There’s not a shortage of worldly happenings over the last few years that have shaken everyone up. The GU Summit held a transparent conversation about mental health practices and how this generation can move forward. 

Associate editor D’Shonda Brown moderated our Mind Over Chatter: Taking Control Of Your Mental Health panel with Amber Dee, Founder, and CEO of Black Female + Male Therapist, discussing boundaries, emotional baggage, and showing up for yourself. 

Amongst cultural, gender, and identity discoveries, what are the best practices to balance personal and uncontrollable happenings? Our panelist Amber Dee discusses recognizing trauma and safe and progressive mental health practices in the conversation. “Acknowledge [your truama] and then figure out how to let it go,” Dee said. “Whether you’re going through something or not, therapy can help you process.”

_{^{ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 05: Amber Dee and D’Shonda Brown onstage during the ESSENCE Girls United’s (GU) Summit at Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center on November 05, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)}}

Oftentimes, Black women put on the cape of trying to be superwoman and be the person that holds everything together, but through the GU Summit, Amber Dee enforced the importance of saying no and standing firm in your boundaries. “Saying no is huge,” Dee said. 

The discussion allowed guests to dissect the importance of understanding common traumas, which we did not discuss. These traumas must be unpacked and released from bullying and work to childhood and generational trauma. 

Starting with checking in with yourself, unclench that jaw, and breathe. “Start small with your unpacking,” Dee said. She emphasized being intentional with your therapist search and treating it like dating. The theme of giving yourself grace was prevalent because we do not celebrate ourselves enough and give ourselves the credit we deserve. 

Make sure to watch the ESSENCE Girls United Summit 2022 streaming live:https://girlsunited.essence.com/gusummit2022/.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 05: Amber Dee speaks onstage during the ESSENCE Girls United’s Summit at Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center on November 05, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

About Kenyatta: Kenyatta Victoria is an entertainment and culture reporter passionate about music, pop culture, and marginalized stories. She has bylines in publications such as Chicago Reader, INSIDER, Girls United, TransLash Media, and the Chicago Tribune.