Toni Rahman can’t help but notice a general sense of stress and isolation among many of the “helpers” she meets in healing professions.
As a psychotherapist living in Guadalajara and specializing in trauma, she sees a real need for high quality, integrated, holistic health services and believes that pop-up clinics could be part of the solution to this problem.
“I meet talented and committed massage therapists and healers who are trying to make a living, but are feeling depleted, just barely meeting their basic monthly expenses,” says Rahman. “Probably 80 to 90 percent of healers suffer from emotional trauma, but they typically don’t have the time or resources to get help.”
Rahman got the idea for “pop-up” clinics from someone she met who had a similar restaurant business model.
“These clinics will be a venue for providing high quality holistic care, leaning heavily on alternative care that is not available as part of the conventional medical model,” she says. “They will be a forum where helpers can learn about the offerings of other community members; a way to educate the community about what kinds of therapies are available and to match them up with the right therapists.”
Held each month at a healing center or spa, the Sana-Clinica pop-up clinics are done in a spirit of service.
“We’re not trying to make money,” Rahman says. “Donations and gifts will be accepted but not expected. People without means can get services. The key thing is that we’re helping people while creating human connection.”
The first clinic took place last month in San Antonio Tlayacapan, when 12 therapists and two non-therapist caregivers attended.
Beginnings
With an interest in early relational trauma and attachment, Rahman was the first generation in her family to get a college education. Growing up in a rural, conservative town in Missouri, and with a lifelong fascination to try something different, she got to experience life in Bangladesh after marrying a Bangladeshi man and living with his extended family for five years while raising their two daughters.
“I was always fascinated with Eastern culture, Eastern philosophy and became fully immersed in my husband’s culture.”
Having landed a job as a secretary at the American International School in Dhaka, Rahman saw that the school’s counselor was doing the exact work that she wanted to do. Later, while working at a large cholera research hospital, she realized that she wanted to be a social worker and a counselor. She achieved her goal seven years after leaving Bangladesh, obtaining a degree in social work.
Single mother
While in Bangladesh, Rahman saw aspects of her childhood repeated, such as codependency and intergenerational trauma.
“My husband was very codependent with his mother. He was depressed and not doing well in his work. I told him I wanted to leave the country to get an education. His family didn’t want to hear about co-parenting, divorce or mediation. I explored various options and even talked with a lawyer, who told me that I needed to go to the U.S. to file my divorce. I left Bangladesh with my children without my husband knowing, but he soon followed.
“We tried to do the co-parenting thing but he didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Suddenly, I was a single mom back in Missouri, determined to do the best I could with raising my daughters.”
Moving to Guadalajara
Rahman’s sister was a journalist living in Guadalajara and, in 2013, encouraged her “empty nester” to come and live with her. Rahman stayed for six months, eventually making Guadalajara her permanent home. Both of her daughters, now in their 20s, still live in Missouri.
Besides having a private practice in Guadalajara, Rahman recently wrote “Being in my Body,” a book about overcoming trauma, which is being translated into Spanish.
“I want to take my book to all Spanish-speaking countries to promote trauma awareness and support therapists so that they can work and stay healthy at the same time. This is an area I feel very passionate about.”
A settled life
What Rahman loves about Mexico is the tropical environment, the fresh food, and knowing that she can take buses everywhere. She also loves that she doesn’t have to pack her days full of work, but can take time out for friendships and for visiting Ajijic.
“As a single woman living in Guadalajara, I feel very safe. I am respectful of the culture and always feel welcomed, supported and appreciated.”
Rahman is determined to share her vision with other leaders and helpers who would like to be a part of something bigger, something that taps into and fosters the richness of resources in our communities, whether they be in Ajijic, Guadalajara or a small town in Missouri.
The next pop-up clinic will be on August 19. For information, see sana-clinica.com.