A Pillar in the Community
If you’re from Milwaukee, then there’s a chance you know the name Dr. Lia Knox. Dr. Knox is known around the city as a safe person to speak with about mental wellness. This year marks 30 years since Dr. Knox entered the wellness space, and she credits herself with training many of the city’s therapists. As a licensed therapist, Dr. Knox uses her skills to host group therapy sessions for community members.
“Humans, especially [the Black community], are communal,” Dr. Knox said. “We do better in groups when introduced to something new.”
Dr. Knox is the founder and CEO of Knox Behavioral Health Solutions and co-founder of Black Space. She earned her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University, a master’s degree in Counseling Education from Concordia University, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Jackson State University.
She is a mental wellness expert who specializes in cultural competency and organizational health.
Growing up, she saw family members go through hardships and not receive adequate help to get them back on track. She said she always had a knack for reading people, and after taking her first psychology class her senior year of high school, she saw the lack of affordability and awareness around mental wellness and wanted to do something about it.
“Every single thing I do is with my family, with my friends, [and] with my community,” she said.
Dr. Knox has experience with individual therapy sessions, but group sessions are where her heart resides.
“Sitting next to someone who went through something you went through is platinum,” Dr. Knox said.
Having A Therapist as A Therapist
From seeing friends being pregnant in their early teens to knowing people who have been sexually abused, Dr. Knox takes on a lot of other people’s problems. But instead of internalizing it all, she, too, sees a therapist.
“My clients are with me every day, all day,” she said. “By having my own therapist, I’m able to cry.”
Dr. Knox makes time for herself by taking mental health days, which was suggested by her therapist.
“My therapist is my accountability partner. They give me the space to just be,” Dr. Knox said. “There are times I need to refill.”
Just like she’s a listening ear for many community members, she’s happy to be able to lean on someone, too.
“Therapy helped me check my vices,” she said.
This article is part of the 2026 Carvd N Stone Mental Health Awareness Month Series. Throughout the series, we are highlighting Black women in the mental health field, including therapists, advocates, and wellness leaders, as they share insights, personal experiences, and practical tips to help people better prioritize and navigate their mental health.
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.
- Nyesha Stone
