Career

Lateefat has had impeccable career growth, with her work standing at the intersection of decolonizing the science of psychology and infusing storytelling to create a unique pathway that adopts indigenous knowledge, ancient wisdom, and modern mental health practices.

Her academic journey began with a groundbreaking achievement, as she was the first student to earn a first-class degree in psychology from Lagos State University in 2012. This academic excellence continued with a distinguished master’s in clinical psychology from the University of Lagos in 2016, where she graduated with distinction. However, for Lateefat, these accolades are merely chapters in a larger story dedicated to understanding how people can transform their lives through consciously authoring their narratives. Her academic prowess is no coincidence. Before departing for the United States to pursue a Doctorate Honor, Lateefat broke the jinx to become one of the most celebrated young girls by the Lagos State government for academic excellence. Her educational records raised the bar and are yet unbeaten to date.

As a Story Psychologist, Lateefat brings a rich blend of cultural insight and clinical expertise to her work. Her approach is deeply rooted in Yoruba storytelling traditions, which she seamlessly integrates with evidence-based psychological methods. This unique combination offers clients a path to self-discovery that honors scientific rigor and cultural wisdom.

Her professional journey spans continents and prestigious institutions, including essential roles at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Atlantic Healthcare System, and Hackensack Meridian Health. At each step, she has observed how storytelling is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries and opens new pathways to healing and self-understanding.

Lateefat’s research focuses on contemporary challenges facing children, women, and families in this digital age. Her recent research centers around using story psychology as an epistemological intervention to explore the gaps between academic research and ancestral knowledge built by colonial practices. This gap in mental health care should be dismantled, and there is a need for a reconstruction of diagnostic practices that allow humanity to be well understood via narrative analysis. Other research works include the complex intersection of mental health, artificial intelligence, and self-diagnosis, where she intends to offer crucial insights into how modern technology impacts psychological well-being. She has also conducted groundbreaking research on entrepreneurial readiness among college graduates and body image dissatisfaction, contributing valuable perspectives to these crucial areas of study.