Relational Wealth: The MEND Model as a Framework for Liberation in Infant Mental Health
In a world where inequities create relational poverty that strips families of joy, dignity, and connection, how do we replenish what has been lost? This interactive workshop introduces relational wealth as a liberatory resource, defined not by dollars but by our ability to attune, reflect, and co-heal.
Drawing from Dr. Siemone Smith’s dissertation research on the impact of the White Gaze on Black mothers, and her development of the MEND Model (Relation to Self, Relation to Others, Relation to Healing), participants will explore how attunement itself is a revolutionary act. Through storytelling, reflective activities, and shared dialogue, attendees will deepen their capacity to sustain themselves and the families they serve, leaving with a framework to multiply relational wealth across generations.
Workshop Details
Date: December 8, 2025
Time: 12-1:30 MST/1-2:30 CST/11-12:30 PST.
Where: Zoom
No recording provided due to the immersive nature of the facilitation.
Thank you for your understanding.
Siemone Smith, PhD, LCPC, MFT
Hi, I’m Siemone Smith, Founder of Generation Mend. I often call myself a generation mender because my work is about helping families heal across generations. Whether it’s small children and their parents, youth and their caregivers, or adults and their own parents, I help people untangle how the past continues to shape their relationships today. Many of us carry legacies—both beautiful and painful—from our families, and sometimes those legacies show up in our parenting, friendships, and partnerships. My role is to help you recognize those patterns and build tools for more authentic, connected, and meaningful relationships.
I created Generation Mend as more than a private practice. It’s a movement rooted in repair, restoration, and relational healing. My approach is grounded in cultural humility, deep listening, and the belief that true healing begins with the courage to do something different than what we inherited.
I specialize in supporting children from birth to five, a stage that’s close to my heart because their voices are often harder for the world to hear. I also walk with adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, parenting stress, trauma, or disconnection. For me, therapy isn’t just about addressing problems, it’s about creating spaces to breathe, reflect, and reimagine how we want to live and love.
As an African American woman, I am especially passionate about creating brave, affirming spaces for families of color, particularly Black families. Representation matters, and it is important to have a therapist who reflects your story and understands the unique intersections of race, culture, and history in the healing process.
Beyond my role as a therapist, I’m also a mom to the coolest, kindest, funniest 13-year-old. She reminds me daily of why generational mending matters, and why I believe we can all author new stories of love, resilience, and joy.
When I’m not working with clients, you can usually find me traveling, exploring new restaurants in Chicago, indulging in romcoms or reality TV, or people-watching and imagining the life stories behind everyday moments.