Meet our Team
At Azania Collective, our diverse, compassionate team is committed to supporting people through life’s complexities with authenticity, curiosity, and courage. We honor each person’s unique journey, offering culturally attuned, trauma-informed care that recognizes your whole story—without the need to explain everything. Whether facing trauma, burnout, or transitions, we meet you with respect, dignity, and expert support.
Our Approach
Each therapist at Azania Collective brings a unique set of skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We specialize in evidence-based, trauma-informed practices and work from a human-first, depth-based approach. This means we prioritize healing at the root, offering not just surface-level solutions but a transformative experience that addresses the complexity of each person’s journey . We all practice through a multicultural lens and many of us speak more than one language.
Our Therapists
Erika Philip, LCPC
Founder & Therapist
Erika Philip is the founder and Executive Director of Azania International and Azania Collective. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) specialist with over 20 years of experience in complex trauma recovery, crisis response, and community mental health. Her work experience extends across the U.S., Ethiopia, South America, Uganda, and Rwanda: supporting refugees, asylum seekers, third-culture families, aid workers, and communities affected by poverty, addiction, gang violence, and disasters.
Erika holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling. She has extensive experience supporting survivors of sexual abuse, torture, trafficking, and complex trauma. Her approach integrates family systems and community healing practices. Her modality of choice is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which she offers both individually and in group settings. Erika is licensed in Maryland and Connecticut.
Semhar Stora, MSW, LICSW
Therapist & Therapeutic Coach
Semhar Stora Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) specialist with 15+ years of experience in trauma recovery, gender based violence (GBV) response, and community mental health across the U.S., Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Eritrea. Her trauma-informed, strength-based approach integrates Cognitive Processing Therapy and ompassion-focused methods. She’s supported torture survivors, asylum seekers, and veterans, international workers, and has led national mental health initiatives for organizations like USAID/Ethiopia. Semhar is dedicated to culturally responsive, holistic care that promotes healing, resilience, and human dignity. Semhar provides services in English, Tigrinya and Amharic and is licensed in Washington, D.C.
Mary Ruth Theodos, LCPC
Clinical Therapist & Parenting Coach
Mary Ruth is licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland. She serves as a parent coach, helping clients explore their own parenting experiences and how those shape their relationships with their children. Drawing from years of experience as a classroom teacher, school counselor, and parent, she offers a well-rounded, compassionate approach. Clients are supported in cultivating patience, determination, compassion, and wisdom as they navigate the responsibilities of raising the next generation. She provides approachable resources to help parents grow in the ways they hope to love and lead their children. Virtual parent coaching sessions are available both within and beyond the Washington D.C. area.
In her counseling practice, Mary Ruth supports individuals facing grief and loss, anxiety, childhood wounds, spiritual growth, depression, career transitions, and family relationship challenges. She holds an MA in Counseling from Trinity (Washington) University and a bachelor’s degree in Education from Colorado College. Her counseling services are available via telehealth for Maryland residents.
