Transforming Mental Health: The Promise of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Black Women

In the landscape of mental health treatment, innovations like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are offering new hope and opportunities for individuals seeking relief from conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. For Black women, who often face unique challenges and barriers to accessing effective mental health care, TMS represents a promising avenue for improving well-being […]

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Uniting Beyond Borders: How the 4B Feminist Movement Supports Black Women’s Mental Health

In recent years, the 4B feminist movement originating in South Korea has gained momentum, advocating for the rights and empowerment of women through its principles of Beauty, Body, Birth, and Behavior. While its roots may lie in a different cultural context, the impact of the 4B movement resonates deeply with Black women worldwide, offering invaluable […]

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In a world that often overlooks the voices and experiences of Black women, finding a supportive community where one can feel heard, understood, and empowered is invaluable. When we started Mindful + Melanated, and the Strong Black Woman Support Group our aim was to cultivate a community for Black women seeking connection, growth, and healing. But we cannot do this work alone. In the spirit of solidarity, we would like to tell you about 5 Black-women run organizations that offer and facilitate support groups and healing circles for Black women. 

 

A Tribe Called Black

A Tribe Called Black (TCB) is a grassroots organization and peer support community that prioritizes Black and Brown individuals in their learning, connecting, healing and building of their cultural wealth and health. They offer peer support groups for both teens and adults on various issues such as navigating unresolved anger, being a Black mother and growing up as a Black teen during this day and age. TCB’s most recent group, Queens Healing Queens: Anxiety Edition, is a guided journaling group focused on tackling anxiety with distress tolerance strategies tailored to Black women. This interactive 4-month program includes bi-weekly virtual discussions and activities to help Black women cope when life be life-ing. This group utilizes journals designed by two Black women, one of which is a licensed clinical therapist, the other being a self-care coach for Black women.

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Click here to register for their Queens Healing Queens group that starts April 22, 2024.

 

Healing Black Women

Healing Black Women (HBW) is a safe space designed to encourage and promote all forms of wellness and healing for Black women. Through their blog, podcast and panel discussions, they produce high-quality content designed to help Black women navigate issues such as trauma, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem – while also promoting self-care, resilience, and empowerment. HBW also offers a variety of online support groups. They offer seasonal meditation and sound bath groups led by their resident Reiki Master who guides participants through a moment of calm and release to welcome new energy each season. Got a book you haven’t finished? Bought a book you haven’t even started reading? You are not alone, but you are in luck! HBW also hosts a virtual Read with Us group. So dust off your reading material, join them on Zoom every month and finish those books! 

 

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Click here to register for both their seasonal sound bath and their monthly read with me groups.

 

Soul Love Counseling and Consulting

Soul Love Counseling and Consulting offers specialized mental wellness services tailored specifically to Black WomXn seeking liberation and empowerment. Through a holistic approach that addresses mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, this practice provides a safe and nurturing space for Black WomXn to explore their experiences, express themselves authentically, and cultivate resilience. Services offered by Soul Love include individual therapy sessions, consulting and their R.E.S.T. Support Group. R.E.S.T. is a community-driven support group that welcomes Black WomXn with any LGBTQIA+ identity, who feel isolated in different areas in the life (e.g. work, school, family, faith, etc.). 

 

Location: Virtual/Massachusetts (Although this is an online support group, you must reside in Massachusetts to participate).

Cost: Rates are based on an anti-oppressive rate structure. 

Click here to register for as many sessions as you’d like.

 

Vick Breedy Inc.

Vick Breedy Inc. knows the importance of self-care and how easy it is to lose sight of it. The founder of this enterprise created the Selfish Women’s Group (SWG) to provide a space for women to address the issues that threaten their ability to practice self-care. This quarterly women’s group is led by SWG facilitators who help women understand the importance of self-care, explore ways to practice it and identify behaviors that make it difficult for women to lighten the load they carry. Sessions alternate between virtual and in-person. In-person groups take place in Massachusetts. Join the SWG Facebook group to stay in the loop for upcoming dates, times and locations for their quarterly sessions.

 

Location: Alternate Virtual/In-Person (In-person sessions take place in Massachusetts)

Cost: $20

Click here to register for their June 2024 in-person session.

 

PureSpark

PureSpark seeks to cultivate the kind of mental wellness culture it’s founder craved when she was severely depressed and suicidal. PureSpark uses social media and their website to provide resources that would otherwise be inaccessible to someone who struggles with, or has never navigated the mental wellness system. This organization provides, curates and promotes a plethora (and when we say a plethora whew chile) of groups and events focused on Black women’s healing. What’s unique about this organization is that they are also intentional about curating, showcasing and hosting events and groups geared toward those who provide mental wellness support. Healers need healing too and the fact that they promote so many events geared toward Black clinicians (and other types of mental wellness providers) is truly commendable. 

 

Location: Varies

Cost: Varies

For more info: https://yourpurespark.com/events-calendar/ 

 

Conclusion

Whether you’re seeking guidance on your spiritual journey, inspiration for self-care practices, or simply a space to share your story and be heard, Mindful + Melanated welcomes you with open arms and we also encourage you to check out these other amazing organizations.

See you in the circle!

Regina Renaye aka Regina Thee Mindfulnista

 

Regina Renaye is the founder of Mindful + Melanated. She is a cat mom, horrible karaoke singer, coffee lover, and peer support pioneer.

To contact Regina about partnerships, speaking engagements or just to say ‘Hey Sis’, email her at hello@mindfulandmelanated.com.

 

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5 Support Groups Black Women Need to Attend Now

In a world that often overlooks the voices and experiences of Black women, finding a supportive community where one can feel heard, understood, and empowered is invaluable. When we started Mindful + Melanated, and the Strong Black Woman Support Group our aim was to cultivate a community for Black women seeking connection, growth, and healing. […]

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BLACK WOMEN: If an Olympian cannot take a break then we are all f*cked!

I never knew my idol Dominique Dawes took heat for saying Simone Biles was “courageous” for sitting out of the 2020 Olympic competition for her mental health. Like I said in my comment on her LinkedIn post, I think it’s mighty funny that when Black women do (or refuse to do) something to maintain their […]

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Sis, I know you have a story to share – apply TODAY to speak at Strong Black Woman Redefined!

It’s official! The 4th Annual Strong Black Women Redefined Conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2023 and will take place at the Boston-Dedham Hilton Hotel in Dedham, Massachusetts.  Our mission for Strong Black Woman Redefined is to empower Black women to lead a life that does not force them to hide behind a mask […]

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Regina Renaye to Speak at 2022 VA World Conference

Fun fact: before becoming a mental health advocate, and before the birth of Mindful + Melanated’s sister circles, I owned and operated a virtual assistant business. I started working from home as a virtual assistant because the employer for whom I was working refused to approve a reasonable accommodation request I submitted due to some […]

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Call for Speakers: 3rd Annual Strong Black Woman Redefined Conference

I am pleased to announce that we are in the midst of planning our 3rd Annual Strong Black Woman Redefined Conference. Last year was amazing (CLICK HERE to watch a snippet of the program) and I am confident that this year’s conference will be even better. The Strong Black Woman Redefined Conference aims to raise […]

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We Got Us: Using solid support systems to sustain your mental wellbeing

The other day I came across an article that listed the “10 Best Online Peer Support Groups.” Of course not one peer group geared toward black women, black people or the BIPOC community in general was listed. This is exactly why spaces like Mindful + Melanated are necessary. For those who are new to our […]

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Stop Waiting for Permission: How to be bold, brave and believe in yourself in the workplace

Last night I spoke with Jasmine Naylor of Jasmine Naylor Enterprise during our first segment of our My Mental Health is not Minor speaker series. Jasmine dropped some series knowledge for us black + brown women. A master in teaching the art of living wealthy through prioritization, boundaries and accountability, this former teen mom and […]

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Negativity Bias Beat Me Down This Week

Today I read an article on Psychology Today by Dr. Jill P. Weber that talks about how we sometimes emphasize negative experiences and down play positive ones. Its called “negativity bias. I know that I am guilty of getting caught up in negativity bias sometimes. Some really awesome things transpired for me these past couple […]

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