Therapy for Black Girls

What does it look like to build a creative career online without completely losing yourself in the process? Today I’m joined by creator and beauty influencer Toni Bravo for a conversation about creativity, visibility, rest, and the evolving relationship many of us have with work in the age of social media. During our conversation, Toni shares what it’s been like navigating visibility online, how she protects her me...

Welcome to our new minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week. 

This wee...

When was the last time you really thought about your colon health? For many of us, conversations about digestion, gut health, and colorectal cancer can feel uncomfortable or easy to put off—but the reality is that colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger adults, and Black communities continue to face significant disparities when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Today, I’m joined by gastroenterolog...

Welcome to Episode 1 of our new minisode series, "I Have Some Thoughts." These short episodes are designed to contextualize the pop culture moments we're currently paying attention to through a mental health lens. Pop culture isn't just fun to chat about, it can reveal important information about how we relate, cope, and understand ourselves. Join us each Friday to hear Dr. Joy share her thoughts about the happenings of the week.&n...

What does it mean to feel fully seen, valued, and loved—especially as a Black woman navigating relationships, ambition, and self-worth? In today’s conversation, I’m joined by journalist, political analyst, and author Tiffany Cross to discuss her new book, Love Me. Tiffany opens up about the inspiration behind the book, the complexities Black women face in dating and relationships, and the importance of reclaiming ...

This week I’m joined by licensed psychotherapist Dr. Natalie Jones for a thoughtful conversation about what it really means to go “no contact” with people in your life who may be causing harm. Dr. Jones brings deep expertise in trauma, boundaries, and emotional wellness, and she shares from both her clinical work and her passion for helping people build healthier relationships. In this conversation we talk about h...

This week, we’re talking all things ‘The Drama,’ and ‘You, Me, and Tuscany.’ For different reasons, both of these films, starring beloved Black women, have taken over the conversations we’re having on social and in our own circles. What do these new-age black rom-coms say about how we currently look at love and relationships? And who gets to tell those stories? We get into all of that and more in...

For this episode of TBG U, council member Mikayla Weary, who’s been dreaming of a career in storytelling and documentary work connects with someone who’s already blazing that trail—filmmaker Taylor Hosking. In their conversation, Mikayla and Taylor explore what it really looks like to build a creative career from the ground up, how Taylor found her voice as a filmmaker, and the behind‑the‑scenes realities of ...

This week we’re back for another session of “Ask Dr. Joy, our exclusive Patreon segment where I answer questions submitted by our community members. Today, we’re talking about the journey of getting back to yourself. If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I when I’m not performing?” If you’re learning to trust your voice, reclaiming your worth, or finally choosing you after years of everyth...

This week, I’m joined once again by Dr. Sharon Malone for an important conversation in honor of Black Maternal Health Week. We’re digging into the realities of Black maternal health—from the historical roots of medical bias to the ways those patterns still shape our experiences today. Dr. Malone and I talk about why Black women are so often left out of the center of maternal health conversations, what we need...

Hair always seems to be a hot topic, doesn’t it? From what style is “acceptable” to wear at work, to the politics of what’s considered “going natural,” hair is, no pun intended, always on the brain. And as Black women especially, there is so much tied to our hair–it can dictate how we’re perceived in certain spaces, signal lifestyle choices, and can reflect much more than a simple aes...

At the start of a new year, it’s common to see people vow to take a month-long break from alcohol. But as research continues to uncover the toll that alcohol can take on our overall health, Dry January has evolved from a yearly challenge into a full-on lifestyle change towards mindful drinking. Now, a lot more of us are asking, “What does it look like to invite more sober moments into everyday life?” This is ...

Our Advisory Council members, Fatima, Jya, and Mikayla joined us this week for a lively and insightful group chat about what Spring Break really looks like at different stages of the college journey. They also discussed Black Spring Break Houston; the joy, the community, and the misconceptions; and how to approach it with safety, intention, and authenticity. We also talked about the financial realities of Spring Break, how to resis...

When we think about depression, there’s a common image that comes to mind–sleeping all day or not enough, withdrawing from responsibilities, and feeling an overall inability to function. And while that image is accurate, it doesn’t tell the whole story of what depression can look like. For many people, especially Black women, depression can show on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of withdra...

Lately, it feels like a lot of people are being asked to do more and more at work. Teams are stretched thin, responsibilities keep expanding, and many of us are finding ourselves carrying workloads that don’t always match the support, resources, or recognition we receive. For Black women in particular, these dynamics can show up in some very specific ways. One of them is the glass cliff, the tendency to be elevated to le...

Black single mothers have long been the subject of stereotypes, political debate, and cultural criticism. For decades, narratives in media and public discourse have framed them as the root of social problems rather than recognizing the complex realities of their lives, families, and communities. Today’s guest is writer and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux, whose work has helped shape conversations about race, gender, and ...

The ability to express ourselves through speech remains one of the most important ways we communicate. It’s at the root of how we connect, understand each other, and even how we explore our own identities. From childhood, we learn that what we say and how we’re able to say it can impact how we move through the world. Speech pathologists help those of us who experience challenges in expressing our thoughts and processing...

Where were you when the “Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” article dropped? Late last year when the piece dropped, it immediately took internet discourse by storm and had a lot of people in heterosexual relationships questioning and taking a deeper look into their relationships. This week we're joined by the woman behind the article, London-based writer and digital content producer Chanté Joseph, whose nuan...

Student loans have been a source of stress for many of us—but with recent policy changes, shifting repayment requirements, and proposed funding cuts to certain graduate programs, that stress has reached a new level. From confusion about repayment restarting, to fears about forgiveness programs disappearing, to conversations about “reclassifying” degrees like nursing, psychology, and social work, there’s a lo...