5 Black Woman Therapists & Wellness Coaches You Should Know

5 Black Woman Therapists & Wellness Coaches You Should Know

By Sascha Ealey

For Black women, the issue of stereotypes has been a factor which affects our use of medical care and support, especially for mental illness. Instead of treating their mental health issues, Black women may be masking them. I am here to tell you that you don’t have to!

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are 5 Black Therapists & Wellness Coaches that help women of color work through their stressors, feel confident in themselves, and experience joy in their lives again. Let’s face it, we deserve that!

Cultural identity development is such an important part of our mental health and our lives. Having a therapist who shares a similar cultural background can be very beneficial towards your healing journey.

I have been in and out of therapy throughout my life and a major factor was that I couldn’t connect with my Therapists. I am by no means a colorist but I realized that I needed to do inner-healing work with someone who looked like me and shared a similar life experience. Safety is a paramount and sometimes that similitude provides just that. After all the years of searching, I finally found one that felt easier to make a connection with and feel more at ease and vulnerable.

Here are 2 Wellness Coaches that I personally know that have made an impact on my life:

Meet Frederica McClean, Founder and President of LAD (Living Above Disorder), located in Brooklyn New York. Living Above Disorder was born out of a passion to inspire individuals and provide the tools to unlock the autonomous potential for success that they believe lies in each and every person..The services LAD offers includes, business management, change management, and advisory consulting in addition to personal and leadership coaching.

This is a special shout out because Ms. McClean has personally saved my life in more ways than she may ever know.

During the pandemic I was going through a hard time and Ms. McClean helped me with ways to regain control that outside influences had on my mood, emotions, and self-esteem. Some ways included breathing exercises at the beginning of a session, action plans for personal and career development, and talk therapy. She always made me feel safe enough to tear down my walls so that I could meet her on the other side. Everything that was hurting, ugly, and raw, she met with love and compassion. When I couldn’t see a future beyond the ledge I stood on, she helped me re-write my story and rid myself of negative thoughts. When I hit rock bottom over and over, she assured me that there was no darkness that could ever meet me alone. When I was lost, she shifted my gaze to see the bright spots around me, guiding me back to myself. When living felt like a chore, she helped me see the beauty in the tedium. For her, I will forever be grateful!

“With breath comes life and opportunity. You CAN Live Above Disorder!” - Frederica McClean

Haydee Lee is a Mental Wellness Coach. I first met Haydee at an event called Love Thy First back in 2017. Love Thyself is a women’s empowerment and mental wellness initiative that creates healing-based community art spaces. Love Thyself also advocates for the de-stigmatization of mental health support in urban communities. She also had a Rock Your Dreams 4 week workshop series, where you worked on your vision board and goal setting in a comfortable, sisterhood environment. She’s always had this airy spirit about her throughout the years and it hasn’t changed. She’s helped me through some uncomfortable nights when I needed love and guidance. Haydee is now the author of Say Yes! 7 steps to purposeful living and a guide to winning at life. If you want to start walking in your purpose today, I suggest you get this book. Her live midnight check-ins on Facebook puts me at ease during nights when I can’t sleep. It gives me hope for a better tomorrow.

If you are in the New York area, I would highly recommend checking these two phenomenal women out. 

Here are 3 Therapists That Will Help You Thrive In All Areas Of Your Life

Dr. Lawanda Hill LLC is a black and woman owned mental health and wellness firm that provides services and programming to help Black women thrive. Dr. Lawanda Hill helps black women thrive by focusing on 6 domains which are emotional relational professional, sexual, spiritual, and physical wellness. All 6 are intended to focus on the whole woman. Her motto is “giving attention to all aspects of yourself is the key to thriving.” She specializes in culturally sensitive and inclusive group and individual therapy. She is also committed to helping Black women cultivate new narratives, ways of being, and engagement that reflects their values and humanity.

Therapy for Black Girls is a wildly popular, online space for Black girls to be seen, heard, and understood. It's also how RVL's Founder, Brittny Horne got started on her own therapy journey 5 years ago. TFBG was created by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist and speaker. The mission for Therapy for Black Girls is to sustain and grow an engaged community centered on the mental health needs of Black women and girls. The mission is performed by creating resources and content designed to present information that in a way feels relevant and accessible. You can also listen to their weekly podcast to learn from experts within the mental health space.

Nicole Lewis is a Black therapist and Coach who helps black women work through their stressors, feel confident in themselves, and experience joy in their lives again. She has a self-help workbook that embraces self-love as a way of life. She offers weekly homework through her email list to cover the gaps for adults who are unable to see a therapist or just want more support in between sessions. Lastly, her Legacy Member Club is a safe space for Black women to heal and thrive.

Choosing to prioritize your mental health is a brave and powerful act of self-love. Therapy taught me that I am worthy of escaping the hurricane of my thoughts, and the negative actions and words of others. I am proud to be a part of this movement that is reducing the stigma around mental health by choosing to go therapy. Sis, by taking the first step towards therapy, you are not only normalizing the importance of mental care, but also showing others that seeking help is a strength not a weakness. Let’s celebrate your commitment to self-improvement by working towards breaking down the barriers of stigma and promoting a culture of acceptance and healing!

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