Therapy for Black Women Who Shut Down or “Go Off”

If you shut down, go quiet, or snap when you’re overwhelmed, that’s not a personality flaw. It’s anxiety showing up sideways. I help you get to the root of it and learn new ways to respond.

Silhouette of a woman with braided hair against a cloudy sky.

i'm ready for something different

Relatable + Real

Real talk on WURD Radio: I shared my insights on how stress, self-sacrifice, and emotional wellness impact our hearts during the “Heart to Heart: Mind, Body & Spirit” segment alongside other Black health and wellness leaders.

Click here to check it out!

Let’s Call This What It Is

The Quiet Moments.

The Big Reactions.

The Overload.

Here’s what anxiety really looks like in Black women:

You shut down because the conversation got too real too fast.
You go off because you’ve held too much for too long.
You get quiet, but your mind is loud and spinning.
You replay the same conversations over and over.
You feel misunderstood, even by people who love you.
You carry the emotional load for everybody — then feel resentful and drained.
You withdraw when you don’t feel safe, supported, or heard.
You get irritated fast, then feel guilty afterward.
You manage everything, everyone, all the time — until you can’t anymore.

This is anxiety.
Just not the version people talk about.

do something for yourself

Why This Happens

You didn’t choose to shut down, overthink, or go off.

You learned it.

When you grow up managing other people’s moods, staying strong, or keeping the peace, your nervous system figures out the fastest way to protect you:

Go quiet.
Pull back.
Overthink.
React big.
Try to control the moment before it controls you.

And because Black women are expected to hold everything together without falling apart, your system stays on alert even when nothing is actually wrong.

These reactions aren’t flaws.
They’re survival.
But survival isn’t the same as feeling steady, connected, or at peace.

What Working Together Actually Looks Like

Starting therapy shouldn’t feel confusing or heavy. I keep the process simple and transparent so you always know what we’re doing and why. Here’s how we move from that first moment of honesty to real change; without the overwhelm or guesswork.

Schedule Your First Session

Reserve your appointment through my secure online scheduler. We’ll begin by exploring what’s been happening, what’s not working, and what you actually want your relationships to feel like. You’ll get a clear sense of what working together will look like from day one.
The Intake Session

Our first full session is where we map out the patterns — the shutdowns, the “go offs,” the overwhelm, the overthinking. We figure out what triggers the switch, what your body is doing under the surface, and what you’ve been carrying on your own.
Ongoing Sessions

This is where things start shifting. We practice new ways of responding in the moments you usually go quiet, disconnect, or react fast. Inside and outside of session, you’ll build skills that help you stay present, communicate clearly, and feel more steady.
Transition and Growth

Toward the end, we review what’s changed — the insights, the patterns you’ve broken, the tools that actually work for you. You’ll leave therapy with a deeper understanding of yourself and practical strategies you can use long after our work is done.

LET'S DO THIS!

Patterns I Help Black Women Work Through

Strong Reactions (Anger, Shutdown, Taking Over)

When overwhelm shows up as going off, shutting down, withdrawing, or trying to control the moment, we work on understanding what flips the switch and how to respond in ways that don’t leave you drained, distant, or cleaning up the fallout later.

Two women standing outdoors, smiling, with green trees and grass in the background.

Relationship Anxiety Therapy

If you overthink conversations, fear conflict, shut down when things get tense, or react fast when you feel unheard, this work helps you feel steadier in relationships and communicate in ways that match what you actually feel.

Black woman practicing grounded responses in family relationships

Mother–Adult Daughter Tension

When childhood patterns follow you into adulthood, emotional distance, hyper-independence, pressure to be strong, or always being “the responsible one”, we explore how those early roles shaped you and how to stop repeating them.

A woman and girl hugging each other on a bed with a white blanket, Christmas tree in the background.

People-Pleasing & Overfunctioning

If you carry everything, anticipate everyone’s needs, avoid conflict, or feel guilty resting, we work on creating boundaries that don’t feel like punishment and learning how to stop overextending yourself to stay connected.

Two women sitting on a beige couch, laughing and joking with each other; one wearing a red top and the other in a black top and light-colored skirt.

LET'S DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Things Change When You Decide They Will

You can honor where you come from without letting it define where you’re going.

When you’re ready, I’m here.

No pressure. No performance.
No judgement. No pretense.

Just you and the possibility of something different.

Let's talk

First Street Branch Brook Park Newark New Jersey

Therapy for Black Women Across New Jersey

Whether you’re in Essex, Hudson, Union, or Passaic County or anywhere across New Jersey, I offer virtual therapy designed for Black women who shut down, go quiet, or go off when things feel overwhelming.

With online sessions, you can get focused, culturally attuned support without commuting or rearranging your entire day. You receive grounded, consistent care right from home.