At the start of the July 4th weekend, the news broke that Sha'Carri Richardson, a track and field star, would be banned from competing in the 2021 Olympics because of marijuana use. People rushed to post and make comments on social media without knowing the full context of why she was banned. As we all know, false, misleading or incomplete information spreads like wildfire on social media. Like many things that get turned into sound bites and memes there's layers to her story. According to Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States. Sha'Carri's story opens up a bigger conversation about mental health and how we help ourselves and our young people cope with their mental and emotional stressors. This is Part 1 of a 2 part bonus episode of a conversation with a licensed therapist and two friends who have utilized therapy to heal from traumatic experiences. Disclaimer: Trigger Warning Some of parts of this conversation may be emotionally triggering. We talk briefly about instances of domestic violence, assault and physical violence and drug use. Show Notes: Sharli Berry, MS, LPC, founder of Destiny's Door Counseling Center LaToya Thompson is @LaToyaWrites on IG LaToya Jenkins is @latoyafjenkins on IG Learn more about Meet the Black Therapists in AZ event on July 24, 2021 from 11a-2pm: Facebook.com/events/136106285258151/ Full Details about the Meet the Black Therapists Event Watch up to 16:13 of this video with Sanya Richards-Ross, a gold medal Olympian in track and field and a commentator for the sport: Sha’Carri Richardson’s Suspension With Olympic Gold Medalist Sanya Richards-Ross // July #WorkYourPlan Book Club Selection: "The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life" by Edith Eger Edith Eger is a clinical psychologist and a Holocaust survivor. In the Gift she explains that the worst prison she experienced is not the prison that Nazis put her in but the one she created for herself, the prison within her own mind. She describes the twelve most pervasive imprisoning beliefs she has known—including fear, grief, anger, secrets, stress, guilt, shame, and avoidance—and the tools she has discovered to deal with these universal challenges.  Accompanied by stories from Eger’s own life and the lives of her patients, this book captures the vulnerability and common challenges we all face and provides encouragement and advice for breaking out of our personal prisons to find healing and enjoy life. Register online at strongher.me/bookclub *** The STRONG Womanhood Growth Journal: Activate the Courage to Live Out Your Calling is a self directed guide for women who want to be active participants in their personal transformation and are looking for a process to mentor them through it. And it’s finally here! Get it at Amazon: BUY THE BOOK Amazon Book Review: “I highly recommend this journal. I discovered actionable steps to take on my next journey into becoming more consistent with reaching my goals. The messages shared by Kendra are full of wisdom and timeless. The thought provoking questions will assist you in transforming into a confident and courageous woman.” *** Subscribe to the #WorkYourPlan Podcast and published episodes will come right to the podcast app on your phone and/or join our email list for email reminders of when a new episode is ready. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, rate it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify with a short review. Connect with Kendra personally @kendratillman or @strongherme on Instagram. Ask a question on the podcast episode at strongher.me or by emailing [email protected].