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 fit the stereotype of being “nervous all the time.” It can look like headaches, stomach aches, or muscle tension; trouble sleeping — whether too much or too little; or difficulty focusing and making decisions. It can show up in ways that are often overlooked or dismissed.

AT WORK Over-preparing for every meeting to avoid criticism. Saying “yes” to extra work despite exhaustion. Feeling physical symptoms (racing heart, sweaty palms) before presentations.
AT HOME Trouble relaxing — always cleaning, organizing, or staying busy. Neglecting self-care: showering less, skipping grooming, or wearing the same clothes. Snapping at loved ones without knowing why.
IN RELATIONSHIPS Overcompensating to keep the peace or avoid conflict. Avoiding intimacy or connection with your partner. Feeling guilty for needing time alone.
IN FRIENDSHIPS Withdrawing from social events. Feeling resentful when you’re the “strong friend” but never feel supported in return. Keeping struggles private to “not burden others.”
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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 ..

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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.

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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).

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.

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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.

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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.

The Role of Faith in Therapy

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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.

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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

  • Anxiety can show up in many ways, including excessive worry, restlessness, trouble sleeping, irritability, racing thoughts, fatigue, or physical symptoms like chest tightness or a rapid heartbeat. Recognizing the signs of anxiety early is an important step toward seeking mental health support and finding relief.

  • Black women often experience higher rates of anxiety due to the compounding effects of systemic racism, racial trauma, discrimination, and the societal pressure to appear strong or resilient at all times. These stressors, combined with limited access to culturally affirming care, can lead to chronic anxiety that is often overlooked or untreated.

  • Yes. Even long-standing anxiety can improve significantly with the right approach. Therapy is a powerful tool for managing chronic anxiety, especially for Black women who may carry unique emotional burdens. A culturally responsive therapist can help identify anxiety triggers, teach coping strategies, and provide tools to manage stress long-term. Therapy also offers a safe space to heal from past trauma and build emotional resilience.

  • Yes, Black Girls Mental Health Collective offers online therapy for Black women located in both California and Georgia. Our therapists specialize in supporting Black women with anxiety, depression, and perinatal mental health challenges. Virtual sessions make it easier to access therapy that’s affirming, convenient, and tailored to your needs.

  • 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.

  • Yes — if you wish, your therapist can incorporate prayer, scripture, or spiritual traditions into your sessions.

Additional Resources