Meet the Founder
Meet Our Clinical Director
Khiarah Craig, MSW, LSW
I’m Khiarah Craig, a licensed social worker, mental health advocate, and founder of The Stand—a healing-centered consulting firm 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 inspired 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 under supervision of our clinical director.
La’Keyta (Keyta) Hoffmann has 15 years of dedicated practice and experience in the helping profession as a counselor and 7 years as a clinical supervisor. She specializes and has certifications in EMDR, DBT, trauma-informed care, and TF-CBT.
As a clinician, Keyta has worked with countless individuals in their journey toward understanding themselves, sharing their stories, and achieving profound healing.
As a clinical supervisor, Keyta and the clinician work together to set professional goals and objectives, which provide clarity, focus, and accountability. This helps create a safe space to foster growth and professional development. As a clinical supervisor, Keyta is committed to providing guidance, mentorship, humor, ways to engage in self-care, and evidence-based interventions.
La’Keyta holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Boston College and is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisory Endorsement in Kentucky and Ohio.
Outside of her professional work, Keyta enjoys reading, spending time with her family, traveling, and incorporating as many self-care practices into her busy life.
A quote that helps guide Keyta in her work is from Desmond Tutu, who said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness"