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Breaking the Cycle: Chronic Stress, Cultural Identity & the Strong Black Woman

Previously Recorded
Alana Atchison
$39.99

This course explores the clinical and cultural dimensions of chronic stress in Black women, with a focus on how the Strong Black Woman identity—while rooted in resilience—can contribute to emotional suppression, unrealistic expectations, and long-term health consequences. Drawing on insights from over eight years of clinical work, Dr. Alana Atchison examines how chronic stress often stems from the breakdown of the StrongBlackWoman identity, as well as unhealed trauma and unresolved emotional wounds. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how racialized gender roles, internalized pressure to “perform strength,” and disconnection from spirit and community drive emotional and physical distress.

 

Grounded in African-centered psychology, the course offers practical, culturally responsive strategies for helping clients move from survival to wholeness. Attendees will learn how to identify and interrupt harmful coping patterns, promote assertive communication, and integrate healing practices that reconnect Black women to their identity, spirit, and sense of balance. This course is ideal for clinicians who want to deepen their cultural competence and support the liberation and well-being of Black women in therapeutic spaces.

About the Presenter

Dr. Alana Atchison is a board-certified clinical psychologist with a private practice based in New York City, where she has served Black women clients for over 8 years. Her work focuses on trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, and the emotional toll of living under constant pressure to be “strong.” Dr. Atchison blends clinical insight with culturally grounded strategies to help women reconnect with rest, identity, and spirit. She is passionate about creating healing spaces where Black women can move from survival to wholeness.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the clinical and cultural impact of chronic stress in Black women, including how it manifests emotionally, physically, and behaviorally.
  2. Explain how the Strong Black Woman identity contributes to emotional suppression, unrealistic expectations, and disconnection from spirit.
  3. Identify at least three culturally grounded strategies clinicians can use to help Black women clients move from chronic stress toward healing and emotional balance.

Agenda:

00:00 – 00:10 | Welcome & Grounding

    - Brief introduction of presenter

    • - Review of course objectives

    • - Grounding reflection: “What does it mean to be strong?”

    00:10 – 00:25 | Understanding Chronic Stress in Black Women

    • - Define chronic stress (emotional, physical, and spiritual toll

      - Discuss common presentations in clinical settings

    • - Case vignette example

    00:25 – 00:40 | The Strong Black Woman Schema

    • - Origins and cultural significance

    • - Key features: emotional suppression, caregiving, hyper-independence

    • - Discussion: How does this show up in your clients or yourself?

    00:40 – 00:55 | Clinical Implications & Disconnection from Spirit

    • - How performance of strength leads to burnout and disconnection

    • - Explore the connection between cultural identity and health outcomes

    • - Guided discussion: What’s being missed in traditional care models?

    00:55 – 01:10 | Healing Through a Culturally Grounded Lens

    • - Introduce African-centered healing principles (spirit, balance, community, harmony)

    • - Practical tools: boundary-setting, assertive communication, reconnecting with joy

    • - Activity: Review and personalize sample healing strategies

    01:10 – 01:25 | Advocacy, Application & Reflection

    • - Role of the therapist: healer, mirror, model

    • - Invite participants to reflect: “What can I shift in my work or in myself?”

    • - Group share-out or journaling moment (optional)

    01:25 – 01:30 | Q&A + Closing Remarks

    • - Final thoughts

    • - Resource link/QR code and contact info

    • - Thank you 

    This workshop offers 2 Continuing Education Credits
    This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

    This presentation is open to:
    • Social Workers
    • Professional Counselors
    • Therapists
    • Psychologists
    • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
    • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
    • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
    Course Level: intermediate
    Level of Clinician: intermediate
    • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
    • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
    • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
    • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

    Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

    Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
    There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
    • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
      CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
    • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
    Refund Policy:
    Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
    48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
    *exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.