Making It Easier for Women of Color to Get Support from a Therapist of Color
Charmain F. Jackman is a licensed psychologist who grew up on Barbados, where many people of color, she recalls, had an all-or-nothing view about mental health: You had it, or you didn’t. There was no in between.
Today, she says, there is still a stigma about mental health among people of color that makes women of color less likely than white women to access mental health services. For example, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health, mental health services are used by:
- 21.5 percent of white women
- 10.3 percent of black women
- 9.2 percent of Hispanic women
- 5.3 percent of Asian women.
But over the past several years, that has been changing, according to Jackman, who has made it her mission to destigmatize mental health services—and make it easier for people of color to access to therapists of color.
“There has been a real groundswell of people being more open about mental health issues, and understanding that therapy can be helpful,” Jackman said in a recent conversation with the Conferences for Women for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Superstar rapper Jay-Z has publicly spoken about the benefits of therapy; and Taraji Henson, the actress who appeared in Hidden Figures, started a foundation to help her father who suffered from PTSD.
Jackman also has been working to educate people of color about the benefits of therapy—and dismantle
The cultural message that if you seek therapy, it means you are crazy or weak;
The idea that you shouldn’t share family business with strangers; and
The cynicism bred of infamous historical events, such as the Tuskegee Experiment.
Another big obstacle that Jackman has been working to overcome is helping people find a therapist of color—since most people prefer to speak to someone from their own background.
This year, she launched a new nationwide directory that makes it easy. Check it out here.
How to Cultivate the Resilience We Need Now
“If you’re naturally one of those super, über-productive people who are wondering why in the world you’re not getting a ton done or how to get it done, take a couple deep breaths. Reset your nervous system.”
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The Happy Perfectionist: Managing the Trap | 2019 Session
Are you thorough, efficient and conscientious about every detail of life both at home and work? Do you set high goals and work hard to achieve them? Welcome to the Type A Club! You have many positive traits that are great for impressing the boss. But, as you probably know, they can also impede your personal happiness and sense of self-worth. The good news is there are many tricks and tips that can help us perfectionists find more contentment, even amid imperfection. Join this session to learn strategies for building resilience when times get tough so you can be happier without having to do everything right.
Want to Be a Better Leader? Help Your Team Stop Complaining and Be More Accountable
“Drama in the broader sense is unproductive thinking and disruptive behavior. We call it emotional waste. It is anything taking energy away from results and happiness in the workplace. It’s a subtraction.”
—Leadership expert and author Cy Wakeman
In this refreshing new conversation, leadership expert and New York Times best-selling author Cy Wakeman explains why unproductive workplace drama is on the rise—and how you can avoid it, be happier and more productive, and save yourself 2.5 hours a day.
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De-Stress Your Way to Success with Courtney Carver
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Listen to Courtney Carver and you will soon find yourself believing what her experience shows to be true: If you take a little time for yourself every day, and experiment with some of her “soulful simplicity” tips, you will feel more relaxed—and be more effective at whatever you do.
+ Join Courtney on Tuesday, April 30th @ 12:00pm CDT for a live video Q&A! Like our new Facebook page to learn more.
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Real Ways to Banish the Stress That Causes Burnout
We all know what we generally should do to reduce stress—eat healthy, sleep more—“so the challenge is finding what that looks like for each of us,” says Leah Weiss, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of How We Work: Live Your Purpose, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Embrace the Daily Grind.
To help you reduce your stress, here are some strategies to consider: Read More
New Talk: Shawn Achor on YOUR Big Potential
Every month in 2019, we’re highlighting one top-rated 2018 Conference speaker.
Meet our March Speaker of the Month: Happiness researcher and attendee favorite Shawn Achor. He’s recorded a brand-new talk just for you, available here after the premiere on March 20 at 11 am CDT. Check it out:
Get Achor’s latest book on the power of connection at independent Austin bookseller Bookpeople.
And please send your questions for Shawn in to our new Facebook page—he may answer you during his Facebook Live Q&A on March 26 @ 1:30 pm Eastern / 12:30 pm Central / 10:30 am Pacific.
Meet Shawn Achor, Happiness Researcher
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How does the science of happiness work? What’s the connection between happiness and success? And how do you test hypotheses about happiness in the real world, outside of the lab? CFW friend Shawn Achor sat down with us to explain the whys and hows of happiness research—and why his findings are important for your life. Read More
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Mediterranean Fusion: Your Favorite Ethnic Dishes Just Got Heart-Healthier!
By Lorena Asebedo Kaplen
Registered Dietitian, H-E-B
No doubt, diet and culture play a major role in what we eat and the food decisions we make every day. But with so many different cuisines and foods from all over the world available to us, we can embrace other cultures while creating a sense of community. In fact, with cuisine fusions and their endless combinations of flavors, the possibilities are limitless! Read More
Handling Setbacks and Building ‘Resilient Muscle’
By Patricia F. Brown, VP Underwriting Global Retail Markets, Liberty Mutual Insurance
I am often asked two questions: “What has led to your success in the commercial insurance industry?” and “How have you overcome setbacks/challenges?
My personal experience of growing up in the South, having parents and siblings who experienced Jim Crow and being the daughter of a Tuskegee Airmen set the foundation of who I am today. The richness of my childhood experiences and my belief systems have had an undeniable impact on me both personally and professionally. Moreover, my professional journey as an African-American woman has included both lows and highs. Read More