About Us

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My name is Edwina Turner, LPC‑S (née Mason-Kirkland), and I am the owner and founder of The TALK Center, a practice I created in 2012 with a simple but powerful belief: every person deserves to be heard, understood, and supported with dignity.

I am a first‑generation African American with deep roots in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Growing up in Houston, I was raised within both African and American cultural traditions—two worlds that shaped my identity, my values, and ultimately my calling. I learned early how culture, family, and community shape the way we talk about mental health, and how often people suffer in silence because they don’t know where to turn.

When I became licensed in 2012, I stepped into the field determined to change that.

My career has taken me into some of the most challenging and meaningful spaces in behavioral health: crisis intervention teams, psychiatric hospitals, partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), jails, community mental health centers, residential treatment centers, and foster care agencies. These experiences taught me how to show up with clarity and compassion, even in the most complex situations. They also showed me how many individuals—especially in African and African‑American communities—struggle to access the care, education, and advocacy they deserve.

The TALK Center was born from that realization.

I wanted to build a space where people feel seen and safe. A space where cultural identity is honored, where healing is accessible, and where mental health is approached with both clinical expertise and genuine human connection. More than a practice, The TALK Center is the continuation of my lifelong mission: to expand mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and empower individuals and families to thrive.

Today, I am proud to serve clients from all cultures and backgrounds, and I remain especially committed to increasing access and understanding within the African and African‑American communities. I am currently accepting most major insurance plans and would be honored to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing.

We take a person-centered, real-world approach to care. Services are tailored to each individual’s needs, focusing not only on understanding challenges but also developing practical strategies that can be applied in everyday life.

We offer a wide range of counseling services, including individual counseling, couples counseling, family therapy, and more. Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each of our clients.