Since Myers-Galloway Counseling opened its doors in 2016, I have noticed a trend, specifically among my Black female clients. There was a pattern of a deep sense of responsibility to others, a foggy awareness of personal needs and wants, and an over extension of time and emotional capacity. Before I was even familiar with the word parentification, I realized that my clients’ stories reflected a lack of nurturance in childhood and it was making a huge impact on their lives today.

Working in a leadership position - especially in the C-Suite - will come with additional stress. But Black women are more likely to face more significant obstacles than their white counterparts.

There is power in sharing a space with like-minded people who are working toward achieving similar goals. You can’t put a price on being seen and understood when you are going through a tough time. Black women can achieve their personal goals in two ways: sister circles and group therapy.

The act of caring for others and taking on their duties is common in the African-American community. This type of socialization is often demonstrated at home by a female authority figure, such as a mother, grandmother or aunt. Young Black girls who are exposed to this behavior often replicate it in adulthood. Because they do not want to disappoint others, they struggle with feelings of guilt should they say no.