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psychohairapy q&A
Psychohairapy: A Q&A with Dr. Mbilishaka the mental health and hair movement By Monica Godnick | @GodnickMonica | Assistant special projects editor
Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka is a clinical psychologist and hairstylist. Throughout her career, she realized the importance of building a bridge between Black hair care and psychology. As a result, she founded PsychoHairapy. She sat with me on Zoom to explain what this hair and mental health movement is all about. Note: The questions and answers were edited for clarity.
Monica Godnick: In a nutshell, what is PsychoHairapy? Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka: PsychoHairapy is using hair as an entry point into mental health services. So this includes training hair care professionals to be lay health advisors, and practice mental health first aid. This also includes having therapists based in the hair salon and barbershop space, including workshops and even group therapy. And PsychoHairapy also includes using social media to spread messages around mental health through hair care pages.
Godnick: What’s an example of PsychoHairapy in action in hair salon and barbershop spaces?
(photo courtesy of psychohairapy )
Mbilishaka: A really good example of PsychoHairapy in action is when someone just experiences a death in the family. Oftentimes, when we’re preparing for a funeral, or even just the services, we get our hair done. But then it becomes part of the role of the hairstylist or barber to be able to have conversations — and helping someone cope with a major loss. And so oftentimes, I think stylists and barbers won’t immediately give advice. But a major piece of PsychoHairapy is learning how to be an active listener, to make sure you’re understanding. So for example, if someone experienced a loss, maybe they’re not feeling sad, maybe they’re feeling really angry, and to make a distinction between anger or sadness. Also to be able to find resources. If the concern
seems really big, if the grief is really complicated, to find that person a psychologist or social worker or psychiatrists to further support them in their process.
Godnick: Customers have a very close relationship with their hairstylist, so I’m imagining that in your experience there too, you also experienced that kind of relationship where you needed that resource. Mbilishaka: The relationships, according to research in African American communities, between hair care professional and clients are very tight. For example, there are research studies that say that Black women are more likely to get their hair done than to go to a doctor’s appointment. And just recognizing that the health care providers, oftentimes are hair care professionals in this community.
Godnick: What inspired you to start this? When when was the moment you thought and realized that this movement was something needed in the Black community? Mbilishaka: I always loved doing hair. I was my family’s stylist growing up. When I went to college that continued. I went to the University of Pennsylvania for undergrad and there, I ended up doing a lot of my classmates’ hair in my dorm room for free. I didn’t charge. But I love psychology, and I found this as a great space to have really meaningful conversations. So I remember talking to my aunt on the phone one day and telling her I wasn’t sure if I would enter psychology or hair care when I graduated. She said, ‘Well, why can’t you do both?’ I don’t think she was telling me to do both at the same exact time. But that’s the way I interpreted it and thought how critical it is to talk things out — but also to feel like you look better or be taken care of.