Therapy for Anxiety
Anxiety in Black Women: More Than Just Worry
Anxiety in Black women can feel like a constant weight — a mind that won’t turn off, a body that can’t rest, and a heart that’s always bracing for the next blow. For many of us, the pressures of being “strong” at work, keeping the family together, and showing up for everyone else leave little room to care for ourselves.
What Anxiety Looks Like in Black Women
For some Black women, anxiety doesn’t look like the stereotype of someone who’s “nervous all the time.” It can show up in ways that are often overlooked or dismissed:
Physical Symptoms:
✔ Headaches, stomach aches, muscle tension.
✔ Sleep problems — either sleeping too much or barely sleeping at all.
✔ Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
Why Black Women Experience Higher Rates of Anxiety
Anxiety among Black women is often fueled by the intersection of systemic racism, gender discrimination, and cultural expectations. The constant need to navigate microaggressions, economic pressures, and unsafe environments can keep the nervous system in a near-constant state of alert.
Studies show that racial discrimination is linked to higher rates of generalized anxiety disorder in Black women, and the “Strong Black Woman” trope can make it harder to seek help, even when symptoms are severe ..
Barriers to Getting Help for Anxiety
Many Black women delay seeking therapy because:
We’ve been socialized to be “strong” no matter what.
Past experiences with culturally insensitive providers make it hard to trust.
Anxiety symptoms may be dismissed as “stress” or “attitude” rather than a legitimate mental health concern.
A lack of representation in therapy means many never see themselves reflected in the mental health space.
Is Anxiety Treatable? Absolutely.
With the right support, anxiety is highly treatable. We pair proven tools with care that sees your full context—workload, family roles, faith, racism, and everything in between—so the plan fits your real life in California and Georgia (in-person in Long Beach, Concord, and Atlanta, or online statewide).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
How it helps: Spots anxious thinking traps (“If I’m not perfect, I’ll be judged”), tests those thoughts against facts, and builds calmer, more empowering beliefs.
What it looks like: Brief, structured sessions with home practice; tools for meetings, hard conversations, and sleep.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
How it helps: When anxiety is tied to past experiences (e.g., racial discrimination, medical/birth trauma, unsafe workplaces), EMDR helps your brain reprocess those memories so they stop triggering your body today.
What it looks like: Guided sets of bilateral stimulation while recalling target memories; relief without needing to retell every detail.
A therapist who understands your world
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
How it helps: Reduces “what-if” spirals and tension by training attention back to the present (breath, body, senses).
What it looks like: Brief daily practices you can do between meetings, in the car, or before bed.
You won’t have to code-switch or explain every reference. We’ll connect skills to your life—boundaries at work, caregiving demands, faith commitments—so change sticks.
Faith, Culture, and Healing
For many Black women, faith is not just a coping mechanism — it’s the anchor that keeps us grounded when everything else feels uncertain. We recognize that your spirituality, church community, and cultural traditions are part of your identity, and therapy should honor, not replace, those connections.
In our sessions, faith can be integrated in a way that feels authentic to you. This could mean:
Opening or closing sessions with prayer.
Reflecting on scripture or spiritual texts alongside therapeutic tools.
Using meditation or mindfulness practices rooted in your cultural heritage.
Exploring how your faith community can be a source of support while also setting healthy boundaries.
We also recognize that some Black women may have complicated relationships with faith due to church hurt, exclusion, or trauma. Therapy can be a space to unpack those experiences safely, without judgment, and explore new ways of connecting spiritually that align with your well-being.
Your healing journey is personal — and for many, it’s strongest when it honors mind, body, spirit, and culture together.
Online & In-Person Anxiety Therapy — Accessible and Confidential
Whether you’re in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Concord, Atlanta, or anywhere in California or Georgia, you can choose what works best for you. Our secure telehealth platform connects you with a Black woman therapist from the comfort of your own home, and our in-person sessions offer a safe, welcoming space if you prefer to meet face-to-face.
Meet Our Black Women Therapists
Therapy for Anxiety FAQs
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Yes — we accept multiple insurance plans in California and Georgia. These include: United Healthcare (Optum), Oxford (Optum), United Healthcare Medicare Advantage, Anthem Blue Cross California, Anthem EAP (Bank of America),Blue Shield of California, Carelon Behavioral Health, Magellan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Quest Behavioral Health, & Aetna
Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey, Independence Blue Cross Pennsylvania, Cigna We also offer therapy vouchers for eligible Black women currently pregnant or within one year postpartum.
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Yes. Even long-standing anxiety can improve significantly with the right approach.
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Yes — if you wish, your therapist can incorporate prayer, scripture, or spiritual traditions into your sessions.
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We provide therapy online throughout California and Georgia.