August 17, 2026 By Lorin S. Burke LPC Maybe Healing Looks Different Than You Thought Black Girl Picnic 2026-Healing can look like community, joy, fellowship, and giving yourself permission to simply be. What if your anxiety is not telling you that you are weak—but that you have been carrying too much for too long? Permission is defined as the act of allowing someone to do something, or the state of being allowed to do something. As children, permission seemed simple. Mom, can I go outside?...

As a mental health therapist who has been practicing for over a decade, I am still amazed by the answers I hear when I ask people what they do for self-care. Many people mention getting their nails done, scheduling a hair appointment, shopping, taking a vacation, or enjoying a spa day. These activities can feel good and provide a temporary break from our responsibilities. However, true self-care is about much more than beauty appointments, purchases, or occasional escapes. Real self-care...

You have the degree. The career. The business. The family. The responsibilities. The accomplishments. From the outside, your life looks successful. So why do you feel so tired? Not "I need a nap" tired. Not "I had a busy week" tired. The kind of tired that sleep doesn't fix. The kind of tired that follows you into Monday morning. The kind of tired that makes you wonder: "Why does everyone think I'm doing so well when I feel like I'm barely holding it together?" As a maternal mental health...