Our Founder
Jamie Kirk is the founder of A New Beginning Mental Health & Wellness, a licensed psychotherapist, author, certified grief and trauma-informed professional, and passionate mental-health advocate with more than 15 years of experience helping individuals heal, rebuild, and reclaim their lives. Her work is shaped by both clinical expertise and the deeply personal journey that brought her here.
Jamie’s introduction to grief began long before she had the language or support to understand it. She lost her father as a child, and like so many young people, she carried that unresolved grief silently. Without tools or guidance, that childhood pain followed her into adolescence, where it took the shape of emotional turmoil, alcohol use, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. What she didn’t yet know was that these struggles were not signs of weakness, they were unspoken cries for help rooted in a wound she never had the chance to heal.
Years later, Jamie faced another devastating loss: the passing of her daughter. That heartbreak changed the trajectory of her life. It awakened a mission within her, to ensure that no one, especially children and teens, has to navigate grief alone or grow into adulthood carrying invisible wounds that become heavier with time.
Through A New Beginning, Jamie has created the kind of space she once needed: a safe, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed haven for individuals and families walking through grief, trauma, depression, and emotional overwhelm. Her work prioritizes underserved communities where access to mental-health care is often limited or nonexistent.
Jamie’s approach blends professional training with profound empathy. She meets people where they are, honors their stories, and walks with them as they learn to process pain, rebuild identity, and find meaning again. She often says that healing isn’t about forgetting, it’s about learning to carry your loss with grace and discovering hope on the other side of heartbreak.
Today, Jamie’s purpose is clear: to break the silence around mental health, to uplift those who feel unseen, and to remind every person that healing is possible, even after the deepest pain.
Lutishia Sanders, LMFT
Director of Outreach — Los Angeles Chapter
Board Member, A New Beginning Mental Health & Wellness
Lutishia Sanders is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a dedicated Board Member of A New Beginning Mental Health & Wellness, where she leads outreach and community engagement efforts for the Los Angeles chapter. With expertise in trauma, life transitions, and relationship dynamics, she brings a grounded, compassionate approach to every individual and family she serves.
Lutishia believes that healing begins with honest conversation, genuine connection, and the courage to start again. Her work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported as they navigate their journey toward growth, resilience, and inner strength.
As Director of Outreach, Lutishia is committed to expanding access to mental-health education and resources, especially within communities that are often overlooked. Through workshops, partnerships, and community-centered programming, she helps ensure that the people of Los Angeles have a safe and supportive place to begin their own new beginning.
