Pride, Healing, & Liberation - Reflections on the Freedom Movement Conference
I feel proud.
Earlier this month, the Counseling Black Women (CBW) team, Dr. Michelle Lyn , Dr. Mahlet Endale , and myself, held our second conference – Freedom Movement: Liberating Black Women’s Mental Wellness in Atlanta, GA. The conference theme was liberating therapy from oppression to create the healing and transformative therapy experiences Black women deserve. The conference included four workshops exploring neurobiology and the impact of gendered racism on Black women’s mental health ( Ebony Glover, Ph.D. ); the use of CRT to advance clinical work with Black women (Dr. Devona Stalnaker-Shofner ); creating boundaries to heal generational trauma with Black women ( Ayanna Abrams, Psy.D. ); and a panel discussing worthiness, humanity, and sistahood as liberation (CBW team). Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered a gracious welcome address expressing his gratitude for hosting a conference centered around liberation and freedom in a city with a profound history of civil rights progression.
CBW’s first conference, the 2022 Worthiness, Womanness, Blackness: Counseling Black Women Conference, was a virtual event with participants from four countries. After both conferences, evaluations reported clinical, teaching, and/or scholarly growth by attendees. They expressed gaining tools that they could immediately implement to enhance their services to Black women – “This was amazing! I look to incorporate info into my teaching on abnormal psychology and multicultural psychology.” Overall, feedback expressed that the Freedom Movement’s objectives were met, “The entire program was amazing and very well executed. Thank you!”
But something else also happened at this conference – healer liberation. Even in a city with a high concentration of Black women and Black therapists, for many, a professional space focused solely on Black women’s mental wellness was a novel experience. Overwhelmingly, participants shared that they had never been in a conference space where they felt so seen and understood. They were moved and validated by hearing other Black women give voice to experiences they had been struggling with in isolation. Students expressed exhilaration to be surrounded and encouraged by Black women clinicians, psychiatrists, and professors. Throughout workshops, vocalized “um-hum”, “yes”, and “ahh” expressed connection and affirmation. At the end of the conference, participants expressed the need for more spaces centering Black women's wellness and empowerment.
Transformative experiences are often emotional experiences - topics, stories, insights, and expressions of gratitude moved many of the participants and speakers to tears. That part. For Black women who have internalized the Strong Black Women schema (SBWS), in which emotional vulnerability is considered a show of weakness, to allow themselves to be moved to tears is liberation. To be vulnerable with your sisters and allies, and leave feeling compassion and support is healing. To be a Black woman honoring her humanity is freedom.
“This talk was personally empowering.” * “Empowering to know that I can rest.” * “This has also healed me.” * “I just loved the show of love and appreciation!” * “This whole program felt like liberation.”
“I feel proud” – expressing this is a part of my personal growth, emancipation from the SBWS, and journey towards liberation. During our CBW debrief, Drs. Lyn and Endale described me as a “visionary”. Hearing this, my body tensed and tightened, it did not want to receive that feedback. I was raised by a SBW and internalized societal commands to work harder, never be weak, and outperform others. Therefore, excelling means little, in the words of comedian Chris Rock, “That’s what you’re supposed to do”. So, when I receive feedback that I have done a good job, that my work is appreciated, or even someone saying “Thank you”, I often reject or dismiss it. As I am challenged in sitting in my greatness, compliments are misinterpreted as expressions of surprise for the caliber of my work. "Thank you" leaves me feeling guarded because I receive kindness as a possible attempt to manipulate me into free labor or some other tasks suggesting my inferiority. Thus, my body reacts and I expeditiously move on to the next thing that the SBWS is telling me I am supposed to do. Sounds crazy right?!, but I wonder how many other Black women can relate?
As I continue my separation from the SBWS, today, I allow myself to express pride. I am proud of all the work that went into making this conference a reality. I am proud of how seamlessly the conference flowed. I am proud that because of these efforts, more Black women will receive the therapy they deserve. I am proud that attendees felt personally touched and honored. I am proud to acknowledge my humanity and embrace my full range of emotions including pride and joy. Yet, I remain humble, am grateful for this experience, and am blessed to work with a team that encourages my authenticity. Granted, it will still take a moment for me to breathe in “visionary” :).
Learn more about Dr. Kimber Shelton and Counseling Black Women
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Kimber Shelton, PhD
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