About The Therapy For Black Girls Podcast

There’s great comfort in knowing that you’re not alone, no matter what it is you might be going through. It kind of goes without saying, but 2020 was rough. There was a global pandemic (that’s still occurring), school closings that led to virtual learning, a major Black Lives Matter movement, the unexpected deaths of loved ones and some of our world’s most iconic figures, a hostile election season, and much more that impacted all our lives. So if your mental health feels a bit tense, it’s understandable.

Last year I got better about making my mental health a priority, starting with more self-care. I poured myself into prayer, fasting, meditating on God’s word, writing, resting, exercising outdoors, and adding the Therapy for Black Girls podcast to my playlist. And I must admit, the podcast is a game changer I wish I’d known about sooner. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford’s work is incredible. She’s a licensed psychologist and the host of the podcast, and the safe and open space she provides is wonderful – especially for women of color. When I needed some professional help before the pandemic became a thing, I went to counseling. And while the counselor I worked with was kind and highly qualified, there were certain things I felt she couldn’t fully grasp, relate to, or help me work through because she wasn’t Black, which made a huge difference.

There are very specific challenges and struggles that come with being a Black woman and the Black female experience that only other Black women can fully understand. So knowing there are licensed professionals like Dr. Bradford, who knows how challenging this journey can be sometimes is everything. The episodes she drops along with the guests she invites to speak on particular subject matters are candid, resourceful, and helpful. And each time I listen in, I feel like I'm healing and glowing up inside and out. If you're interested in adding a dope podcast to your playlist, then the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is a great start. You won't regret it.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut...

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken t...

Making Waves