In-person therapy in White Plains, NY, and virtual sessions for women of color across NY, NJ, PA, SC, CT, and CA.
If you’ve ever had to slip out of a meeting and rush to the bathroom, praying no one notices you’ve had an accident due to heavy bleeding, this blog on fibroids and faith was written for you.
I wrote a piece for S.W.I.M. (Steadfast Women in Ministry) Inc for July, which is Fibroids Awareness Month, and it sits close to my heart. In it, I walk through the parts of living with uterine fibroids that we don’t talk about nearly enough: the vice-grip cramps that take your breath away, the brain fog, the anxiety and medical trauma, and the crisis of faith as we endure the suffering this condition brings.
I also highlighted the first woman we see who lived this in the Bible; the woman with the issue of blood who suffered for twelve years, going from doctor to doctor, depleting all of her money, living in isolation until she reached for the hem of Jesus’ garment. Black women are most often undiagnosed, dismissed, and carry these wounds, still showing up for others. And the spiritual weight of this experience also deserves as much attention as the physical aspects.
I invite you to read the full piece on S.W.I.M. Inc here → The Woman with the Issue of Blood
SWIM had so much wonderful and helpful content, including a faith-affirming directory. You can explore their website here.
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If you’re looking for a therapist who sees the whole picture and has lived it, Cheerful Heart is accepting new clients via telehealth. Reach us at admin@cheerfulheartmhcpllc.com or (914) 214-7792 to schedule a consultation or intake appointment. You can also schedule a consultation on our site here. We would be happy to walk alongside you!
Shakira K. O’Garro, LMHC-D, LPC, LPCC, NCC, is a Black Christian therapist specializing in medical trauma, chronic illness, and supporting Christians through a crisis of faith. Living with severe stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis taught her how deeply physical pain, medical dismissal, and suffering can impact your mental health and relationship with God. Her work centers Black Christian women who are exhausted from being gaslit by healthcare systems and told to just “pray harder” when their bodies are breaking down. Shakira (and her clinicians) offer therapy that honors your pain, validates your experience, and integrates your faith without spiritual bypassing.