Is healing a one-time thing?

No—it’s ongoing. Healing is constant; it just depends on the size of the wound. In line with Buddhist philosophy, to live is to suffer, meaning suffering is a natural and continuous part of life. And because we’re always experiencing some form of suffering, we’re always being called to heal something.

What’s the difference between trauma and an emotional wound?

 Trauma is a significant event—or series of events—that is life-altering, deeply distressing, or soul-shattering. These are often tied to abuse (sexual, physical, emotional), but can also include things like neglect, a major loss, natural disasters, or serious accidents.

Emotional wounds, on the other hand, are less intense than trauma but still painful and require emotional recovery. These might include breakups, difficult relationships, unexpected life changes like divorce or job loss.

Here’s one way to think about it:
Trauma is like a wound that needs surgery.
An emotional wound is more like a broken bone—it needs a cast and rest.

What is a “healing journey”?

 The term healing journey refers to the steps and processes we take to heal emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. And because we’re always growing—and often healing from something—we can think of ourselves as always being on a healing journey.

Along the way, we collect insight, tools, and wisdom that help us reflect on how far we’ve come.

Even reading these FAQs? That’s part of your healing journey, too.

What do you “do” to heal?

 Healing isn’t just about doing—it’s a mindset. Yes, there are things you can actively do to support your healing, but the real work happens internally. It requires deep reflection, personal insight, and a commitment to change.

Here’s an example:
You go to a meditation class (that’s the action). During the session, you realize you’ve been struggling with acceptance (that’s the mindset shift). You reflect on how your resistance has been disrupting your peace (deep reflection). You decide to start noticing when you need to let go and accept things as they are (resolution).

A week later, you’re in a tough conversation with a friend and want them to be more mindful of their behavior. But instead of pushing, you pause and realize this is one of those moments—you choose acceptance and let it go (commitment).

That’s healing in motion.

What are ways to heal?

Healing is deeply personal, and there are countless ways to do it. But we like to think of healing in a few main categories:

a. Western Medical Healing
This includes seeking help from doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, or therapists. It might involve medication or a clinical diagnosis, followed by evidence-based treatment approaches like therapy. This path often addresses symptoms and diagnoses through structured interventions.

b. Spiritual Healing
This involves connecting to something greater than yourself—whatever that means for you. For us, that’s Buddhism, which teaches that:

1. Suffering is a part of life

2. Suffering has causes

3. There’s a way to reduce suffering

4. The path to peace is possible

Spiritual Healing can mean:

• Meditation

• Sound baths

• Breathwork

• Yoga

• Acupuncture

  We believe seeking inner peace is one of the most healing acts you can do.

c. Creative Healing
Many of us are disconnected from our creativity, and that disconnection can lead to a subtle form of suffering. Tapping into your creative side can be a powerful form of healing—it feeds a part of you that might be starving.

Creative healing can look like:

• Dancing

• Drawing or painting

• Writing

• Making music

• Crafting or DIY projects

d. Body-Based Healing
Our bodies hold tension and emotion, so healing physically can also support emotional wellness. Releasing what’s stored in the body helps restore balance and ease.

Body-based healing includes:

• Massage

• Acupuncture

• A nourishing diet

• Movement or exercise

• Yoga
  

e. Community & Relationship Healing
Healing happens in connection, too. This includes learning how to relate to others in healthy ways—how to show up for people without losing yourself in the process.

Examples:

• Joining a support group or community circle

• Playing on a team or participating in group activities

• Volunteering or being in spaces where you interact with different kinds of people
  

f. Self-Healing
This is the work of getting to know yourself deeply—understanding your emotions, patterns, needs, and dreams. It’s about learning to love yourself and care for yourself in real, meaningful ways.

Practices might include:

• Journaling

• Self-reflection

• Meditation

• Deep, honest conversations with yourself or trusted others

Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. The path is yours—and it’s okay to try different methods until something resonates.

Why is healing from the StrongBlackWoman (SBW) identity core to Healed Black Girl’s mission?

 At Healed Black Girl, we believe Black women need deep, intentional healing—especially from the Strong Black Woman (SBW) archetype.

a. The SBW identity once served a survival purpose. It helped Black women endure the brutality of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic oppression. And it worked—Black women showed incredible strength and resilience during some of the harshest chapters in history.

b. But that identity came at a cost. The SBW archetype teaches Black women to suppress their emotions, prove their worth through over-functioning and caretaking, and embrace hyper-independence. The unspoken expectation? Be everything to everyone—without breaking.

But many of us are breaking. We believe millennials are the first generation to fully name and reject this exhaustion. We’ve lived through financial, political, social, and personal crises—and we’re burnt out. Carrying the weight of others while also managing our own lives has simply become too much.

c. We’re now at a breaking point. The SBW identity is not just emotionally unsustainable—it’s impacting our livelihoods and our health. Many Black women are stepping away from work, careers, and caregiving roles because their bodies and spirits are demanding rest. This is real. And it’s urgent.

d. Healed Black Girl believes the time is now for a collective shift.
It’s time to lay down the burden.
To rest—guilt-free.
To unlearn the beliefs that tie our worth to productivity, perfection, or self-sacrifice.
To prioritize self-preservation.

e. This platform is our contribution to that shift. We’re sharing messages that remind Black women it’s okay to rest. It’s necessary to reconnect with yourself and to heal—from racial wounds, generational trauma, interpersonal pain, and everyday exhaustion.

It’s finally time to exhale.
To soften.
To reclaim joy.
To be a Healed Black Girl.