Some people choose a career. Others answer a calling. For our Woman Crush Wednesday, Funmto Ogunbanwo, the path into mental healthcare feels like the latter. She is helping people make sense of their inner worlds and find steady ground.
A clinical mental health therapist and founder of Ibi Ayo Therapy and Wellness Limited, Funmto has built her work around one simple but often missing offering: a safe space where people can speak freely and be heard without judgment. Her practice centres on supporting individuals through life transitions, self-esteem struggles, anxiety, depression and trauma, with an approach that is both structured and deeply human.
Her academic background reflects her deep desire to provide the best mental healthcare. Funmto holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication, and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counselling. She not only understands the science behind behaviour and emotions, she knows how to connect, listen and communicate in ways that make people feel seen. It is this blend that shapes her work, allowing her to translate complex psychological ideas into conversations that feel real and accessible.
Her professional journey spans multiple care settings, including partial hospitalisation programmes, residential treatment centres, and outpatient services. As a National Certified Counsellor in the United States and a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario, Canada, she carries international experience into every session, adapting her knowledge to meet people where they are.
But Funmto’s work does not stop in the therapy room. She has partnered with organisations such as Google for Startups Africa, Leadway Pensure, Glovo and RMB Nigeria, helping teams think more intentionally about mental wellbeing at work. Through workshops and consulting, she addresses the everyday realities people face in professional spaces, from burnout to emotional strain, and offers practical ways to respond.
She is also deeply invested in making mental health conversations easier to understand. Through videos, educational content and webinars, she breaks down ideas that often feel distant or clinical, bringing them closer to everyday life. Her mentorship programme supports aspiring psychologists, offering guidance to those trying to find their footing in a demanding field. For many young professionals, she represents a voice that says the journey is possible, even when the path feels unclear.
At the heart of everything she does is a clear belief that quality mental healthcare should not be out of reach. In a society where silence often surrounds mental health struggles, Funmto is part of a growing movement that is changing the narrative. She is not just offering therapy, she is opening doors, starting conversations and reminding people that healing is something they deserve.
This Wednesday, Pride Magazine Nigeria is spotlighting Funmto Ogunbanwo, who is doing the quiet, consistent work of care. And in doing so, she is helping many find their way back to themselves.