At the start of a new year, it’s common to see people vow to take a month-long break from alcohol. But as research continues to uncover the toll that alcohol can take on our overall health, Dry January has evolved from a yearly challenge into a full-on lifestyle change towards mindful drinking. Now, a lot more of us are asking, “What does it look like to invite more sober moments into everyday life?” This is where the idea of sober curiosity comes in. It’s not about adopting a complete anti-alcohol mindset, but about looking at it as more of an option rather than a necessity.

Here to dive into exploring sober curiosity with us is returning guest, Kristen Feemster, LMFT. As a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified personal trainer, she aims for wellness in both physical and mental health in her work. Today we’ll chat about what sober curiosity really means and why this movement is resonating so deeply for so many of us. We’ll also talk about practical ways to step into sober curiosity and how to build a lifestyle that feels sustainable and rewarding for your overall well-being.

About the Podcast

The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

Resources & Announcements

Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together.

You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week.

Did you know you can leave us a voice note with your questions for the podcast? If you have a question you'd like some feedback on, topics you'd like to hear covered, or want to suggest movies or books for us to review, drop us a message at memo.fm/therapyforblackgirls and let us know what’s on your mind. We just might share it on the podcast.

Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.

Where to Find Our Guest

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Stay Connected​

Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox.

If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory.

Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop.

The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.

Make sure to follow us on social media:

Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls

Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls

Our Production Team

Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Gabrielle Collins

Director of Podcast & Digital Content: Ellice Ellis

Producers: Tyree Rush & Ndeye Thioubou

Production Assistant: Bria Mosley

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Advisory Council members, Fatima, Jya, and Mikayla joined us this week for a lively and insightful group chat about what Spring Break really looks like at different stages of the college journey. They also discussed Black Spring Break Houston; the joy, the community, and the misconceptions; and how to approach it with safety, intention, and authenticity. We also talked about the financial realities of Spring Break, how to resist the pressure to keep up with social media aesthetics, and how to use this time off as a meaningful mental health reset.

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Interested in being a part of a future TBG U episode or suggesting a topic for us to discuss, send us a note HERE.

Order a copy of Sisterhood Heals for you and your girls HERE.

Our Production Team

Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Gabrielle Collins

Director of Podcast & Digital Content: Ellice Ellis

Producer: Tyree Rush & Ndeye Thioubou

Production Assistant: Bria Mosley

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we think about depression, there’s a common image that comes to mind–sleeping all day or not enough, withdrawing from responsibilities, and feeling an overall inability to function. And while that image is accurate, it doesn’t tell the whole story of what depression can look like. For many people, especially Black women, depression can show on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of withdrawing, we give too much, thrusting ourselves into our jobs, family responsibilities, and overcommitting to whatever keeps us constantly in motion.

This is what’s referred to as high-functioning depression and here to unpack what that really looks like is a guest you may have heard on the show before, Dr. Judith Joseph. In her book, ‘High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy’, she explores how depression can hide behind competence and accomplishment, particularly for people who have been conditioned to cling to resilience in their most challenging moments.

About the Podcast

The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

Resources & Announcements

Want to reflect on this conversation in community? Join us inside our Patreon community where we’re unpacking this episode together.

You can now catch episodes of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week.

Did you know you can leave us a voice note with your questions for the podcast? If you have a question you'd like some feedback on, topics you'd like to hear covered, or want to suggest movies or books for us to review, drop us a message at memo.fm/therapyforblackgirls and let us know what’s on your mind. We just might share it on the podcast.

Grab your copy of Sisterhood Heals.

Where to Find Our Guest

Instagram

Grab your copy of High Functioning.

Stay Connected​

Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it at therapyforblackgirls.com/mailbox.

If you're looking for a therapist in your area, check out the directory at https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/directory.

Grab your copy of our guided affirmation and other TBG Merch at therapyforblackgirls.com/shop.

The hashtag for the podcast is #TBGinSession.

Make sure to follow us on social media:

Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls

Facebook: @therapyforblackgirls

Our Production Team

Executive Producers: Dennison Bradford & Gabrielle Collins

Director of Podcast & Digital Content: Ellice Ellis

Producers: Tyree Rush & Ndeye Thioubou

Production Assistant: Bria Mosley

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.