Episode 21: When Helping Others Becomes Leadership with Tonika McElvin

In this episode of Rise Up and Lead: Real Lessons, Real Stories, Real Talk, Dr. Kim sits down with Tanika McElvin, a clinical mental health counselor working with women in recovery.

Tanika shares how she initially resisted the idea of being a leader. Like many professionals in helping fields, she entered her work simply wanting to support others. But over time, she realized that when people depend on you for guidance, perspective, and encouragement, leadership naturally emerges.

Through her work in a residential rehabilitation program, Tanika helps women develop emotional regulation and healthier thinking patterns using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Along the way, she discovered that leadership is not always about titles—it often grows out of responsibility, compassion, and the willingness to show up for others.

This conversation explores the moment when helping others becomes something more: leadership through influence, accountability, and care.