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Date: 8/23/2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Mayrena Guerrero hopes not only to provide culturally competent mental health services, but to change the way the local mental health system looks at its clients.
Guerrero is the founder and CEO of Colorful Resilience, an outpatient mental health practice in West Springfield.
“We’ve been in business for about a year,” said Guerrero. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she opened her office at 201 Park Ave., West Springfield, in the winter of 2022.
Colorful Resilience focuses its work with the Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA+, first-generation and immigrant communities in Western Massachusetts and beyond.
“These are the communities we see needing extra support when it comes to mental health,” said Guerrero. Due to cultural barriers, these services have not been widely available, she said. Being a member of the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC — Black, Indigenous and peoples of color — and immigrant population, she said she knows firsthand how difficult it is to find the right kind of help. Guerrero’s strategy is to hire and train mental health providers from these communities so that her clients feel as those they are being represented.
Her practice occupies two office spaces on the third floor. Each space is warm and welcoming. Art decorating the walls represents the communities Colorful Resilience serves, including pride flags, and large windows let in natural light to put visitors at ease.
“We also make sure that all of our providers feel comfortable here and that their mental health is taken into consideration as well,” said Guerrero.
She noted that she urges her counselors not to see more than six clients a day, to work when they want to work and to always know that they have resources available: “This way we don’t get burnt out and we can excel at our jobs.”
The real inspiration for Guerrero to open her own practice came after the murder of George Floyd.
“That incident and everything that happened because of it showed a need to help this community,” said Guerrero.
Colorful Resilience is one of several local businesses highlighted in Common Capital’s recently released Annual Community Report. Guerrero is also among one of the top 100 Hispanic leaders in the state, according to Amplify Latinx.
Common Capital loaned Colorful Resilience working capital to ensure a strong start. But the funding is just part of the relationship with Common Capital.
“We love her personality and everything about her. We want to help and grow with her,” said Roberto Nieves, director of outreach and communications at Common Capital, which provides loans and assistance to Western Massachusetts small businesses that are unable to obtain conventional loans.
“They work with you to make sure you’re successful,” said Guerrero. “They put in place whatever resources you need to achieve your success. They are so good with their communication and clear with expectations. It was a very seamless, positive experience.”
“When we met with her we were impressed by her passion, her vision, and her readiness,” said Nieves. “Colorful Resilience will be a game-changer in expanding mental health options for LGBT and communities of color.”
Guerrero sees Colorful Resilience as more than a critical mental health provider serving an underserved community. She sees it as an essential tool for increasing representation in the mental health field.
“We’re nurturing our clinicians to go on to bigger and greater things like private practice to grow representation in the mental health field from clinicians in this community,” said Guerrero.
For more information about Colorful Resilience, visit colorfulresilience.com.