Silvia Wambui is championing mental wellness through the Beyondthemind Wellness Initiative, but her journey into the world of psychology was born from something deeply personal. It wasn’t a classroom or a clinical setting that first sparked her interest, it was a heartfelt conversation with a friend.
“I was drawn to psychology through a deep passion for understanding human behavior and supporting others. A journey greatly inspired by my close friend, Ian Njagi, who helped me discover my path.”
Silvia Wambui, the Founder, Beyondthemind Wellness
Where Purpose Meets Psychology
Meet Silvia Wambui, currently awaiting graduation in October 2025 from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa with a degree in psychology. But even before the final walk across the stage, she’s already creating meaningful impact through multiple platforms. As the founder of Beyondthemind Wellness, a community-based organization (CBO) committed to mental health awareness, advocacy, and psychosocial support, Silvia is anchoring a movement that places human dignity and healing at the forefront.
Her work spans both professional and digital spaces. She runs Mindspace with Wambui, an online platform where she shares accessible, personal reflections on mental health. Her approach? Blending relatable storytelling with psychology-informed insight. “Alongside writing mental health blogs,” she says, “I also organize wellness events and coordinate programs that promote mental well-being, such as art therapy sessions.”
But Silvia’s influence goes beyond strategy, it’s deeply rooted in lived moments of transformation. “One of the most transformative moments for me is seeing people I’ve encountered experience positive changes in their lives,” she reflects. Whether it’s a client finding the courage to speak up after years of silence, or a young person gaining confidence through one of Beyondthemind’s initiatives, she sees each step forward as proof that healing is possible.
Leading art therapy sessions has also been especially powerful. “Participants connect deeply with their emotions and express themselves in ways they never thought possible,” she notes, describing the unfiltered beauty of these moments. Some have written to her, saying that a blog or event became the nudge they needed to seek therapy or initiate long-overdue conversations with loved ones.
“Each breakthrough, whether big or small, reminds me why this work matters.”
Silvia Wambui, the Founder, Beyondthemind Wellness
One such reminder came during a pause in her organization’s activities. In the silence, she received messages from members expressing how much they valued the content, especially sessions like Wellness Wednesdays. “Even if they hadn’t been actively participating,” she recalls, “they were learning a lot from our posts and discussions. That reminded me people are still listening, still benefiting.”
And then came a public affirmation of the private impact: Silvia was named first runners-up in the 2023 She Awards, in the Healthpreneur of the Year category. “That recognition reminded me this work is not only needed, it’s valued. And we are moving in the right direction.”
Beyondthemind Wellness: A Vision That Grew
The story, the mission, the people it serves
Some ideas are born in silence. Others arrive mid-lecture. For Silvia Wambui, the spark that would become Beyondthemind Wellness emerged during a routine university class in her second year.
“Beyondthemind Wellness came to life one afternoon during my second year at university. I was sitting in a particularly long lecture, feeling a bit bored, when the idea of creating a page to share thoughts on mental health popped into my mind. On a whim, I came up with the name and posted my first piece.”
What began as a spontaneous post and a conversation with her Head of Department, Dr. Stephen Asatsa, a Counseling Psychologist and Lecturer of Psychology at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, who holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology, quickly evolved into something much larger. “After sharing it with my Head of Department, we had a conversation about my passion for mental health, and that moment planted the seed that eventually grew into Beyondthemind Wellness as a community-based organization.” That initial curiosity, raw and unfiltered, planted a seed that has grown into a community-based organization dedicated to advocacy, awareness, and healing.
But the heart behind Beyondthemind was never random. Silvia had already sensed a deeper need within her environment, one marked by stigma, silence, and lack of safe spaces. “I realized how many people, especially youth and women in Kenya, struggle silently with mental health challenges,” she shares.
The core mission of Beyondthemind Wellness is to normalize mental health conversations, provide accessible support, and empower communities with the tools to care for their emotional well-being.
And this mission doesn’t live only online. Silvia and her team are firmly grounded in community engagement, ensuring their impact is tangible and far-reaching. “We actively connect with people through wellness events, safe-space dialogues, free group sessions like Wellness Wednesdays, and school-based mental health programs,” she explains.
Their work is intentionally personal, designed to meet people where they are. This often means stepping into under-resourced areas to hold one-on-one sessions and small group circles, offering not just education but empathy. “These in-person interactions allow us to truly understand the unique needs of each community,” Silvia says, “build trust, and offer support in a more meaningful way.”
In a digital age, accessibility is both a challenge and an opportunity, and Beyondthemind is addressing both with care. From Instagram to WhatsApp groups, their presence remains consistent and human. “Listening, showing up consistently, and creating safe spaces where people feel seen and valued is what continues to guide our outreach.”
Changing the Conversation
Writing, advocacy, and dismantling stigma
In a world often uncomfortable with vulnerability, Silvia Wambui has found her voice, and platform, to speak about the things people struggle to say out loud. Through her blog on BEYONDTHEMIND.KE and her social media platforms, she’s steadily rewriting the script on mental health in Kenya.
“Body image, friendship, and life transitions are topics closest to my heart,” she says, pointing to how deeply personal experiences shape public impact. These aren’t abstract concepts for Silvia, they are everyday realities she has seen affect self-esteem, emotional well-being, and even identity, especially among young people and women. “Addressing these topics openly helps normalize these struggles and empowers people to face them with greater self-awareness and resilience.”
Her writing doesn’t lecture, it listens. It speaks in the language of shared experience and holds space for the things often left unsaid. Whether she’s unpacking the silent wounds of poor self-image, the emotional toll of broken friendships, or the uncertainty of major life changes, Silvia’s blogs make room for readers to feel seen. You can check out her blog here.
But even as she sheds light on these nuanced areas, Silvia is confronting broader social myths. “One major misconception is that mental health issues are a sign of weakness or a result of personal failure,” she explains. Another common stigma suggests that mental illness only happens to other people, the visibly distressed or deeply unstable, when in reality, it exists in all of us.
“Through education, storytelling, and advocacy, my work challenges these myths by showing that mental health affects everyone.”
Silvia Wambui, the Founder, Beyondthemind Wellness
This ethos shapes Silvia’s approach to the digital space, where she has found not just an audience, but a community. Platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp have become vehicles for vulnerability and healing. “They’ve allowed me to create and share content that is not only accessible but also deeply relatable,” she notes.
From short posts that inspire reflection to longer blogs that journey through the heart of emotional struggles, Silvia uses digital tools to reach people who might never step into a therapist’s office, and that, to her, is the power of these platforms. “They’re not just tools, they’re bridges, bridges that connect people to information, support, and most importantly, to each other.”
In Kenya, a country where stigma still silences too many, Silvia Wambui is proving that a blog post, a DM, or a single brave story can begin to change everything.
Leading with Grace and Grit
In the emotionally charged field of mental health advocacy, sustainability isn’t just about funding or programs, it’s about emotional endurance. For Silvia Wambui, taking care of others starts with taking care of herself.
“I prioritize my own well-being by setting clear boundaries around my time and energy,” she explains. “That helps me avoid burnout and stay present in my work, especially after emotionally heavy sessions.” Her personal wellness routine includes mindfulness, grounding exercises, journaling, spending time in nature, and leaning into her support system, mentors, peers, and loved ones.
She reminds us of a truth many in the helping professions forget: “Caring for myself is just as important as caring for others.”
But her journey has not been without resistance. As a young woman leading a community-based initiative in a field still marked by stigma, Silvia has faced pushback on multiple fronts. “One of the key challenges is dealing with cultural stigma around mental health, especially in communities where emotional struggles are dismissed or misunderstood.”
Starting conversations around therapy and vulnerability isn’t always met with open arms. Yet, Silvia responds with more storytelling, more safe spaces, and more relatable, community-rooted advocacy. The struggle to secure consistent funding has also tested her resourcefulness. “We often rely on personal resources, partnerships, and goodwill,” she notes, which limits their frequency of events but also pushes innovation.
Being in her early twenties, Silvia has also had to contend with gender and age-related biases, an added layer to an already challenging path. “At times, I’ve had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously,” she shares. But instead of shrinking back, she’s used that resistance as fuel to champion inclusivity and empowerment, especially for young women and girls aspiring to lead in mental health spaces.
To others just beginning this work, Silvia has this for you, “Start where you are, with what you have, even if it doesn’t feel like much.” Whether it’s a blog, a shared post, or a small group discussion, she emphasizes that impact doesn’t require perfection. “Sometimes the most powerful work begins with a simple conversation.”
She encourages aspiring changemakers;
“Be open to learning from experience, from failure, and from others who have walked the path before you. Seek mentorship and don’t shy away from collaboration; the mental health field is not something to journey through alone.
Also, be prepared for the emotional weight that comes with this work. You’ll hear difficult stories, hold space for pain, and sometimes feel overwhelmed and that’s okay. What matters is that you also hold space for yourself: rest, reflect, and allow yourself to receive support too.
And lastly, don’t underestimate the value of your presence. Even if you only reach one person, that’s one life touched and that’s more than enough to begin.”
“Ultimately, I want Beyondthemind Wellness to continue being a bridge, a safe space that connects people to support, to healing, and to each other. Whether it’s through digital storytelling, school outreach, or community-based events, our mission is to shift how mental health is perceived, talked about, and supported, both in Kenya and beyond.”
The Vision Ahead;
Looking ahead, Silvia envisions a country, and a world, where mental health is treated with the same urgency and dignity as physical health. “I envision a future where conversations around mental health are normalized, support is accessible at the grassroots level, and no one feels alone in their emotional struggles.”
For Beyondthemind Wellness, she dreams of scaling its impact into a fully registered NGO, one with a physical wellness center where people can walk in, feel safe, and access therapy, group support, and creative healing sessions. With the right partnerships and funding, she sees the organization expanding its reach, particularly in underserved communities.
And that’s exactly what she’s building, quietly, powerfully, and with a grace that doesn’t seek the spotlight but lets the impact speak.
Connect with Silvia Wambui on Instagram and LinkedIn for collaborations, partnerships, and to follow the journey of Beyondthemind Wellness as it continues to grow.
By sharing Silvia Wambui’s story, may many more rise with boldness, compassion, and a renewed commitment to advocate for what truly matters: the mental health and well-being of our communities.
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