Starting Therapy This Year? Here Are 7 Mental Health Resources To Get You Started
When it comes to starting new habits and releasing old ones, our mindset is everything. As many of us embark on a fresh set of goals for the year ahead, starting mindful habits like therapy can be a powerful way to enhance our overall well-being and create a positive change in our lives.
Beginning therapy can feel intimidating in the early stages of your research process. We may be worried if our first therapist will be a good match for our needs, be hesitant to unpack the layers of trauma and memories that come with each session, or even be intimidated by the cost of the service.
It can all be a lot to bear in mind, no matter if you’re an OG therapy-goer who’s taken a temporary hiatus or a newcomer to space. Knowing where to start on your mental health journey can be half the battle. That’s why it’s helpful to have resources designated especially for Black women who are looking to take charge of their mental health and make the entry point more seamless.
Whether you’re looking for financial assistance or in need of daily affirmations to remind you that mental health and therapy aren’t so scary, we’ve rounded up the best resources to get you started on your journey to a healthier mind and richer well-being.
Boris L. Henson Foundation
The Boris L. Henson Foundation is a mental health advocacy and support organization founded by Taraji P. Henson, in honor of her late father. The foundation aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, eliminate the stigma associated with mental health conditions within the Black community, and provide resources for mental health support.
Programs and initiatives by the foundation include the BLHF Mental Wellness Support Program (MWSP), which provides individuals and families dealing with life-changing events, daily challenges, and heightened emotional struggles such as stress, anxiety, depression, or feelings of hopelessness with assistance and support on the path to mental well-being for those in need. The program covers five complimentary mental health therapy sessions for those accepted.
Loveland Foundation
The Loveland Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Rachel Cargle that focuses on providing therapy and mental health support to Black women and girls. The Loveland Foundation was established with the goal of making mental health resources more accessible to Black communities, which often face unique challenges and barriers in accessing mental health care.
The foundation's flagship program, the Loveland Therapy Fund, aims to provide financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy. This fund covers the cost of therapy sessions and works to overcome financial barriers that may prevent individuals from accessing mental health services.
Sad Girls Club
For those looking for a personable introduction to the therapy and mental wellness space, Sad Girls Club just might be the space for you! Sad Girls Club is a mental health community and organization that focuses on providing support, resources, and a sense of community for individuals dealing with mental health challenges. The organization is known for its online presence, which provides inspirational messages, coping strategies, and personal stories related to mental health. They also host events and workshops that focus on mental health education, self-care practices, and creative expression as a means of promoting we
Sista Afya
Sista Afya is a mental wellness organization based in Chicago, focusing on providing mental health support and resources for Black women. The organization aims to address the unique mental health needs and challenges faced by Black women and offers various programs and services, including support groups, workshops, and educational events.
Black Female Therapist
Black Female Therapist is a platform designed to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community, create a platform for Black women and men to connect with relatable therapists, and contribute to the mission of fostering mental health support within the community. They also offer mental wellness tips and a thorough therapist dictionary to help you search for support that reflects your needs.
HealHaus
HealHaus is a wellness space based in Brooklyn, New York that focuses on holistic healing and mental health. HealHaus offers a range of services and programs designed to support individuals in their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The wellness collective provides various holistic wellness services at a monthly rate of $10 for a drop-in live online yoga or meditation class, $30 per month for unlimited access to live online yoga and meditation classes, or a 7-day free trial for the HealHaus Live Membership, allowing you to experience a week of grounding, stillness, and peace at no cost.
Brown Girl Self-Care
Brown Girl Self-Care is on the mission to “Help Black women healing from trauma go from ‘every once in a while’ self-care to every day self-care.” With their informative podcast and social media page with gentle reminders and affirmations that speak directly to Black women, this will be the perfect page to add to your feed in the new year.
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Featured image by Drazen_/Getty Images
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Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage
