Some of you may know that July is one of my favorite months of the year, and that’s because it’s when we observe Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This year, we’ve chosen the theme, Holding Space for Healers, putting the spotlight on the therapists and all those who’ve dedicated their careers to holding space for others. All month long, you can expect conversations centered around the experiences and perspectives of mental health professionals.  To kick the month off, we’re sharing a compilation of some of the greatest gems, tips, and insights from our 3-part “Becoming a Therapist” series. You’ll hear from my accomplished and brilliant colleagues — Josephine Ampaw Greene, Dr. Kimberly Applewhite, Dr. D’Andria Jackson, and Dr. Donna Oriowo – as they share their advice on navigating the licensure process, doing the internal work necessary before seeing clients, some of the practical and financial concerns involved with being a therapist, and what it looks like to take care of yourself outside of your work as a therapist. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Join us in Atlanta on July 18th &19th for our Inaugural Therapist Summit. This is an incredible opportunity to gather to learn more about things like scaling your practice through PR and getting a book deal as a mental health professional. There will also be lots of time to connect with colleagues. Learn more and register to join us HERE.   Where to Find Our Guests Dr. Kimberly Applewhite Website Instagram    Dr. D’Andria Jackson Website Instagram    Dr. Donna Oriowo Website Instagram  TikTok   Josephine Ampaw Greene Website Instagram  Facebook Linkedin   Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls   Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah TaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of you may have seen the viral Apple Music list of 100 best albums of all time and raised a few eyebrows at some of the choices made. So of course we had to give our own Black girl spin on the list, and today I’m joined by some of the TBG team members to share the albums that have been quintessential to our development as Black women. Joining me is our Community Assistant, Nyesha, our Project Manager, Lex, our Production Assistant, Zariah, and our Senior Producer, Ellice. As you hear us respond to various album-related prompts, like most underrated album or an album that reminds us of childhood, feel free to respond with your own answers by sending us a tweet @therapy4bgirls or tagging us on IG or TikTok @therapyforblackgirls. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Join us in Atlanta on July 18th &19th for our Inaugural Therapist Summit. This is an incredible opportunity to gather to learn more about things like scaling your practice through PR and getting a book deal as a mental health professional. There will also be lots of time to connect with colleagues. Learn more and register to join us HERE.   Where to Find Our Guests Nyesha Instagram Ellice Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Lex Instagram / Threads TikTok Zariah LinkedIn Instagram   Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congratulations, you’ve been accepted into the inaugural class of Therapy for Black Girls University. Whether packing for a new year on campus, thinking through your gap year, enrolling in a community college, or grabbing your stoles for graduation, TBG U is here to help you thrive at this stage of your life and beyond. College, an experience already notorious for its difficulty, can be a lot harder to navigate if you’re also dealing with a medical disorder or learning disability. These experiences are covered under the term neurodivergent, and today we’re shining light on what it looks like to pursue an education as a neurodivergent person. Joining us today to talk about their experience as a neurodivergent college student is Chicago-based creative, Kai Foster. Kai has humorously documented the ups and downs of young adulthood via sit-down chats, vlogs, and poetry since 2017. Beyond the camera, Kai attends film school and pursues independent documentary projects.  During our conversation, we discuss what it means to be neurodivergent, the importance of on-campus accommodations, and how to advocate for your needs when a professor is reluctant to understand them. Where to Find Kai YouTube TikTok Instagram Tumblr   HOMEWORK Find out if either your school or town has a local food pantry that you can utilize, remembering that it’s okay to accept and receive help. Talk with your school’s accessibility office or your academic advisor to discover what accommodations are right for you. Schedule time with each of your professors at the beginning of next semester to discuss your learning needs.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram TikTok   Interested in being a part of a future TBG U episode or suggesting a topic for us to discuss, send us a note HERE.  Order a copy of Sisterhood Heals for you and your girls HERE.    Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah Taylor TBG University Host & Coordinator: Jayna EllisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Juneteenth y’all and happy almost first day of summer. I hope this episode finds you enjoying a bit of a slower pace and plotting on some ways to enjoy the sunshine. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about some of the ways that we get in our own way and some of the things we do to make our lives more difficult than they need to be and wanted to share some of my thoughts with you. This list is in no way exhaustive and you know I’d love to hear what you would add. Tag us in a post @therapyforblackgirls or use the hashtag #TBGInSession to share your thoughts.  About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals. Join us in Atlanta on July 18th &19th for our Inaugural Therapist Summit. This is an incredible opportunity to gather to learn more about things like scaling your practice through PR and getting a book deal as a mental health professional. There will also be lots of time to connect with colleagues. Learn more and register to join us HERE. Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls   Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah TaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s easy to dismiss dating reality TV shows like Love Island and The Bachelor as trashy, guilty pleasure TV, but as we watch Black women contestants continuously get discarded by their male counterparts, chosen last if chosen at all, and edited in a way that promotes stereotypes, it can make the IRL pursuit of romance feel a lot more bleak.  Digging into this idea a little bit more with me today is Dr. Sarah Adeyinka-Skold. Dr. Sarah earned her sociology doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied how the processes of finding romantic partners with racial and gender inequality in the United States. She is also a licensed clinical social worker in three states. During our conversation, we chatted about viral dating show contestants like AD & Tiffany from Love is Blind, Paige from Married at First Sight, and how their stories — and the world’s reactions to them – reflect the real life woes that Black women face while trying to date in a society where we face both gender and racial discrimination. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.   Where to Find Dr. Adeyinka-Skold Website Twitter LMU Profile   Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls   Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah TaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Ayanna Abrams and Dr. Joy Beckwith answer questions on digital boundaries, oversharing online, and social media etiquette. They share insights on maintaining healthy relationships and setting boundaries in the digital age.

Earlier this spring, we hosted our first-ever live podcast event at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, Georgia, Healing in Real Time. On that special night, in a room full of our loyal fans and supporters, we explored what it looks like to live healthy online and offline. I’m still so full from getting the chance to connect with so many of you. For those who couldn’t make it, we’ve recorded the conversation for you to enjoy from the comfort of your home.  My colleagues and friends, Dr. Ayanna Abrams and Dr. Joy Beckwith, joined me on stage to discuss what it looks like to set boundaries around what gets shared on social media, what happens when the IRL spills onto the web, and what to do when social media trends trigger old hurts. And that’s not all – we didn’t forget about the audience questions, they'll be released in a bonus episode later this week. So get ready, grab a snack, find somewhere comfy, and enjoy the show.  About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.   Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.   Where to Find Our Guests Dr. Joy Beckwith Instagram Website Dr. Ayanna Abrams Instagram Website   Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls   Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah TaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us were devastated in 2022 when MSNBC decided to cancel the Cross Connection, a news show that was one of a kind in choosing to prioritize the voices and stories of people of color. Since then, the show’s host, Tiffany D. Cross, has been relentless in her current efforts to tell the multigenerational stories of Black women on her latest podcast, ACross Generations. Tiffany is a journalist, TV host, podcast host, author, and speaker. During our conversation, we discussed what it means to feel as if you have to constantly center the white gaze to be successful, how to hold space for feelings of both grief and joy, and the importance of multigenerational mentorship for Black women of all ages. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. Resources & Announcements Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.   Where to Find Tiffany ACross Generations Podcast ACross Generations YouTube ACross Generations Instagram Instagram Twitter Facebook   Stay Connected Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox. If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory. Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining us in the Therapy for Black Girls Sister Circle community.therapyforblackgirls.com Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop. The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.   Make sure to follow us on social media: Twitter: @therapy4bgirls Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls   Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah TaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congratulations, you’ve been accepted into the inaugural class of Therapy for Black Girls University. Whether packing for a new year on campus, thinking through your gap year, enrolling in a community college, or grabbing your stoles for graduation, TBG U is here to help you thrive at this stage of your life and beyond. Studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a college student’s life, but there are soooo many things to consider when preparing to apply for a program – the financial costs, choosing a country to go to, and even knowing what program to apply for.  To provide advice and help synthesize all of the information that’s involved with studying abroad, I’m joined today by two guests – founder of the non-profit Girl’s Going Global, Martice Sutton, and Girl’s Going Global student ambassador, Rachel Jones. Girls Going Global is a non-profit organization designed to expose and empower African-American girls through travel and cultural exchange. In our conversation, we discuss what it means to travel abroad as a Black woman, some important safety tips to keep in mind when staying in a foreign country, and the importance of viewing study abroad as a chance for cultural immersion — rather than as a vacation. Where to Find Our Guests Rachel Jones Instagram Martice Sutton Website Instagram Facebook Twitter   HOMEWORK Begin researching what study abroad program you’d like to apply for, whether it be a volunteer, study, or work experience. Your college’s study abroad office is a great place to start! If you’ve already committed to a study abroad program, begin creating your packing list to make sure you aren’t leaving out any essentials! For safety, look into registering your study abroad trip with the US State Department, as well as starting a travel insurance policy.  Make sure to follow us on social media: Instagram TikTok   Interested in being a part of a future TBG U episode or suggesting a topic for us to discuss, send us a note HERE.  Order a copy of Sisterhood Heals for you and your girls HERE.    Our Production Team Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Maya Cole Howard Producer: Ellice Ellis Production Assistant: Zariah Taylor TBG University Host & Coordinator: Jayna EllisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Producer Ellice Ellis and Production Assistant Zariah Taylor discuss pop culture highlights like Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake rap beef, Beyonce's latest release, Met Gala, All American drama series, and WNBA boom. The conversation also touches on heart health, music recommendations, financial literacy, and the importance of self-care for black women.