Dr. Rajean Willis, RSW, MSW, PhD

Clinical Specialist • Storycatcher • Community Leader

Dr. Rajean Willis is a proud 7th generation African Nova Scotian woman from Truro, Nova Scotia, with deep ancestral roots in East Preston, Africville, Shelburne, and North Preston. Her personal identity and cultural heritage inform every aspect of her work, grounding clinical care in community, storytelling, and lived experience.

Professional Journey

Rajean is a registered social worker with over a decade of experience in clinical practice and supervision, mediation, community outreach, and mental health-focused work. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University, and a Doctorate in Educational Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University. At Mount Saint Vincent University, she was appointed as class valedictorian for the Spring 2025 convocation.

Her doctoral research explored how race-based trauma impacts the quality of life for African Nova Scotian individuals, using digital storytelling to centre voices that are too often unseen.

Leadership & Impact

Rajean is the founder of Rajean Willis Counselling and Consulting Services, a practice that offers culturally responsive psychotherapy both paid and pro-bono, and a range of consulting options for organizations, teams, and events including workplace mediation.

She has been invited to deliver keynote addresses, facilitate trainings and peaceful dialogue interventions, create content, and host community events including the Elevate & Explore: Black Nova Scotia Women’s Wellness Retreat — a space for connection, healing, and collective empowerment and “Love in BLACK” relationship event series. She has partnered with community organizations, institutions, and networks within Canada, across Nova Scotia and beyond.

Rajean has also served in executive and leadership roles within various organizations and employment endeavours.

Storytelling & Media

Embracing the role of “storycatcher,” Rajean is a passionate storyteller and content creator. She has developed three multi-episode series in collaboration with partners and serves as an independent talk show host — creating platforms for people’s stories to be shared and truly heard.

She is also a TEDxMSVU Women speaker, delivering a powerful talk titled “Tuning Into Your Inner Resilience.”

Rajean’s doctoral research centres the digital stories of six African Nova Scotian individuals, highlighting storytelling as a powerful tool for education, healing, and therapeutic intervention.

Personal Foundations

At her core, Rajean is a deeply spiritual person rooted in love, relationships, and community. She cherishes her roles as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin, and friend — bringing her whole self into her professional work and everyday life.

Let’s Connect

Whether you’re interested in counselling, consulting, speaking, or collaboration, Rajean’s work is grounded in authenticity, compassion, cultural awareness, and a belief in the power of shared stories.