Frum Therapist: Mental Health Resources for the Frum Community
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Mental Health Resources
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Breaking the Cycle:
Chronic Stress, Cultural Identity & the Strong Black Woman

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.

https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/Breakingthe222/view

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

Sunday, July 05, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT - 12:00 PM EDT

Presenter: Alana Atchison

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Course Length: 2 Hours

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.

This workshop Offers 2 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

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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.

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 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 the 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.
    • 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 Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
    • 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.

    Refunds
    Registrants who are unable to attend a Frum Therapist seminar or live workshop may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform Frum Therapist ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting (607) 249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.