Healing in Community: Why Group Therapy Matters for Black Women

Mandala-style illustration of diverse hands forming a circle with the word Connection in the center, symbolizing group therapy for Black women.

In many cultures, healing has always happened in circles. Women have gathered to share stories, pray, cook, and pass down wisdom. These circles are sacred because they remind us that we are never meant to carry life’s burdens alone.

As a psychologist and mystic, I see group therapy in much the same way. Yes, it is a clinical practice. But it is also a modern sanctuary—a place where being witnessed becomes a form of healing in itself.

What I Heard in the Room

Over the years, I’ve sat with many Black women who shared common themes: exhaustion, loneliness, and the quiet weight of feeling unseen. They are strong and accomplished, yet often speak of carrying too much, too quietly.

From these conversations, a pattern emerged. Again and again, I heard: “I wish there was a group where I could talk about these things with other women who understand.” That longing for connection stayed with me. It made clear what was missing: a culturally rooted group space where Black women could show up fully, without explanation or judgment.

The Barriers We Face

For many of us, therapy still carries stigma. Add to that the cultural expectation to always be “the strong one,” and vulnerability can feel nearly impossible. Silence becomes survival. But silence also keeps us isolated, cut off from the healing that happens when we speak our truths and allow others to hold them with us.

Why Group Therapy for Black Women Matters

Groups create connection. They remind us we are not alone in our struggles. To hear another woman name what you have silently carried is a sacred moment of recognition.

In group therapy, healing is not only individual—it is collective. We bear witness to one another’s journeys. We learn new ways of coping, rest in the safety of being understood, and begin to release the armor we’ve been told we must wear.

A Space for Healing

I believe therapy groups are more than a clinical tool; they are circles of restoration. Like the kitchen tables of our mothers and grandmothers, they become places where stories are exchanged, tears are met with compassion, and laughter reminds us of our resilience.

My online group, Sistah Circle, was born from this vision: a virtual space for Black women to gather, share, and heal together.

It is both therapeutic and sacred—rooted in psychology and encouraging greater attunement with the self.

The Invitation to Collective Healing

If you have ever longed for a space where you don’t have to explain yourself, where your story will be met with understanding, I invite you to explore group therapy.

Healing is possible, and it is often most powerful in community.

For a deeper dive into the research and stories that inspired Sistah Circle, you can read my full article on Medium: Intersectionality and Collective Healing: Why Group Therapy Matters for Black Women.