In this episode of The Family Couch, we talk with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford about how to create healthy spaces for black women and girls.


We start off by discussing how Bradford’s program, Therapy for Black Girls, came into existence in September 2014. She was inspired by an awards show and wondered how she could make therapy look as cool as the show. Bradford discusses what it means for her to create a space for black women to feel comfortable. People feel welcome, her artwork is black-centric, and she wants people to feel like they can be themselves and not feel like they need to “have it all together.” A large part of Therapy for Black Girls is a therapist directory, where Bradford has a directory of recommended therapists. It is her experience that black women typically want a black woman therapist.


We talk about how we can reset the image that black women need to be strong and have it all together. Bradford says it reminds her of hearing friends say they are getting a housekeeper but they are cleaning up a little before the housekeeper comes. She likens this to when people go to therapy and let them know just a little but not just how awful they feel. Women need to understand they will not be judged. Bradford feels that some signs of mental illness may be missed because of the image of black women having it all together. Sometimes a person will be very successful and distracting themselves from other symptoms going on because they are so busy in other areas of life.

Read more and connect with this week's guest here: [ Ссылка ]

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