Collective Care for Liberation: Q&A with Healing x Justice

This year, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Frances Y. Adomako and Della V. Mosley, two dynamic friends, scholars, activists, and wellness warriors. They are both pursuing a career in Counseling Psychology and are committed to educating community organizers, individual and collective wellness strategies through their organization, Healing x Justice. We asked them a few questions about their journeys in this line of work, tools for building care strategies, and their visions of collective healing.

How did you come to this specific work of Counseling Psychology that is grounded in a Black feminist social justice lens and why do you believe this perspective in psychology is important?

DELLA V. MOSLEY: I was led to the field of Counseling Psychology after having an incredibly beautiful and challenging work experience at a Job Corps center. There was a disproportionate number of Black youth, and particularly Black queer youth, being enrolled in this “second chance” program and I got curious as to why. These students shared with me story after story of systemic failures (e.g., having teachers who would allow homonegative speech in class go unchecked and subsequently dropping out, being discriminated against when they applied for jobs based on their gender presentation and therefore experiencing chronic unemployment) and I was moved to see what I could do to change this system. I thought that by getting an advanced degree I could not only help these students directly, as I was doing at the Job Corps, but to make an impact on the system.

And that is why a Black feminist social justice lens became critical. So often, people seek to improve outcomes for folks experiencing oppression by working with the individuals and ignoring the systems creating the experiences of oppression. Black feminism provided the tools to understand and intervene against the interlocking systems of oppression (thank you Combahee River Collective, Kimberle Crenshaw, and all the Black feminists who gave us this lens) impacting Black queer youth. In addition to the system-level analysis tools, Black feminism helped me to also see and work with the communities I cared about in a way that was empowering, collectivistic, strengths-focused, and holistic. The Black feminist works I was consuming taught me how to simply be with people through their joys and their struggles (Dr. Chamara Kwakye, Dr. Ruth Nicole Brown, and SOLHOT stand out) and to help people increase their critical consciousness so they could externalize those experiences that were not about the individual but connected to a bigger systemic issue (Dr. Menah Pratt-Clarke, Dr. Helen Neville, Dr. Beverly Greene stand out).

Because Counseling Psychologists are concerned with prevention, holistic wellness, social justice, and development over the lifespan, it seemed like the perfect discipline for me to integrate this Black feminist lens as I focused my clinical and research work primarily on Black and queer youth and communities.

FRANCES Y. ADOMAKO: For me, Counseling Psychology was a natural choice in the field of psychology. I recall my 7th-grade report card when my social studies teacher commented that “Frances is very outspoken and never hesitates to share what’s on her mind.” I think most people who know me understands this about me and would say that it underlies my beliefs and values in social justice and Black Feminism in my personal and professional life. As a child, I was moved by the works of Toni Morrison, bell hooks, and Maya Angelou. My undergraduate career, at St. John’s University, was rooted in Black social movements and Black Feminism. I was and continue to be inspired by the Black feminist praxis of the Black women of Combahee, Black Feminists like Patricia Hill Collins, as well as my mentors and educators Drs. Roderick Bush and Natalie Byfield. They modeled for me the definition and importance of social justice identity, emphasizing the interconnections of race, gender, and class oppression within and outside the academy.

After leaving college, I worked in nonprofit as a case manager, where many of my clients were Black women involved with the civil court system. There, I came face to face with the personal cost(s) of systemic racism and injustice within mental health and the justice system. During this experience, I longed for the knowledge and skill set to be able to address their issues. I often found myself in disagreement with supervisors, attorneys, and judges over the ways in which to support and enhance their well-being, leading me to pursue an advanced degree in Counseling Psychology.

The work of Counseling Psychologists is to not only recognize the impact of systemic oppression on the well-being of the individual but also to work to change it. My experiences formed a solid foundation from which to think about, express, and put into action the vision of The Black Feminist project (understanding and moving beyond the interlocking systems of oppression in the creation of a new reality). In my research and clinical practice (I am grateful for the encouragement and support of Drs. Gizelle Carr and Kevin Washington), I utilize this lens, investigating and incorporating approaches in Black mental health that are strength focused, empowering, and culturally affirming.

What are the tools and tips Black women and girls can use to become more self aware and recognize when we need to take a break to take care of ourselves?

DELLA: One strategy that I would recommend for Black women and girls involves taking ten minutes a day for silence and self-reflection. Some people may call it mindfulness, others may call it prayer time, and others just lay in bed and reflect before waking or falling asleep. But intentionally gifting yourself with just ten minutes of “me time” can be so impactful. Different days we need different things. So beginning a practice of setting aside time to check in with what may be needed and how that need can be met is a real liberatory gift. This is particularly important for us Black girls and women who are constantly giving and externally focused. So I’d say permit yourself to regularly pause and indulge in self-reflection without shame. You are worthy of wellness.

FRANCES: One strategy that I suggest is taking time for self, to be. This can be 30 minutes, 1 hour, or an entire day. Do something you enjoy by yourself. This can be lounging on the couch watching your favorite show or movie, getting your hair/nails done, reading, listening to music or your favorite podcast, or journaling. It’s important to make this practice a habit and as a way to check in with self, slow down, and just be. I also recommend looking at the different parts of your life, explore where most of your energy is being spent, reflect on ways in which you can prioritize and rearrange. Think about what aspects bring you joy and peace, and find ways to infuse that throughout all the different areas. Writing it down may be helpful.

Photo courtesy of Della Mosley

Photo Courtesy of Frances Adomako

How do you define collective healing and how does it impact the pursuit of liberation for all?

DELLA: Collective healing is about sharing your truth with those you trust and going where that sharing guides you. Black girls and women been healing one another as long as we have been around. It takes so many forms. I experience collective healing when I travel home and cook with my sister and mom, when I talk with women in my loctician’s shop, and when I laughcry-strategize with my girlfriends. I also help facilitate it in more formal ways by hosting healing circles, therapy groups, and workshops. Collective healing is just a process of recognizing that we heal through vulnerability and relationship with others. As we share our truths and work toward wellness publicly, others tend to feel more comfortable to do the same. I have watched so many people start a wave of connection and wellness by being that first person to say “hey friend(s)/fam I need space to talk, in a real way” or “hey cuz I’m hurting and I need y’all to squad up around me right now.” Folks are literally changing the way their relationships look and feel, and subsequently how well they feel, by taking these initial “risks” of vulnerability.

FRANCES: Collective healing has two components. The first is interpersonal and the recognition that your individual wellness is in relation to the wellness of others. That is in caring for yourself, you are caring for your relationship with others (e.g. family, romantic partners, and friends). For example, in engaging in the self-care practice of listening to my favorite podcast, it improves my mood/intrapersonal health, thereby ultimately healing my relationship with myself and those who are connected to me. The second component is group wellness. Group wellness occurs when we take steps to improve the well-being of our communities. For group wellness, activities that include working with local community organizations around different issues ( e.g. #BlackLivesMatter and police brutality, mass incarceration, and school to prison pipeline) or informing the public via social media or online blog about mental health issues in the Black community or other marginalized group is engaging in collective healing. Both the interpersonal and group healing must occur simultaneously. It is healing that recognizes that individual liberation goes hand in hand with group liberation and is firmly rooted in the African tradition of Ubuntu, “I am because we are.”

What are some of the resources and self-care practices that you believe are critical for Black girls to learn and practice while they are young?

DELLA: The Shine app is amazing for Black girls! I highly recommend at least signing up for the daily text by Shine if you do not want the app. You give your number and indicate the time you want the message to come and it gives just the perfect self-care message to center you as you start your day. Journaling is a classic recommendation but is really healing as it can help you sort out and clarify your thoughts and so I have to urge folks to journal. Be creative with it, keep a photo journal, a gratitude journal, use an app like Day One, get a gorgeous notebook, whatever fits you at the time. And though it is repetitive, taking ten minutes a day for self, one way or another, is clutch!

FRANCES: In the age of technology and social media, self-care can come in many forms. I recommend listening to podcasts by Therapy for Black Girls, and Melanin & Mental Health. They also have social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) so follow them, as they are a great resource! If you need to step away from social media (or this can be in addition to), I recommend starting/ organizing a group with classmates and peers. You can establish a safe space with some ground rules and explore different topics that are relevant to your experiences. This can be really helpful in developing a support system, enhancing interpersonal skills, and promoting collective wellness.

In your journey so far as activists, therapists, and Black women, what have you learned while doing this work?

DELLA: Wow, what a question. I have learned so much about myself, about the beauty and challenges our community faces, about how this world oppresses folks similarly and differently, and about how we resist and find joy in the face of all that. So many lessons to share from this journey. I guess, to choose one, maybe the lesson that has been on my mind recently is around the power in finding possibility models and maintaining relationships with mentors. I have learned the importance of being in community with people who have your back, who are smart, who are loving, who are giving, who are “about you” in terms of your all-around wellness. I learned that when there isn’t a structure for these connections, you can and have to create them. And that when you create them you need to nurture them.

There is so much wisdom around each of us and we can allow ourselves to tap into it to honor the people and stories we are gifted with. I have mentors who I talk to monthly and I know that I am being healed and growing into the woman I want to be as a direct result of these relationships. I also have possibility models (brilliant activists, healers, therapists, artists, researchers, etc.) who I do not know personally but watch via social media or listen to on podcasts that help me see my potential and imagine possibilities for myself that I may not have otherwise. I guess there is a theme of connection in all of my responses, as I feel that we grow through relationships. My experiences have shown me that fostering positive relationships can be time-consuming, difficult, risky, and more (particularly in a society that is highly transactional, competitive, and focused on productivity) but that they are growth promoting, healing, and worth the effort.

FRANCES: To echo a mentor, “you must always be with and about the people, Frances.” I have learned many lessons, but this is perhaps the most important lesson I have learned. I have also learned that it is not easy, it comes at a cost, and it can sometimes be overwhelming. As a result, for me, it has been important to connect with my sources of power in engaging in work that is both challenging and fulfilling. This includes the support of my family, friends, and professional mentors and colleagues. I am encouraged by the work that they do in their own lives and the ways in which they support and encourage my work. During my most difficult times, they have imagined possibilities that I have failed to see and lifted my spirits in immeasurable ways. We build, we collaborate, we connect, and we affirm each other. In essence, they are my tribe, helping me to not only survive but to thrive. The goal of our project as activists, therapists, and Black women, must always be to thrive for self, each other, and the community!

Editor’s Note: Della and Frances shared so many amazing resources and nuggets of wisdom through their interviews. If you want to learn more about Black feminist theory or gain new self-care tools, head to our Resource in Practice section of the Beautiful Project Journal, Issue 3 on page 50.