The San Diego Business Journal recently recognized Kiley Dunne Lizama for her inclusive, innovative therapeutic work and advocacy.
Dr. Kiley Dunne Lizama, DSW ‘20, was recently awarded the Rising Star Award at San Diego Business Journal’s 2024 Business Women of the Year Awards. Dunne Lizama is the Founder and Clinical Director of the Diaspora Therapy Group, a culturally sensitive, and gender-affirming mental health group practice. San Diego Business Journal recognized her for her “lifelong dedication to equity, healing and systemic change through her advocacy, clinical work and nonprofit leadership.”
Dunne Lizama’s therapeutic practice offers services that specifically address complex PTSD, childhood sexual abuse, torture, severe emotional disturbance and other traumas. For her, winning the Rising Star Award “highlights Diaspora Therapy Group’s mission to provide inclusive, trauma-informed care and affirms the importance of representation in mental health leadership.”
Under her leadership, Diaspora Therapy Group is launching a new nonprofit arm that hopes to increase access to trauma-informed and culturally sensitive therapy services and ensure that clinicians are compensated fairly. Dunne Lizama utilized the sustainable business practices she learned in the DSW program to “ensure long-term impact [of this new initiative] in the communities we serve.”
Read on to learn more about Dunne Lizama’s incredible work and the ways in which her experience in the DSW program has impacted her career journey.
Tell us about your current work with Diaspora Therapy Group. As Founder and Clinical Director, what clients do you serve?
As the Founder and Clinical Director of Diaspora Therapy Group, I co-lead a practice rooted in culturally driven, trauma-informed, and gender-affirming care. Many of our clients have histories of complex trauma and identity-related struggles as well as challenges like anxiety, depression and life transitions. We serve clients from every community with a focus on marginalized communities, including BIPOC, QTPOC, and first-generation clients. What makes Diaspora Therapy Group stand out is that our therapists are from the same communities as our clients, so they bring personal experiences that really shape how they practice. This fosters a deep sense of connection, safety, and empathy in the therapeutic relationship. We’ve also structured our supervision model so that clinicians are supported by supervisors who share similar lived experiences and cultural backgrounds. This not only creates a healing environment for clients but also models empathy and safety for our team. We firmly believe that the safer clinicians feel, the safer and more supported our clients will feel.
As an LMFT, what drew you to USC’s DSW program?
I was drawn to USC’s Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program because of the reputation of the faculty and advisors and its strong focus on leadership, innovation and addressing systemic challenges. As someone passionate about integrating culturally responsive care and addressing systemic inequities in mental health, the DSW program felt like the perfect platform to expand my impact and refine my leadership skills.
What was your capstone project about? How have you continued to explore similar concepts, themes, or projects in your current role?
My capstone project, “The Game,” was an educational video game designed to reduce recruitment into commercial sexual exploitation by encouraging empathy and reducing stigma. The project engaged middle and high school students in scenarios that helped them identify grooming tactics traffickers use, with the goal of empowering at-risk youth to seek support. This work underscored the importance of using innovative, culturally sensitive interventions to address systemic issues. At Diaspora Therapy Group, we’ve continued to build on these principles by creating spaces for marginalized voices to be amplified and developing programs for healing, empowerment and connection.
What did you enjoy most about the DSW program?
What I appreciated most about the DSW program was the opportunity to meet and collaborate with the incredible members of my cohort who challenged me to think critically about systemic barriers and how to address them effectively. The opportunity to design a capstone project that addressed a critical issue in a meaningful way was also incredibly rewarding.
How did you balance work and being a doctoral student at USC during the program?
During my time in the DSW program, I served as a program manager for I Care, a 24/7 county-funded drop-in center and mental health clinic for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Balancing work and academics required intentional planning and prioritization. The online format of the program was invaluable, allowing me to integrate my studies into my professional life. A strong support system—both at work and at home—helped me stay grounded and motivated throughout the journey.
What is one thing you learned that continues to serve you in your current work?
One of the most impactful lessons I learned from the DSW program was the importance of creating sustainable work environments to ensure long-term impact in the communities we serve. This principle has guided how we structure Diaspora Therapy Group. By prioritizing culturally responsive supervision, peer support and safety for our clinicians, we create a ripple effect that benefits our clients. When clinicians feel supported, they can show up authentically for their clients, creating a therapeutic environment rooted in trust, safety and healing.
Being recognized for your inclusive therapy practice and community training programs is incredible. What’s next for you and Diaspora Therapy Group? Do you have any new initiatives or plans you’d like to share?
Thank you! We’re currently working on growing our telehealth services nationally, ensuring that culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care is accessible to those who may not have local resources. We’re also in the process of creating a non-profit arm, The Diaspora Collective, which will be focused on providing low-cost mental health services with an emphasis on trauma-focused sex therapy. Drawing from my background in anti-human trafficking and my specialization in childhood sexual abuse and trauma, I’ve seen how trauma deeply affects sexual intimacy and connection. The Diaspora Collective will be creating spaces where clients can reconnect with themselves and heal without cost being a barrier.
What is one piece of advice you have for those considering the DSW program?
My advice for anyone considering the DSW program is to approach it with a clear sense of purpose and an understanding of what the program offers. Lean into any resources, mentorship and collaboration the program offers—I’ve found tremendous inspiration and support from my cohort, even after graduation. Shout out to Cohort 6!!
Learn more about the Doctor of Social Work program.