Board Member Carmen Jimenez-Pride Dies

EMDRIA and the mental health community are mourning the passing of Carmen Jimenez-Pride, LCSW, RPTS, a respected psychotherapist, author, and mentor. Jimenez-Pride, 45, passed away peacefully at her home in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday, September 06, 2025. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, and raised in Walhalla, SC, she developed an early love for music and the arts. She played the viola with incredible musicality. She also had a lifelong passion for stationery, planners, and notebooks—small joys that became signature parts of her personality. She was the “Planner Queen.”

Jimenez-Pride served on the EMDRIA Board of Directors from January 1, 2025, until her unexpected death. “Together with her family and friends, we feel the weight of this loss and keep them in our thoughts. Carmen’s wisdom, integrity, and spirit enriched our board and our community, and her impact will continue to be felt in the work we carry forward. Thank you for holding Carmen’s loved ones in your thoughts. May her memory be a blessing,” said Wendy Byrd, LPC, LMFT, Board President. Jimenez-Pride joined EMDRIA in 2020.

Jimenez-Pride was a proud graduate of Benedict College, a historically Black College in Columbia, SC, where she studied social work. Known for her presence and leadership, she was initiated into the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she served as Basileus of the Beta Epsilon Chapter and later became a life member. She also served as Corresponding Secretary of the Student Government Association and a member of the National Association of Social Workers, among other campus organizations. These experiences laid the foundation for her remarkable career.

Jimenez-Pride went on to earn her master’s degree in social work through the University of South Carolina’s prestigious advanced standing program, reserved for the most accomplished students. She worked with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Carolina Children’s Home, and Mecklenburg County DSS before realizing her dream of entrepreneurship by founding Outspoken Counseling Services. Through her practice, she became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Supervisor, and Certified IFS and EMDR therapist. She specialized in Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Play Therapy, and Sand Therapy—guiding countless clients toward healing, peace, and purpose.

Known for her groundbreaking work as a clinical social worker and Registered Play Therapist, she dedicated her life to helping children, families, and fellow professionals. The Augusta, Georgia, resident was not only a therapist but also an educator, mentor, and leader. She founded the Playful Connections Sandtray Institute, empowering clinicians with creative approaches to therapy and healing. Her dedication, compassion, and ability to connect with people on a deeper level left an indelible mark on the field of mental health. Her sudden passing has left a profound void in the lives of those who knew and loved her. Colleagues, students, and clients alike remember her wisdom, kindness, and unwavering commitment to healing.

Jimenez-Pride’s life was a testament to healing, innovation, and a love for the community. She spent more than 15 years guiding children, families, and adults through some of life’s most difficult challenges. But she didn’t just treat symptoms—she created new tools to change lives. From developing Focus on Feelings,® an emotional literacy curriculum now used by clinicians worldwide, to founding Diversity in Play Therapy, she consistently broke barriers and centered cultural humility in every space she entered. What made Jimenez-Pride extraordinary was not just her long list of credentials, but her heart. She believed deeply in the power of representation and fought to ensure that Black women, children, and families saw themselves reflected in the therapeutic process. She gave voice to racial and cultural trauma, empowering clinicians to serve with empathy, awareness, and a commitment to justice.

She is survived by her loving wife of eight years, Natalie, and their son, Nathan “Nate” of Augusta, GA; her parents, Fernanda Jimenez and Anthony Williams; a host of siblings; cousins and a strong circle of friends she considered family: Trystin, Tanika, Rosa, and Elizabeth, her Benedict College “Framily” and colleagues across the EMDR, IFS, Sand Tray, and Play Therapy communities.

The Carmen Jimenez Pride Memorial Endowed Scholarship carries forward this legacy by supporting African American women studying social work at the University of South Carolina and Benedict College. By giving to this scholarship, donors not only honor her remarkable contributions—they also help shape the next generation of social workers, who, like Jimenez-Pride, will heal, uplift, and transform lives. Memorial donations can be made here.

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