Have you visited a barbershop lately? Getting a haircut may sound mundane, a task nearly everyone has experienced. But did you know from the moment you walked through the door that you were participating in a ritual estimated to be 6,000 years old?
Beyond the cut or shave, barbershops are meeting places where connections are formed. And nowhere is this more prevalent than in Black barbershops, where Black youth can bond with their elders and discover their voice.
I sat down with Dr. Francois Williams, a psychiatrist, group therapist, and founder of Talk Thairapy, a mental health collective that provides affordable mental health services and free haircuts to Black male youth in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8. I met Dr. Williams at a recent group therapy conference, where he shared with me that he strives to recreate the transformative experience of the Black barbershop in his work.
Just what do Black barbershops offer youth? Here’s what Dr. Williams had to say.
Dr. Williams, what was your barbershop experience?
Going to the barbershop with my dad every other Saturday was one of my favorite father-son rituals. There was nothing like waiting in the shop for a cut, enjoying the scent of Sea Breeze astringent after a fresh shape-up, olive oil sprayed on my scalp, and being handed a cherry Tootsie Pop after my cut.
I began going to the barbershop alone when I reached high school. The ability to talk freely without parental oversight helped me to find my voice. My barber was my first individual therapist. He was also my first group therapist. He invited others to offer input to our conversations with my permission. In this space, my discussions weren't just my own but shared with others within the barbershop.
How did you come up with the idea for Talk Thairapy?
Years later, as a psychiatrist and group psychotherapist, I recognized the profound impact my earlier days in the barbershop had on my professional ideology. Amid the buzzing sound of clippers and under the drape of a barber cape, I discovered and nurtured my own voice.
It was a place where wisdom was imparted and exchanged, where the barbers facilitated dialogues, ensuring every voice found its resonance. In lively discussions, core beliefs, rules, privileges, and assumptions were questioned and challenged in a safe space.
As a youth, this process was transformative. It helped to dissolve my anxiety and hesitation to speak up, particularly in group discussions. Today, it mirrors the environment I strive to create in my group therapy sessions, where each member's voice holds equal weight on a shared journey of growth and understanding.
What was the biggest lesson you learned as a youth in the barbershop?
The art of speaking my truth and standing unapologetically in my values and beliefs. The Black barbershop's rich tapestry of conversations and insights remains foundational in my journey. As an adult-trained psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatry fellow, I'm revisiting my roots through Talk Thairapy.
What does the barbershop offer Black male youth?
Unconditional acceptance. This is a vital experience for Black youth as they navigate the complexities of their identity in American society, frequently battling misperceptions and stereotypes linked to their physical appearance. The barbershop is where Black youth reclaim aspects of their outward dignity through grooming and styling. It is also where youth can develop a sense of pride in their appearance and identity in a community that embraces and celebrates them wholeheartedly.
Can you name three key benefits Black youth experience in barbershops?
There are so many benefits. For me, a Black barbershop is a place where Black youth can discover positive role models, learn from the experiences of their elders, and have open conversations about various topics in a safe space.
My childhood experience in the barbershop lives and breathes in my leadership of therapy groups and how I continue advocating for mental wellness and genuine expression with Black youth.
Identity and Mentorship in the Barbershop
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05.12.2023
Have you visited a barbershop lately? Getting a haircut may sound mundane, a task nearly everyone has experienced. But did you know from the moment you walked through the door that you were participating in a ritual estimated to be 6,000 years old?
Beyond the cut or shave, barbershops are meeting places where connections are formed. And nowhere is this more prevalent than in Black barbershops, where Black youth can bond with their elders and discover their voice.
I sat down with Dr. Francois Williams, a psychiatrist, group therapist, and founder of Talk Thairapy, a mental health collective that provides affordable mental health services and free haircuts to Black male youth in D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8. I met Dr. Williams at a recent group therapy conference, where he shared with me that he strives to recreate the transformative experience of the Black barbershop in his work.
Just what do Black barbershops offer youth? Here’s what Dr. Williams had to say.
Dr. Williams, what was your........
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