Therapy for Black Girls celebrated its 7th anniversary on April 12th with the award-winning podcast's first live show at Variety Playhouse. Created by Atlanta-based licensed psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., this online space is designed to help Black girls and women by having conversations about mental health and connecting Black girls and women with local therapists. aims to promote the mental health of people.
The live show brought many of the podcast's loyal listeners face-to-face for the first time, who typically listen to the show while commuting, making dinner, or doing other tasks. Bradford said many of her listeners wanted an in-person event, so she was excited for everyone to have the opportunity to connect.
“It's funny because I started recording my podcast in my closet, so knowing that what started in a room at home could potentially impact thousands of people every week. That's completely unbelievable.”
Much of Bradford's focus is on making mental health topics more relevant and accessible. The “Healing in Real Time” event featured a panel discussion discussing what it's like to heal in real time, the effects of going viral, setting boundaries, self-awareness, and oversharing on social media. Dr. Ayanna Abrams and Dr. Joy D. Beckwith, two Atlanta-based licensed clinical psychologists, joined Bradford during a panel discussion at the event and talked about how social media, especially within relationship circles, provided insight on how to balance being active and being healthy.
This event was a recognition that the scope of treatment has changed over the past few years. The evolution of social media has created platforms with increased information and access to mental health resources for users. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use and scope of teletherapy, pushing online therapy to the forefront.
“I think social media has given people an opportunity to learn about concepts in psychology that they've probably never heard of. It gives people access to different types of therapists and different ways that we practice. Now we can,” Bradford said. “I think people who never imagined they could talk to a therapist about certain topics have now realized that there is nothing they can't talk about with a therapist. Sharing experiences in therapy reduced the stigma associated with mental health.”
But Bradford warned people not to start distinguishing themselves in criticism while following various healing pages and therapists. He also points out that some terms incorporated into psychology have imprecise meanings, and cautions people to be careful when using terms that may not accurately describe their experiences. called on people to do so.
Bradford said she started the podcast because she felt there was a lack of information about how Black women can take care of themselves when it comes to mental health. By the end of the show, she hoped people could take the conversation away from the live show and into their personal lives to encourage others to discover therapy for Black girls.
“My hope is that people take away specific strategies to protect themselves in online spaces, but also come away with a different understanding of how to give grace to others. It's something I see a lot online. Because it's another thing. We forget that the people we're interacting with aren't just little squares on a cell phone. They're real people with real feelings… so be a blessing to each other. It’s important to give and show compassion.”
