Therapy for Black Girls

When we hear the word “ghostwriter,” what may come up are images of rappers in the studio having someone else write their lyrics. But have you ever considered that some of your favorite viral pop culture moments – from speeches to text messages — were orchestrated by ghostwriters, many of whom are Black women?  Today, I’m joined by Pauleanna Reid, who is a celebrity ghostwriter that helps high-pro...

Unfortunately, it feels like every day there is a new incident of domestic abuse that happens to unfold all over our social media timelines, and with it, the potential to encounter violent footage or hear various arguments in support of the abuser. For survivors of domestic violence, it can be difficult to avoid and then cope with being exposed to such triggering content. Joining me today to discu...

Many of us fell in love with Natasha Rothwell through her role as the hilarious Kelli in HBO’s Insecure, and later sustained that love as she appeared as Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus . Natasha is back on our screens, and this time, she’s starring in a show that she also created and executive-produced. It’s called How to Die Alone , and it’s currently streaming on Hulu. I’m thrilled that Nata...

According to the World Health Organization, 8-13% of women are affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and it is also the leading cause of infertility for women. To explore more about this syndrome and its specific impact on Black women, I’m joined today by Sasha Ottey, a clinical and research microbiologist and the founder and executive director of PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syn...

In previous episodes of the podcast, we’ve made it a point to highlight the experiences of Black women professionals who are blazing new paths in their respective fields. This week, we’re offering insights into the field of journalism & media, joined by Peabody and two-time Emmy award-winning journalist, Antonia Hylton. During our conversation, we discuss the nuances of being a Black woman in...

In yet another episode of our 2024 Sex Positive September celebration, we’re discussing the ways in which our sex lives change and evolve as we get older. While the symptoms women experience during menopause and perimenopause can cause our sex lives to shift in some challenging ways, that doesn’t mean you still can’t embrace sexual vibrancy no matter the age. Joining me for today’s conversation is...

For the fourth year in a row, Therapy For Black Girls invites you to join us in celebrating Sex Positive September, a month in which we center the importance of Black women’s pleasure, agency, and sexual liberation. And there's no better way to kick off this month’s programming than with a conversation with returning guest Dr. Janelle Frederick, also known as the Vagina Rehab Doctor. Dr. Janelle i...

Athletes like Angel Reese & Sha’Carri Richardson have so brilliantly led women’s sports into the national spotlight, but with this has come lots of negative attention and straight-up negligent media coverage of these athletes and their sports. I wanted to hear from Black Women Sports journalists both in front of and behind the camera to explore what’s needed to correct some of these biased nar...

Summer, is that you? Sure, it’s August, but we have a few more weeks to enjoy this weather, so let’s celebrate accordingly.  Welcome to the TBG University podcast, tailored for the 20-something who’s still obsessing over the finale of Love Island, replaying the hottest song of the summer, getting her tote bag packed for the first day of classes, and everything in between. Here at TBG, we believe i...

After listening to Cowboy Carter far too much over this summer and hearing Beyoncé tell us to “look at that horse, look at that horse, look at that horse,” it was only right to then find out about equine-assisted psychotherapy, a form of therapy that incorporates a live horse in session with a client. To learn more about this unique type of therapy, I’m joined this week by 2nd year MSW candidate,...

Like many of you, I’ve spent the past couple of weeks glued to the tv watching the Paris Olympics and in constant awe of the talent and athleticism of the athletes. Gymnastics is always one of my favorite competitions to watch but this year I was also tuned in for the track and field events and basketball. There was just no shortage of excellence on display. And as often happens, feats of Black wo...

I don’t know about you all, but I’m still unpacking all the feels from Inside Out 2 , from the realistic depiction of anxiety attacks to seeing new emotions show up as main character Riley steps into her teenage years. Joining me today to explore some of the major themes featured in the movie is our Therapist Support Specialist and head of the TBG Thrive Tribe, Licensed Associate Professional Coun...

So many of us have been raised to prioritize romantic partnership and finding “the one,” over anything else, including some of our other, long-standing platonic relationships. Today we’re exploring the idea of Decentering Romance — a concept you may have seen on your social media feeds —  which asks us to explore what it looks like to seek romantic desire without letting it push out the other impo...

When a therapist decides to terminate with a client, it may bring up lots of feelings for the client around shame, embarrassment, and rejection. Online, you may have seen people referring to termination as being “fired” by their therapist. Let’s dig into this a little bit more and explore the reasons why a therapist might “fire” their client.  Returning to dig deeper into this with me are Dr. Donn...

Get ready, because class is almost in session. Welcome to the TBG University podcast tailored for the 20-something who’s packing for a new year on campus, thinking through their gap year, enrolling in a community college, grabbing their stoles for graduation, and everything in between. I’m your host & TBG U Coordinator, Jayna Ellis. On TikTok, you’ll often find jokes about how many of us felt...

Let's take a collective deep breath and explore all the feels after the big news of the weekend. President Joe Biden has announced he isn't seeking re-election and Vice-President Kamala Harris is the presumptive nominee. Whether you're excited, anxious, hesitant, or somewhere in between, it’s all valid. Tune in as I share some of my thoughts and feelings and hopefully find some comfort in knowing...

While therapists are often revered for our contributions to the mental wellness of others, our culture can also be guilty of denying them us humanity with assumptions that we’re always willing to provide therapeutic advice at the drop of a dime or that we don’t feel things too.  Today, I brought the group chat back together to discuss how therapists are showing up in our everyday lives. Dr. Ayanna...

Earlier this week, I got the chance to chat with Crissle of The Read as we discussed her journey to graduating with her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. As a special bonus, we also sat down to answer some of your listener letters from The Read , as well as a few inquiries that were sent in by the TBG community. We touched on topics such as feeling like you’re behind in your career, set...

Fans of The Read podcast have followed co-host Crissle’s journey as she went back to school in the hopes of becoming a therapist. Well, she’s graduated y’all, so of course it was only right to have her join us to talk a little bit about her journey and what advice she has for other aspiring therapists. In case you’re unfamiliar with Crissle, she is half of the critically acclaimed comedy podcast T...

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 experi...

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...

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 hard...

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 i...

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...

Earlier this week, we gave you a glimpse of some of the magic that happened this spring at our first-ever live event, Healing in Real Time. Well, we of course could not leave out the Q&A portion of the event, where you all sounded off via DM with your questions about maintaining digital boundaries, the balance between oversharing and telling your truth online, and yes , the etiquette of postin...