Today, I successfully defended my dissertation and became Dr. Francois! There’s so much I could say, but I am so grateful for my committee and village for believing in my work.
#BlackGirlhood
The occupational therapist, Christine Priola worked for Cleveland Metropolitan School District. 64.1% of Black students make up the school population. There are a bunch of “Christine’s” attempting to “hold space” for our Black kids when they are causing more harm. Hire Black ppl
Do you know the difference between lazy and relaxing? Do you know the difference between isolation and solitude? Do you know the difference between boundaries and avoidance?
No.
I can’t.
I won’t.
I am busy.
I don’t want to.
I don’t have the emotional capacity for that.
That is out of my scope of expertise.
Thank you, but I am not interested in this opportunity.
I know my schedule is open, but I am using it to rest.
*Lets normalize these phrases*
I truly believe many don’t understand what “check on your friends” really mean. It’s not a “hey hope all is well” text you send out. It’s not liking/commenting on their social posts. It’s the unfiltered, raw, vulnerable conversations you have with each other and following up.
My man my man my man is a REAL ONE!
Getting a PhD is very hard as a first time mom and a wife. He’s seen it all and we are still standing! God has truly kept us and I can’t wait to see the impact we make as parents
I gave my husband access to one of my secret boards on Pinterest and he went and brought everything on there. It’s so important for me to be with someone who takes action just like my dad did for me. 💜🥺
Can I get 100+ Black women to order my book, so I can donate to Black girls in foster care and residential programs? You’ll get a discount ordering through me. DM me. Repost. Let’s give our Black girls the safe spaces they need.
#TheStateOfBlackGirls
A lot of PhD students are already experts in a particular area. I wish more doctoral students leveraged their skills to create passive income streams (speaking, training, books, digital products, consulting) instead of being told not to work and to rely solely on a stipend.
One observation I’ve noticed about healthy relationships/marriages (at least w/ those around me/my tribe), they are truly enjoying their relationship and not out here giving advice on the internet nor trying to create a brand from it.
Just two Jersey girls running mental health practices in NJ while navigating a PhD 💖 my professional circle is small, but mighty! The food was so good too 😬
#BlackWomenCEO
#PennStateGrads
I’m officially an author. This book is a self-help book for Black girls addressing the need to create safe spaces. Please share this post and get your book
#TheStateOfBlackGirls
Social media marketing tip: It is never wise to send your events/flyers to people’s DM if you don’t follow nor engage w/ them without an introduction. Also, don’t ask me to promote it if we never talk or it doesn’t align w/ what I (not you) want to bring to my audience.
It’s pulling up to just sit in silence with them. It’s pulling up to cry with them. It’s pulling up to laugh with them. It’s helping them make their first therapy appointment. It’s being gentle even when they disclose they’re ready to give it all up.
@TheJessieWoo
Bachelors - Psychology
Masters - Social Work
PHD student in Family Sciences & Human Development
My role: I own a therapy practice for women and teen girls in NJ 🇭🇹
@DE2344
@jmcmaster29
Thank you. I’m vaxxed, still get tested, only hang out with vaxxed folks and wear my masks around non-vaxxed. I haven’t paid much attention to rates this is sad to hear
My dissertation is officially published! This one is for every little Black girl! Forever grateful they shared what they needed to feel safe in school & their mental health
Dear Black and Brown Social Workers,
The next time an organization asks you to speak for free or says “we don’t have it in our budget to pay you”, you are allowed to say no. Don’t give away your intellectual property for free. But look what SW gets paid $100k to speak
My therapy practice will address the lack of access to culturally responsive therapists for minority individuals. We will provide free supervision, flexible schedule for our workers and also find ways to give free therapy to Black girls. I’m making an effort to focus on equity.
2020 Challenge for Black women:
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
MENTOR A BLACK GIRL
Then there’s the National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network that offers 6 therapy sessions ($100 per session value) applications closes April 13, 2022
I’m sure there are more, but those are the ones I’m aware of. Additionally, some private practices (like myself) may have received funding to provide free therapy. We are currently covering 5 free sessions for 50 Black teen girls in 3 different schools in Northern NJ.
These white therapists are VERY quiet when it comes to the injustices of Black people in America. How could I EVER refer an AA client to you if you aren’t even advocating for brown and Black people.
As someone who’s not only a therapist, but has a sibling who battled with multiple attempts over the last decade, you really gotta be patient with them. It’s heavy I can promise you that, but always make time for your people b/c some feel like they’re a burden to ppl. Love them.
I’m happy Naomi is prioritizing her mental health. It’s sad she’s being fined and this just reminds me so much of how the world loves to see Black girls and women overworking themselves, but never leave room for many to just EXIST, BE and just REST.
Prayer is so powerful. There are just some things in life you just need to bring in prayer for the Lord to handle. Sometimes we be doing too much in our own strength.
The sad part is another school will hire her because a lot of people in leadership in these schools are white people and probably support this terroristic behavior. I just want more Black administrators + educators in our communities + support for our Black teachers
No matter how busy people assume I may be, I will always make time for my family and friends. This is one of the reasons, I choose to do brunch dates so we can have raw conversations in-person and just cry/laugh/support one another. My business/grad program will never come first.
I’ve come to realize so many women struggle with celebrating other women. It goes way beyond jealousy, sometimes it’s tied to them not seeing their own mothers celebrating other women or them as daughters. Building healthy sisterhood matters.
Another one. Tweet from
@CarlyEDallas
Oh yay for this much needed thread! ❤️ Also, in the Baltimore area, here's one that gives stipends for folx seeking therapy (application round just closed, will reopen again):
As a therapist who identifies as a Christian (first) above my other intersection of identifies, I respectfully disagree. I have seen many Christian therapists cause more harm to clients due to their judgmental practices especially for married counseling, DV cases and trauma.
Black Girls living in luxury
Our occupations:
- CEO of therapy group practice
- Project Manager - Federal Agency
- Physician Assistant
- C-Suite Executive
My lifelong friendship. We lift as we climb. All of my friends are quiet forces. 🇭🇹
I know May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but I hope mental health professionals are taking care of themselves. Like really taking good care of themselves and lightening their load this month.
It’s the details for me. My dream baby shower came to life today. I’ll be sharing professional images/video soon 🥰 Baby Madden is so loved and I’m so blessed for my community.
My worth is not in my work. This is why I have no shame resting for long periods of time. There’s a level of grace and favor God gives you when you just take a pause from “Doing” and just be. 🧡
So yea, I’m officially obsessed with my baby. A year ago my dad left this earth and my beautiful baby boy couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.
Grief and joy can co-exist and I’m just in awe of how last August I was hit w/ my dad’s death/miscarriage and now I’m a mom 🙌🏾😭💜
The decline in the mental health of children and adolescents and worsening suicide rates have led some states to allow students to take mental health days off from school.
Black girls shouldn’t have to feel the need to be “on” when they aren’t at their optimal level of performance or creativity. But we live in a society that shames Black girls for how they respond to trauma.
Just because you received an invitation for a seat at the table doesn’t mean you need to accept it. Always assess the environment and integrity of those you commune with. Big names and titles don’t mean much. Character should outweigh popularity.
Unless you genuinely check in on people, there are things you won’t ever know they are experiencing in their lives. Saying a special prayer for those dealing with silent battles that people aren’t aware of 💜
I think Therapist Twitter needs to take a long break on the content they post on social media and go live their life. Like, do y’all hang out with non-therapist folks or no? I’m genuinely asking because you are more than your professional title.
Making your yearly salary in a month is very doable. I want social workers to start thinking outside of the box, be strategic, innovate and get creative. I’m a living testimony of this without burning out 💜
Next PhD milestone completed! Officially passed comps and will be a PhD candidate! I’m looking forward to my dissertation prospectus 💗
I’m on a mission to create safe spaces for Black girls with my work 👧🏾👩🏿🦱👱🏾
#DrFrancoisLoading
One of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy is not talking to other moms about my pregnancy (except for my besties). Folks have a way of projecting fear and giving unsolicited advice that I had no interest in. My boundaries was on 10000%
Our generation have become so obsessed with securing the bag that they neglect spending time with their family and loved ones. Please rest, travel (non-business trips), go visit your grandma, call your little cousins, don’t miss your friends’ baby shower, etc. Refocus your time.
Social Work is really an amazing profession. Like you can be a therapist, researcher, policymaker, educator and scientist all in one!
#SocialWorkTwitter
Secured a school contract for The State of Black Girls programming and I am just in awe. God gets all the glory! I’m excited to offer mental health programming for girls 👧🏾 Nothing but favor!
I know we’ll start to see a lot of “finish the year strong” messages online. I’m here to tell you, it’s okay if you choose to rest and use that as your marker of success. Sometimes, success looks like taking a break and for that, be proud of yourself.
Physical Self-Care Check In’s:
👩🏾⚕️Call your doc and get a physical
👩🏽⚕️See your dentist for your teeth
👩🏾⚕️Get your eyes checked out
👩🏾⚕️Go see your GYNO
👩🏾💻 Schedule that therapy appointment
💆🏽♀️ Hydrate your face daily
Great day delivering The State of Black Girls Wellness Group for tweens today! We are covering so much in 6-weeks about mental health, intersectionality and Black girlhood 🩷👧🏾
#TheStateOfBlackGirls
I love the fact that I can rest and know that what’s for me is for me. I won’t hustle my way to the top. I will work hard, but within my capacity. Burnout isn’t my ministry.
Discern when someone is giving you Godly wisdom or projecting their own insecurities when it comes to your calling. Everyone isn’t equipped to speak to you in certain seasons and it is completely okay. Solitude and rest will teach you some things like clarity.
If you listen to Black girls long enough, they’ve been saying this for a long time! “My school therapist don’t care about me”....”my guidance counselor told me I shouldn’t apply to my top schools”
Dear therapists, please find moments to be still and take good care of yourself. Some of your clients can sense when you’re overwhelmed and exhausted. Take a day (or a week) off to be still, rest, and implement new self-care habits.
Happy Four Years of Entrepreneurship to me. On this day, I started my therapy practice to serve women and girls. Now, it’s a team of 6 of us (all Black women) pouring into the NJ community. I’m grateful for those that trusted in our services and refer clients to us💞
In 2022, my therapy practice held 3,105 therapy sessions and served over 230 women and girls. We also delivered mental health programs to 500+ youth in schools/organizations. This year, we will continue to focus on the mission to provide a safe space to feel seen and heard 💗
I am so glad I wrote The State of Black Girls and not The State of ALL girls. Black girls are brilliant and need to be heard and protected at all cost.
I wish students were able to take a sabbatical from school this year. Instead, allow schools to focus on life skills, social emotional learning, fun workshops, etc. for this academic school year. Because the pressure to perform is unrealistic in a pandemic. 😢
My team of therapists all met in-person this weekend. They’re so passionate about being therapists and it’s a blessing to have Black therapists serve our Black and brown community 💕 Aint no code switching over here! Safe and affirming space for women and girls 💁🏾♀️🧘🏾♀️
I really want to have a conversation with my first gen Caribbean who don’t live at home with their parents. How often do your parents call you? If they call you daily, is it to check in on you or to ask you to do things for them? Do you feel stressed after talking to them?
Shared this on IG and so many people in NJ booked consultations to see a therapist within my practice. So many were also unaware of therapy directories. If you’re a therapist and have the capacity to do so, please post more video content. People are looking for therapists.
All things Black girls and mental health in my book with practical tools and tips for depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, breakups, selfcare, goal setting, colorism, Black girls in white spaces, bullying, social media, self care and more
Discern when someone is giving you Godly wisdom or projecting their own insecurities when it comes to your calling. Everyone isn’t equipped to speak to you in certain seasons and it is completely okay. Solitude and rest will teach you some things like clarity. 🤗