#BlackMentalWellness

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Emotional Resilience and Capacity Building

Black Mental Wellness

May 1, 2019
3 min

Emotional Resilience and Capacity Building

Guest Contributor: Denzel Z. Herrera-Davis Founder of Create the Space Let’s face it, simply being a person of color in America today is stressful, to say the least—and subjects an individual to a number of psychosocial risks. Resilience is the ability of an individual to successfully deal with, adapt to, handle, cope with, and recover from them. Individuals or groups are considered “resilient” when they are healthy, despite exposure to a wide range of psychosocial risk facto

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5 POWERFUL & SIMPLE SELF-CARE TIPS

Black Mental Wellness

Apr 10, 2019
4 min

5 POWERFUL & SIMPLE SELF-CARE TIPS

Guest Contributor: Dr. LaNail R. Plummer Faculty, Johns Hopkins University Co-founder & Owner EMC2 Mental Health Counseling and Educational Consulting African Americans are 20% more likely to experience mental health illness. However, the widespread cultural stigma of mental illness prevents us from seeking treatment. Research suggests that within their social circles, depression or anxiety are dismissed as “crazy”. African American men are especially resistant to being label

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Black Mental Wellness

Apr 3, 2019
3 min

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Guest Contributor: Nedra Cannon, LMSW, CATP, ACSW What is EMDR? EMDR is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to have an 80% success rate with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). EMDR stimulates our brain's natural ability to process life events so that we can let go of the emotional distress connected to our past. What happens when someone experiences a traumatic event? 1. Trauma is stored in the body For example, rape survivors may find that certain positions d

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Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents

Black Mental Wellness

Mar 20, 2019
3 min

Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents

Guest Contributor: Dana L. Cunningham, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist and Author Over five million children in the United States have been impacted by the incarceration of a parent, and due to the disproportionate number of Black people who are incarcerated, Black children are significantly impacted by the criminally unjust system in our nation. While it is a highly stressful event for a parent to be incarcerated, it is just as devastating and stressful for the families and chil

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4 Strategies for Supporting Incarcerated Family Members

Black Mental Wellness

Mar 14, 2019
3 min

4 Strategies for Supporting Incarcerated Family Members

Guest Contributor: Jessica Henry, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist African Americans are incarcerated at disproportionate rates and nearly six times the rate of whites. Research indicates that family closeness and support are protective and beneficial for African Americans, which suggests that African American families may be able to provide an additional source of support for loved ones who are incarcerated. Family members can help increase awareness of mental health concerns by

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5 Tips to Develop a Self-Care Practice

Black Mental Wellness

Mar 7, 2019
5 min

5 Tips to Develop a Self-Care Practice

Guest Contributor: Colette Ellis Certified Stress Management Coach Practitioner of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT-Tapping) Self-care is not self-indulgent! It's an act of self-preservation. – Audre Lorde We all wear our "busy badges" so proudly that we sometimes forget that it's important to take breaks, eat lunch, or even go to the bathroom when we need to! Everyone experiences stress. That's why it's crucial to proactively create opportunities for quality alone time, incl

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Top Five Coping Strategies

Black Mental Wellness

Feb 28, 2019
2 min

Top Five Coping Strategies

Guest Contributor LeDerick Horne Poet, Speaker, Advocate 1. Talking Like many people, I tend to spend way too much time thinking about the problems I have to face. I have found that talking to people about the issues I am worrying about helps me feel better, and it helps me take the step from pondering to real world execution. Regularly opening up to family, friends and seeing a therapist can help make you happier and become more productive. 2. Moving There is no substitute

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Coping Strategies for Clients Suffering from a Traumatic Experience

Black Mental Wellness

Feb 20, 2019
6 min

Coping Strategies for Clients Suffering from a Traumatic Experience

Guest Contributor Michael D. Gatson, Ph.D. As a clinical provider and a veteran, I understand the effects of deployment and their symptoms from a different perspective. Combat deployment exposes U.S. military personnel to life-threatening combat, hazardous duty, and dangerous environmental conditions. When working with military service members, veterans, and their families, it is essential to be open to interacting with a full range of client backgrounds and circumstances. T

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5 Ways to Heal from Trauma

Black Mental Wellness

Feb 13, 2019
2 min

5 Ways to Heal from Trauma

Guest Contributor Tara Gill, Ph.D. Psychologist, Center for Childhood Resilience Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Instructor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University In today’s society, there is a need to educate youth and families about strategies related to healing from trauma. Some of the strategies that can be applied to promote healing are: 1. Identify your safe and supportive people. Reach ou

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National School Counseling Week: Book Recommendations

Black Mental Wellness

Feb 7, 2019
2 min

National School Counseling Week: Book Recommendations

Guest Contributor Sean Bland, M.S. The 4th Marking Period, A Memoir of an African American Male Guidance Counselor by Richard L. Wilson, Jr. This was one of the first books I received after becoming a counselor. This very short work helped me to feel like I was not alone with what I was thinking everyday, especially when there are so few African American men in the field. Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life by Ron Clark I have

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5 Principles for the
Best Mental Space Possible

Black Mental Wellness

Jan 30, 2019
2 min

5 Principles for the Best Mental Space Possible

Guest Contributor Serena Janine Hampton Licensed Hair Consultant I am Serena Janine Hampton, a Licensed Hair Consultant. I’ve been a part of the beauty industry for over 15 years. Born into a military family, my parents dreamed of their children becoming Entrepreneurs. They wanted us to live an unrestricted life, giving us the freedom to impact society in a way that they weren’t able to unpack because of the limitations that were placed upon them. As a teenager, my dream was

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I Got This!

Black Mental Wellness

Jan 23, 2019
2 min

I Got This!

Guest Contributor Latoya Johnson-Foster, MA, LPC, NCC Licensed Professional Counselor After experiencing anxiety and depression in 2017, I was able to better understand my clients and their symptoms from a different perspective. Some common symptoms of anxiety that clients I work with report include negative thoughts, overthinking, constantly feeling on edge, Black superwoman syndrome, and constantly worrying. Through my clinical work, I realized that many of my clients had n

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Book Recommendations

Black Mental Wellness

Jan 16, 2019
2 min

Book Recommendations

Guest Contributor Farzana Saleem, PhD Below are a few examples of books for children and adolescents focused on facilitating a conversation between African American parents and children regarding race, racial discrimination, and managing racial stress and trauma. Preschool and Elementary Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney Picture book celebrating the beauty of African-American children in their skin, hair and eye colors. Something Happened in

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EMBRace: Engaging, Managing and Bonding through Race

Black Mental Wellness

Jan 9, 2019
1 min

EMBRace: Engaging, Managing and Bonding through Race

Guest Contributor Riana Anderson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Guest Contributor Riana Elyse Anderson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. She earned her PhD in Clinical and Community Psychology at the University of Virginia, was a Clinical and Community Psychology Intern at Yale University’s School of Medicine, and was an Applied Psychology Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Riana developed and directs the EMBRace program for

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More Than a Barber

Black Mental Wellness

Jan 2, 2019
2 min

More Than a Barber

Guest Contributor Pier Jeffries Master Barber This is my life and I want to live it the best way that I know how. I asked the Lord to guide me on this journey, and I decided that becoming a barber really makes me happy. Prior to me going after this goal, I worked on jobs that were stressful at times, but I never lost focus of my larger vision. There were other things that I needed to accomplish such as serving in the military, receiving a Bachelor's Degree, and working as a C

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Myths Related to Child Protective Services (CPS)

Black Mental Wellness

Dec 20, 2018
3 min

Myths Related to Child Protective Services (CPS)

Guest Contributor Joylynn D. Givens CPS On-going/Prevention Supervisor Myth: Parents cannot physically discipline their children. Fact: Parents are allowed to discipline their children; however the discipline should not result in marks, bruises, welts, or abrasions. In addition, children cannot be disciplined using objects that cause serious harm, and should not be slapped, hit, or punched in the face or head areas. Myth: CPS always takes children out of the home after a refe

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Book Recommendations

Black Mental Wellness

Dec 13, 2018
2 min

Book Recommendations

Guest Contributor Michael A. Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League by Jeff Hobbs This biography describes the life of a talented young Black man who graduated from Yale, only to lose his life to gun violence and the illegal drug trade at age 30. Written by his college roommate, it shows a real appreciation for the struggles of urban youth to overcome the odds while navigating the difficult te

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5 Steps to Overcoming Life-Limiting Behaviors

Black Mental Wellness

Dec 5, 2018
3 min

5 Steps to Overcoming Life-Limiting Behaviors

Guest Contributor Romal Tune Author of, Love is an Inside Job Instagram: @RomalTune Throughout my life, there have been things that I’ve wanted to change about me. My goal is to become the best version of myself. I believe this is something most people desire. The problem is that sometimes we beat ourselves up and even worse judge ourselves when we miss the mark because our thoughts or behaviors are not in alignment with who we truly desire to be in the world. Through therapy

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Beyond the Chair

Black Mental Wellness

Nov 28, 2018
3 min

Beyond the Chair

Guest Contributor Dene’t Radden Hair Care Provider & Consultant Healthy Hair Republic 203 Hull Street, Suite A Richmond, Virginia 23224 Instagram: @HairByDenet In order to achieve a healthy life, we must first vision it for ourselves. We must see the possibilities derived from our visions and dreams to find our true selves. To find our true selves, we have to release the expectations that others have of us, and learn how to embrace and love ourselves, flaws and all. We also h

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#4 Veterans Day 2018

Black Mental Wellness

Nov 14, 2018
2 min

#4 Veterans Day 2018

Guest Contributor Corinn A. Elmore, PhD Health Psychologist Walter Reed National Military Medical Center The healthy development of the child dependents of military service members is fundamental to the effectiveness of our national security. As a Health Psychologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, I developed an integrated behavioral health service specifically targeting pediatric military dependents in a large military hospital. Currently, there are nearly

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