Jamie Daniels, M.S.W. ’14, Ph.D. ’23, LICSW

Jamie Danielle Daniels, Ph.D., LICSW, is an assistant professor of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. A distinguished social worker, educator, researcher, scholar, and lifelong activist, Daniels is committed to advancing mental health equity with particular expertise on race and mental health, focusing on the experiences of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Daniels' scholarly research centers on the mental health and well-being of marginalized communities, with particular emphasis on Black women. Her current research focuses on the mental health experiences of Black women within the labor movement, examining how their intersectional identities—as workers, activists, and women—shape their psychological well-being. This research highlights how unionization functions as a protective factor for mental health by providing support, solidarity, security, and empowerment. She explores how social determinants such as race, class, and environment influence mental health outcomes and investigates collective power-building as a transformative strategy for healing and resilience.

Daniels is the owner and director of Polestar Therapy, a private psychotherapy practice and specializes in providing culturally competent care to diverse populations. Her clinical approach is trauma-informed, psychodynamic, and relational, integrating cognitive and behavioral strategies as needed.

Passionate about social justice, Daniels integrates a strong awareness of equity issues into her work as a clinician, educator, and scholar. Her personal experiences as a Black woman, a teenage parent, and a first-generation college student profoundly shape her approach to both mental health and healing. Through her teaching, research, and clinical practice, Dr. Daniels strives to create spaces where equity, justice, and collective healing are prioritized—raising awareness about the complex interplay of societal structures and mental health to foster greater understanding and systemic change.