Free Therapy for Black and Brown Individuals
Great mental health should not be just for those who can afford therapy. To further its reach and impact, a Milwaukee community organization that provides free group therapeutic experiences for Black and Brown communities, Black Space partnered with BetterHelp to bring accessible and culturally responsive mental health support to the Milwaukee community.
According to its site, BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service providing professional, affordable, and personalized therapy that’s offered online.
Through the partnership, 100 Milwaukeeans have received three-month vouchers for free therapy from BetterHelp. The spots quickly filled up which shows the immediate need in the city.
Black Space Founder Corey Fells had a conversation with BetterHelp at the beginning of 2024 because he knew this year would be pivotal for people’s mental health due to the election year and serious seasonal depression in Milwaukee.
“The community is guiding us on what we should do,” said Fells.
According to a press release, this partnership matters for two reasons: first, BetterHelp has connected millions of people with qualified mental health professionals. Secondly, Black and Brown communities face significant barriers to affordable, culturally sensitive therapy. This partnership helps bridge that gap.
The Start of Black Space
Black Space has been helping improve the mental health of Black and Brown Milwaukeeans since the end of 2020. By the beginning of 2021, Black Space was featured on the Today Show and just a few months later it began receiving funding from organizations like The Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund.
Throughout the years, Black Space has held free therapy group sessions. These sessions give participants a glimpse of what going to therapy can be like. Each group session is very intentional whether it’s a cooking class, a financial class, or just a group of women gathering inside a beauty shop, the goal is to make participants feel safe and heard.
The thought of Black Space started with Fells who had a horrible first experience with one-on-one therapy sessions. It was in 2020 when Fell’s supervisor told him he needed to talk to a therapist. Fells’ mother had recently passed away and he didn’t cry at the funeral; he was having trouble processing his feelings.
Fells’ first therapist was a white man who did not have the empathy that he needed during that time. Even with such a bad experience, Fells decided to try therapy again but this time with a therapist from his community. Fells met with Dr. Lia Knox and by the 10th-12th session, he started telling his guy friends they should consider going to therapy.
His friend Darius Smith said he would try out therapy but only if it was in a group setting. At first thought, Fells didn’t think it was possible until he brought the idea to his therapist Dr. Knox. Since it is considered unethical to host group therapy, Dr. Knox tweaked the idea and said to offer therapeutic experiences.
Together, Fells, Dr. Knox, and Smith created an innovative movement that took the city by storm. Fells is the organization’s business manager, Dr. Knox provides clinical expertise and facilitates a majority of the sessions, and Smith is the artistic leader who taps into people’s hearts and finds spaces and resources for participants.
Since its start, each Black Space group therapeutic session hits on three main points:
- The sessions are free.
- The sessions take place in beautiful and safe spaces in Black and Brown communities.
- The sessions are run by Black and Brown licensed and certified therapists.
Black Space sessions are so popular that slots fill up within the first two to three hours. The sessions are intentionally kept small to ensure everyone has a space to speak, but speaking is not required to attend a session.
“There is a safe and beautiful space for you,” said Dr. Knox. “You’re not crazy. It is expected for you to take care of yourself mentally.”
A Look into 2025
As the new year approaches, Black Space is working on creating new curated spaces for its group sessions. These will include spaces for Black and Brown business owners, single parents, and more.
The organization also plans to expand into new cities including Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas.
“[We] recognize people have a voice,” said Dr. Knox. “…We want to make sure people know that they’re not alone.”
For Fells, this started as a passion project but turned into a much-needed resource for the community.
“Mental wellness is not a luxury for Black and Brown people…they don’t deserve the least, they deserve the best,” said Fells.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
