Hair salons and barbershops have long played a critical role in the Black community, serving as safe spaces for Black people to be vulnerable and open up about their personal struggles. However, Black people are far less likely than white people to seek out mental health services, largely due to inequitable health care access, a lack of Black therapists and culturally competent care, and the stigma surrounding mental illness in their community—fueled by centuries of systemic racism, trauma, and violence.
Beyond the Shop aims to make mental health care more accessible to Black people by hosting conversations—led by a Black therapist—directly inside Charlottesville beauty salons and barbershops. At the monthly sessions, participants can get a free haircut while discussing a variety of important topics, from self-care to generational trauma, with other Black women or men, and receiving encouragement and support.
“We’re walking into a space that’s always been seen as a safe space for us to already have these intimate conversations, and taking it to another level,” says Brave Souls on Fire founder and director Myra Anderson, who received a $15,000 Sentara grant to start the initiative. “It’s been very powerful.”
Since September, Anderson, a longtime Black mental health advocate, has been hosting Beyond the Shop every month at Natre’al Hair Salon, bringing together Black women of a variety of ages and backgrounds. After BSOF received a $7,500 Charlottesville Area Community Foundation grant, co-director Devin Coles started the men’s side of the initiative, dubbed Man Cave, at Mel’s Barber Shop in January.
For participants who are interested in seeking additional mental health care, there is a resource table with information about local services and organizations. At the beauty salon, self-care items, like essential oils, and free eyebrow waxing are also available.
When facilitating the Beyond the Shop sessions, therapist Vanessa Johnson works to create an environment of safety and healing, encouraging Black women to be “their authentic selves.”
“A lot of times [Black women] have a difficult time being ourselves because there’s a lot of generational programming that tells us we have to act a certain way around certain people so they won’t be upset with us,” explains Johnson, owner of Thrive2Heal Counseling. “We have [also] learned as Black women to press it down and move forward … [but] healing has to take place.”
“We’re stopping that generational bondage of just staying wounded,” she adds.
Johnson’s honesty, relatability, and expertise has kept participant LeVonne Yountz coming back to Beyond the Shop every month. She’s been “touched” by the conversations, and says she wishes she had someone like the therapist in the past when she was struggling with mental health issues.
“It’s just an ease talking to [Johnson],” says Yountz. “It’s always good to be with like-minded people … [and] refreshing to be able to bounce off some of these things.”
Coles stresses the importance of offering Black men a safe, comfortable space to have such important conversations—and learn how to heal and cope—too.
“There are so many avenues and resources for women, and we don’t receive the same amount for men. … Men have the same emotions women do—we’re just taught to deal with it differently,” he says. “Which then because of our ignorance … it comes out a different way, and you get these stories of an angry Black man or toxic masculinity.”
The first Man Cave session was supposed to last an hour—but ended up going for two hours, as the men discussed signs of anxiety and depression, and how to manage those symptoms. They also touched on showing love properly to their children, and communicating healthily within their relationships, explains therapist Toby Jenkins, who facilitates the sessions.
“We also got into some of the dysfunctional ways that we were parented … that we have brought forward as parents ourselves,” adds Jenkins, owner of Jenkins Couples and Family Therapy, “[and] “opening up our empathy eyes, so we can see the world from the viewpoint of our partners and children.”
The men ultimately aim to build upon the emotional intimacy and support already present inside the barbershop.
“The barbershop has always been where these kinds of important conversations take place, and barbers themselves are often … informal helpers,” says Jenkins. “They play a vital role, and are on the front lines in terms of being there in the community [and] helping people.”
“The barbershop is the Black man’s country club,” adds Coles. “It’s a place of comfort, understanding, [and] knowledge.”
Anderson is currently looking for grants to keep Beyond the Shop and Man Cave going for longer, and to help expand the initiatives—many participants have asked for the sessions to be held more often. The Sentara grant will run out in July, the CACF grant in December.
“If I had my way, I would be in four different shops throughout the month,” says Anderson. “We really need to start thinking outside of the box to meet people where they are in the community—and give them things where they feel seen, heard, and culturally affirmed right there.”
To participate in or learn more about Beyond the Shop, email bravesoulscville@yahoo.com.