Meet the Founder

Khiarah Craig, MSW, LSW

I’m Khiarah Craig, a licensed social worker, mental health advocate, and founder of The Stand—a healing-centered practice rooted in radical love and collective transformation.

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, educated at Bellarmine University with a degree in Sociology, and earned my master’s in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, where I focused on trauma-informed clinical care and systems-level change. My academic background gave me tools—but my lived experience gave me vision.

I built The Stand because I know what it feels like to need healing spaces that don’t feel clinical, cold, or out of reach. I’ve seen too many people feel alienated by traditional therapy—and I’m here to change that. I create spaces that feel like home for people navigating trauma, transitions, identity, or just the simple ache of wanting more. From community events like paint & sips with purpose to narrative therapy open mics, everything I offer is rooted in joy, creativity, and connection.

This work is about more than sessions or services—it’s about helping people say yes to the version of themselves they’ve been waiting to meet. Through The Stand, I blend clinical insight with cultural sensitivity to make mental health support accessible, empowering, and deeply human.

By 2026, I’ll be independently licensed and fully scaling my offerings. Until then, I’m honored to walk with my community—one workshop, one conversation, one story at a time.