#005: What Is It Like Being Black in America With Mental Illness and How Do We Treat It? with Alishia McCullough

Body Trauma: A Storytelling Podcast

Alishia McCullough, a black Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist, joins Nia Patterson this week on the fifth episode of the podcast to talk about her body trauma, racism, eating disorder recovery, and being black in the mental health field. We talk about what is going on the country right now with the War on Black and we talk about how can we improve the occurrence of mental health practitioners of color. We talk about both our experiences growing up black in America and how we developed body image issues and eating disorders. We briefly discuss how our histories are not told in school and we have missed out on learning so much about our people. This episode is both serious and critical as well as humorous and light. There is a great deal of story sharing for both of us. Join us as we talk about what it is like to be black in the world today and furthermore what it's like to exist as a black woman with mental illness.

Alishia McCullough (she, her, hers) is a millennial Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist and National Certified Counselor currently residing in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is also an independent published author of the book Blossoming. She has spent the past few years providing therapy to college students dealing with issues of anxiety, depression, mood issues, relationship conflict, family concerns, eating disorders and body image concerns. She also provides individual, group, and couples therapy. She is most passionate about offering therapeutic guidance towards healing and wellness primarily for black and brown folx experiencing mental health distress. She specializes in treating eating disorders and upholds the values of body justice and fat liberation within communities of color. She is passionate about anti-racism, racial healing, and decolonization. She is motivated to increase access and create spaces for black, indigenous, queer, people of color to come together and heal in ways that inspire holistic wellness and culturally inclusive informed healing. Feel free to connect with her via Instagram @blackandembodied

Check out Nia on Instagram over @thefriendineverwanted and @bodytraumapod You can also find her blogging at thefriendineverwanted.com and you can support the podcast on patreon at patreon.com/thefriendineverwanted. Remember, if you have a question about this podcast or want to share your thoughts please email us at [e-mail]