In Movement: 7 Questions with Tomiko Mackey, MSW, LCSW | NCA Institute For Better Mental Health Outcomes Training Fellow
November 18, 2025
Welcome to In Movement! In this segment of our blog, we interview thought leaders from within our own organizations – from CACs and MDTs and partner agencies – to gain insight into how they have furthered the movement, and how the movement has changed them. We look forward to benefiting from the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and the future they envision for themselves, our centers and teams, and the children and families we serve.
When Tomiko Mackey appears on our Zoom call, there is an instant sense of calm that comes with her. Although the bamboo Zen-like background helps, it is the hushed tone and thoughtful way in which she chooses her words that instill peace – and every once in a while, her broad smile lights up the screen with a warmth you can feel. Mackey lives in California, and she spends her days working to help children and families, both in California and in Oxford, Mississippi, where she began her career – or, as she tells it, her career chose her.
Mackey has a Master of Social Work degree with more than twenty-six years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. Her certifications include TF-CBT and Clinical Telemental Health with licensure in both California and Mississippi. Tomiko is also a CPT provider and an EMDR trained clinician. In addition to her work with Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi and her private practice, Mackey also serves as a Fellow with NCA’s Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes. Read on to share in her thoughts and insights.
Why did you choose this as a career?
I really didn’t! When I first moved to Oxford, Mississippi, I had a pretty good sense of what I didn’t want to do, but no sense at all of what I did want to do. But I’ve always been interested in working with kids, and that interest led me to where I am today. I began working with a rape crisis center – that center eventually became part of the Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi as we know it today. Today, it’s a comprehensive victim services organization providing advocacy services to survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, homicide, domestic violence, and family violence – and it is an accredited Children’s Advocacy Center with the National Children’s Alliance.
When I started there, though, there was no CAC. But there were dedicated individuals with the vision to make that happen, and one of them was my colleague, who asked me to attend a training to become a Forensic Interviewer. My life philosophy has always been to be open to new experiences and ideas – so I said “yes,” even though I didn’t really know what I was saying yes to! I would encourage folks to say yes – it can lead to life’s greatest adventures. And for me, it led me to a career that I cherish, colleagues I admire, and a mission that inspires me to this day.
What is something interesting that you have learned recently?
This is something that I’ve known, but I was recently reminded of the value of authenticity – it is so important, in this line of work especially, to be real. I recently had a young client with whom I’d started talk therapy but thought they would benefit from play therapy, so we transitioned them to a colleague. That colleague told me that when she was talking with the client about the importance of being exactly who they are, the child remarked that they appreciated that Tomiko told them the truth about difficult things. For me, that validated the importance of being true to who I am and modeling that for my clients.
What is a challenge that you and your colleagues feel proud of solving?
I think the biggest challenge right now for all of us is managing being in the world and still coming to work with an open heart. It’s so easy to get jaded, or afraid, or shut down entirely. The challenge is in being present and focused – when we do that, we provide the best kind of leadership we can right now.
What about your work inspires you and keeps you going?
I love the work that I do. What others might see as a “little” victory, I see as huge and momentous. A child who’s no longer wetting the bed? That’s tremendous. A parent who tells me “I’ve finally got my kid back”? That’s a giant step forward. And all the while giving the child space to come back – equipping them with the knowledge that “termination” still gives them the opportunity to return to therapy if and when they need it.
And every once in a while, I have a former client reach out, just to say hello or let me know how they’re doing. When that happens, it’s such a gift – it tells me that the work that we do matters, and that they understand that these kids matter to us.
What is the biggest need for kids you think we can meet in the next 5 years?
I think one of the biggest needs right now is to figure out a way to control access to social media – we need to find a way to make it safe to be a kid again. Frankly, we need to do that for adults, too, but let’s start with the kids.
And we need to find a way to value those in helping and caring positions and professions again – teachers, caretakers, etc. We need to understand how vital these people are to the healthy development of our children and treat them with the respect they deserve.
What do you think the ideal future looks like for kids?
The ideal future is one where everyone feels safe, loved, and valued – and that’s as true for adults as it is for kids.
Finally, what is next for you?
I plan to continue growing my practice – and being open to new ideas and experiences. I would like to start piano lessons and want to learn to salsa dance! The important thing in life is to not be afraid to say yes to those new experiences that frighten us and to be open to what’s new and different. And to find joy everyday!
__________________________________________________________
