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during challenging times is in anticipating needs for those in our community. For example, when someone is grieving we often will say things like “let me know if you need anything,” but people who are grieving often don’t know what they need because they’re often using all of their energy just to get through the next moment. So doing something like having their favorite food dishes delivered so they don’t have to think about what to eat or going over to do a few loads of laundry or dishes can help to take tasks off their plate so that they can just focus on grieving. ML: As a licensed psychologist, what do you see as the biggest challenges Black women face in accessing mental health care, and how can we work towards overcoming these barriers? Dr. Joy Harden Bradford: I think that some of the largest challenges include a lack of culturally responsive providers, lower rates of reimbursement for mental health providers making it more challenging for providers to accept insurance, and though it has been lessened, there is still significant stigma associated with mental health services. ML: In your experience, what are some effective ways to foster and maintain healthy friendships and sisterhoods? Dr. Joy Harden Bradford: The most effective ways to foster and maintain healthy friendships include being intentional about spending time with one another, being willing to navigate difficult conversations with one another, and being intentional about showing up for one another both during challenging times and in times of celebration. ML: How can individuals recognize and address toxic dynamics in their friendships and communities? Dr. Joy Harden Bradford: Our bodies tend to be our first indicators that a dynamic is toxic. We may have headaches or stomaches after spending time with someone or immediately before interacting with them. We may find ourselves avoiding contact with certain people or feeling annoyed or anxious with the idea of potential contact. These are all indicators that the dynamic with this person may not be one that is healthy or fulfilling for us. I also think that when you find yourself trying to tally how much you’ve done or how often you’ve shown up for someone else vs how often this has been reciprocated, this is also an indicator of a relationship where our needs may not be being prioritized. ML: Your work focuses on making mental health topics more accessible. What are some strategies you’ve found effective in engaging and educating your audience about these issues? Dr. Joy Harden Bradford: I have found tying mental health concepts to notable moments in pop culture largely effective in making the information more relevant and accessible. For example, the friendship breakup between Molly and Issa in Season 4 of “Insecure” provided an excellent opportunity to talk about friendship dynamics and sisterhood in a way that felt very accessible to many of those who watched. These kinds of moments can bring concepts to life in ways that allow us to be very engaged and less threatened because we’re discussing fictional characters. ML: Looking ahead, what are your hopes and plans for the future of Therapy for Black Girls and your work in the mental health field? Dr. Joy Harden Bradford: I am most excited about continuing to create opportunities for our community to gather with one another in person. We recently held our Inaugural Therapist Summit in Atlanta and it solidified for me the importance of spaces where mental health professionals can be vulnerable with one another but also have opportunities to play with one another. We cannot wait to get started on planning the next one. For further information, please visit: www.hellodrjoy.com. To follow her along socially, visit @hellodrjoy on Instagram. By ML staff. Images courtesy of Carol Lee Rose.