest, and future-oriented ways of relating, both in clinical spaces and beyond. This work emerged from years of clinical practice, training environments, and lived experience observing how often conversations cause harm, even when intentions are good. Growth-Promoting Conversations™ centers nervous- system safety, dignity as non negotiable, and an explicit awareness of power and identity. Over the past year, I have begun sharing this framework more broadly through writing, teaching, and professional dialogue, including its integration into my work at WaterYourFire Wellness Collective. Seeing this framework resonate with clinicians, leaders, and community members, especially those who have felt unseen or unsafe in traditional spaces, has been deeply affirming and meaningful. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, I see myself continuing to expand work that bridges clinical practice, education, and systems-level change. I envision WaterYourFire Wellness Collective continuing to grow as a space for thoughtful, identity-honoring care, while Growth Promoting Conversations™ evolves as a widely used framework across clinical, educational, and organizational settings. I am particularly interested in contributing to conversations about how psychology trains clinicians, supports ethical leadership, and addresses burnout and harm within its own systems. My long-term goal is to help shape spaces where both providers and clients can engage in work that is not only effective but also humane, sustainable, and future building.
(312) 261-3036
www.nl.edu
Chicago, IL
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