During my car time in the morning, I have my time with my favorite podcasts. Sometimes I tune into the Breakfast Club for my current hip hop culture, while other times I listen to The NOD. But on the days I want to put my mindfulness first I give my undivided attention to Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and her podcast Therapy for Black Girls.
On the show, Dr, Joy and her special guest of the day discuss an array of topics dealing with black women and our mental health. Practicing healthy mindfulness, effectively using vulnerability and enforcing reasonable boundaries is really just a snippet of the various mental struggles discussed on this 30-60 min podcast.
Dr. Joy provides active solutions and workbooks to her listeners during their mental growth journey. She also shares helpful books as additional takeaways from the conversations.
Not all Black Girls Know how to Eat by Stephanie Covington Armstrong: Episode 17, Black Girls Get Eating Disorders.
As a black woman, I know that we all come in all shapes and sizes as well as food pallets. No matter if you are a #BBW, a #Stallion or #SlimThick conversations regarding struggles with healthy eating habits are not often brought to the table.
As a woman who has overeaten to gain weight, underfeed myself during depressed times, and often had a routine of emotional eating during a bad breakup I was able to recognize parts of myself within Stephanie’s memoir.
In Stephanie’s story, she takes the reader through her personal battle she had with her eating disorder which was caused by the underlying issue of her depression and anxiety. How many of us sistahs can relate to this testimony?
How Great Women Lead by Bonnie St Jon & Darcy Deane Episode 28 Do you believe in Sisterhood?
In 2010, Hello Beautiful published an article titled, “Why Do Black Women Tear Each Other Down? “It has ALWAYS amazed me that black women are each other’s biggest critics. We are the quickest to bring each other down, find each other’s faults and nit-pick at a sister until she has nothing left, nothing left to give, and then we step over her and call her worthless,” the article stated.
In How Great Women Lead, this narrative is proven false as stories showing proof that black women work best when we work together. You can lean on another Sistah Girls shoulder when you need help.
You Can’t keep a Good Woman Down by Alice Walker: Episode 29, Respectability & Sexuality
There are times where we want to run away from our problems or just simply numb the pain. Mother Walker suggests that we actually do the opposite. Alice Walker has always challenged our way of thinking in her writing.
In this book of accountability, Mother Walker holds the mirror in our faces, with relatable characters and situations that we have all been apart of once upon of time in our lives.
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy Leary: Episode 42 Race-Related Stress
This book by Dr. Joy Degruy, an Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work provides the impacts of generations of slavery. Race-related stress is something that black women cannot ignore.
It’s something we can build and strengthen as a community. By continuing the discussions on what mental health practices work best in our communities we can heal our passed down stress and walk into new beginnings for our futures.
Own your Own Glow by Latham Thomas: Episode 43 Mental Health for Mama
What are your goals? What principles do you stand on and for? What type of inspirations in your life keeps you going? If you are unsure on the answers to the questions above celebrity wellness and lifestyle guru Latham Thomas can help you discover this in Own your Own Glow.
This book teaches us how to own our power and how to embrace our God-given talents. Own your Own Glow also focuses on defeating habits of self-criticism, doubt, and Sistah Girl competition.
Without Bruises by Jillian Simmons: Episode 44 Perfectionism
How often are we transparent to those outside looking into our lives? Though our posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter look picture perfect, how often do we truly reveal what’s going on in the inside?
In Without Bruises, Simmons opens up to readers on how she was the woman with a strong foundation with family, friends and in her career, only to be close to losing everything.
This humbling narrative focuses on Simmons missed signs of emotional and mental abuse. Used as a guide for overcoming any obstacle we may face, Simmons uses her pen to reach back and help another Sistah in need.
Tenderheaded by Juliette Harris and Pamela Johnson: Episode 60 Colorism & Texterism
It is impossible to read this collection of short stories and not find yourself on one of these pages. Just like the difference in our hair and skin types, Tenderhead is full of diversity made for all Sistah Girls.
This anthology is filled with essays, poems, cartoons, photographs, drama, and fiction excerpts on the cultural implications of African American women and their hair. Focusing on our physical appearance and how others perceive us has a major effect on our insecurities.
Well, the time has come for me to get off Dr. Joy’s yellow couch and take the more than helpful life tools she has provided and apply them to my life.
I hope that each podcast episode and book shared will help another Sistah Girl. If you are in need of a licensed therapist on Dr. Joy’s site Therapy for Black Girls she has a directory of therapist that can be found in your area. Check it out!
![Interview With Author and Executive Producer Miasha Coleman [Audio + Video]](https://shareehereford.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/YouTube-Pics--45x45.jpg){kind=small}
