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Sisterhood Heals: The Transformative Power of Healing in Community
From the licensed clinical psychologist behind the award-winning podcast Therapy for Black Girls comes “a roadmap for personal growth and improved connections with others, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and joyful life” (Nedra Glover Tawwab, New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace and Drama Free)
“Inspiring, wise, and thoughtful, this book is a gift for anyone looking to deepen their friendships.”—Luvvie Ajayi Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Professional Troublemaker
Sisterhood is that sacred space where all the masks that are worn for the world fall off. It’s the place where you lay down your load, refill your cup, and laugh until your belly aches. Our sister circles literally prolong our lives. However, building and keeping healthy friendships take work. How must these friendships evolve as we age? What practices can we put in place to maintain them? Can they be the key to unlocking a more fulfilled existence? The answer is yes.
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford has been doing the work to help Black women heal together for over twenty years. In a sisterhood community with more than half a million members, she’s the go-to therapist for Black women looking to prioritize their mental health and become the best possible versions of themselves. Now she’s sharing all she’s learned using the tenets of psychology and group therapy to help us foster relationships that are not only positive, but transformative.
In Sisterhood Heals you will
• discover the ways in which your present-day relationships with Black women have been influenced by your past
• identify the recurring role you play in your friend group and how it influences your relationships
• learn new strategies to grow and sustain healthy, nurturing friendships as well as how to rebuild after a rupture
Dr. Joy brings the warmth, wisdom, empathy, and levity found in our girlfriends to these pages, and reminds us that during difficult times sisterhood is often a lifeline with the power to help us experience fuller, more satisfying lives.
“Inspiring, wise, and thoughtful, this book is a gift for anyone looking to deepen their friendships.”—Luvvie Ajayi Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Professional Troublemaker
Sisterhood is that sacred space where all the masks that are worn for the world fall off. It’s the place where you lay down your load, refill your cup, and laugh until your belly aches. Our sister circles literally prolong our lives. However, building and keeping healthy friendships take work. How must these friendships evolve as we age? What practices can we put in place to maintain them? Can they be the key to unlocking a more fulfilled existence? The answer is yes.
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford has been doing the work to help Black women heal together for over twenty years. In a sisterhood community with more than half a million members, she’s the go-to therapist for Black women looking to prioritize their mental health and become the best possible versions of themselves. Now she’s sharing all she’s learned using the tenets of psychology and group therapy to help us foster relationships that are not only positive, but transformative.
In Sisterhood Heals you will
• discover the ways in which your present-day relationships with Black women have been influenced by your past
• identify the recurring role you play in your friend group and how it influences your relationships
• learn new strategies to grow and sustain healthy, nurturing friendships as well as how to rebuild after a rupture
Dr. Joy brings the warmth, wisdom, empathy, and levity found in our girlfriends to these pages, and reminds us that during difficult times sisterhood is often a lifeline with the power to help us experience fuller, more satisfying lives.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2023
180 people are currently reading
4440 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 23, 2023
This book is a warm hug filled with pages of validation. I mean, chapters 6 & and 7, I pretty much highlighted the entire chapter. This book is an absolute gem and should be a book club read.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2023
Sisterhood Heals by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 as a psychotherapist who incorporates the use of bibliotherapy in my practice. Dr. Joy is the founder of Therapy for Black Girls and as a Black, woman, licensed psychologist based in Atlanta, she has made it her mission to help Black women create community for ourselves among each other. Sisterhood Heals is both a culmination of her work as a clinician in practice and a handbook for Black women on a healing journey who want to heal in community.
Sisterhood Heals is broken up into four key parts:
Part One: An exploration of how our relationships with other Black women are shaped by our childhood experiences. An overview of how sister friendships have been essential to our well-being and survival as Black women both historically and in the present day.
Part Two: An exploration of the role vulnerability and our ability to be (or not be) vulnerable with each other impacts our relationships.
Part Three: Understanding how barriers and conflicts get in the way of our sisterhoods being successful over time. An exploration of how we know when our friendships have ended and how we can go about grieving those losses. This chapter is going to free a lot of people!
Part Four: Strategies for finding sister friendships and how to navigate sisterhood online in the digital age.
I cannot overstate how amazing this book is. Dr. Joy has provided her readers with a core understanding of attachment theory, a broad overview of the attachment styles and attachment wounds of Black women, and a roadmap for how to heal from attachment wounds and find community with like-minded sisters along the way.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
Sisterhood Heals is broken up into four key parts:
Part One: An exploration of how our relationships with other Black women are shaped by our childhood experiences. An overview of how sister friendships have been essential to our well-being and survival as Black women both historically and in the present day.
Part Two: An exploration of the role vulnerability and our ability to be (or not be) vulnerable with each other impacts our relationships.
Part Three: Understanding how barriers and conflicts get in the way of our sisterhoods being successful over time. An exploration of how we know when our friendships have ended and how we can go about grieving those losses. This chapter is going to free a lot of people!
Part Four: Strategies for finding sister friendships and how to navigate sisterhood online in the digital age.
I cannot overstate how amazing this book is. Dr. Joy has provided her readers with a core understanding of attachment theory, a broad overview of the attachment styles and attachment wounds of Black women, and a roadmap for how to heal from attachment wounds and find community with like-minded sisters along the way.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
March 11, 2025
A much needed love letter to Black women & the communities we create with each other, as well as tips on how to foster supportive communities in our own lives❤️
side note: this is the first audiobook I’ve ever been able to get into in my life, so I’d highly recommend it!
side note: this is the first audiobook I’ve ever been able to get into in my life, so I’d highly recommend it!
October 25, 2023
Another book for the win!!! I loved, loved, loved everything about this book from the message to all the empowering information within it. The author thoroughly explores sisterhood amongst black women, how we can save space and show up for one another, building new friendships, how we can be supportive friends and create long-lasting bonds.
For those who aren’t aware Dr. Bradford is behind the amazing podcast and IG page @therapyforblackgirls where she offers great resources and advice for black women. Her book empowers black sisterhood and how sacred our sister circles are to us. You may or may not be struggling within your friend groups but this book offers so much insight that it’ll have you looking at things from a different perspective.
We don’t realize how much we actually need our friends or how much it means for us to show up for one another. “The best way for Black women to thrive is through our healthy relationships with other Black women.” I love how she discusses the life stages our friendships go through and how to navigate them when things change up.
In the book she used the tv show “Girlfriends” as a reference for the friend circle and had me watching old episodes all yesterday lol. She mentioned that Black women in groups, sisters tend to fall into one of four roles: the Leader, the Wallflower, the Firecracker, and the Peacemaker. These roles are not at all static or absolute. I think “Girlfriends” was a perfect example of these roles.
Overall, this was amazing a must read for sure. She spoke on so much and a lot of the stuff mentioned are things many of us can relate too. Her writing was captivating, insightful, and again very relatable. Most definitely a book I recommend we should all read. Special thanks to the author & @penguinrandomhouse #ballantine for my gifted copy!!!
For those who aren’t aware Dr. Bradford is behind the amazing podcast and IG page @therapyforblackgirls where she offers great resources and advice for black women. Her book empowers black sisterhood and how sacred our sister circles are to us. You may or may not be struggling within your friend groups but this book offers so much insight that it’ll have you looking at things from a different perspective.
We don’t realize how much we actually need our friends or how much it means for us to show up for one another. “The best way for Black women to thrive is through our healthy relationships with other Black women.” I love how she discusses the life stages our friendships go through and how to navigate them when things change up.
In the book she used the tv show “Girlfriends” as a reference for the friend circle and had me watching old episodes all yesterday lol. She mentioned that Black women in groups, sisters tend to fall into one of four roles: the Leader, the Wallflower, the Firecracker, and the Peacemaker. These roles are not at all static or absolute. I think “Girlfriends” was a perfect example of these roles.
Overall, this was amazing a must read for sure. She spoke on so much and a lot of the stuff mentioned are things many of us can relate too. Her writing was captivating, insightful, and again very relatable. Most definitely a book I recommend we should all read. Special thanks to the author & @penguinrandomhouse #ballantine for my gifted copy!!!
August 31, 2023
Say Yes To Sisterhood!
Sisterhood Heals has become quite the resource for me and anyone who is looking to grow individually and also deepen their relationship with friends. The author argues that this integral work towards improving the current conditions surrounding our friendships lends to a more fulfilling and joyful life. Thanks to Random House Publishing House -- Ballantine and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
With a framework modeled after psychology and group therapy this resource is bound to have you considering your own role on building and maintaining healthy relationships. This book is a call to action, but also a step by step guide on how to get it done.
Here are a few of my favorite takeaways from Sisterhood Heals:
* Healing, especially as it relates to the experience of Black women, is operating from a place of joy rather than from the pain we may have experienced.
* Sisterhood allows us to soften.
* Author, professor, and feminist bell hooks often described sisterhood as resistance in her work. She wrote that when we find ourselves in situations where our humanity and dignity are constantly questioned, it is imperative that we create spaces where they are not.
* The three skills needed to hold space for someone are active listening, freedom from distraction, and a spirit of curiosity.
4.5 stars!
Sisterhood Heals has become quite the resource for me and anyone who is looking to grow individually and also deepen their relationship with friends. The author argues that this integral work towards improving the current conditions surrounding our friendships lends to a more fulfilling and joyful life. Thanks to Random House Publishing House -- Ballantine and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
With a framework modeled after psychology and group therapy this resource is bound to have you considering your own role on building and maintaining healthy relationships. This book is a call to action, but also a step by step guide on how to get it done.
Here are a few of my favorite takeaways from Sisterhood Heals:
* Healing, especially as it relates to the experience of Black women, is operating from a place of joy rather than from the pain we may have experienced.
* Sisterhood allows us to soften.
* Author, professor, and feminist bell hooks often described sisterhood as resistance in her work. She wrote that when we find ourselves in situations where our humanity and dignity are constantly questioned, it is imperative that we create spaces where they are not.
* The three skills needed to hold space for someone are active listening, freedom from distraction, and a spirit of curiosity.
4.5 stars!
August 28, 2023
I view sisterhood as one of my most valued treasures so I loved this one! Black sisterhoods have been so vital to my development as a woman so this book definitely affirmed me . This is another book that will stay with me for a long time ! While reading this I reflected a lot on how I show up as a friend and how I can get better . The reflection questions and actionable tips were very helpful. I love how this book explored the complexities of black sisterhoods and how we can navigate hard times within them . I also loved how the author explored our relationships to one another even if we are not friends and how to show up in those incidents. This book is a gift anyone wanting to deepen their friendships . Can’t wait to refer back to this to help myself and my clients put the words in this book into practice .
August 2, 2023
Sisterhood Heals was an amazing read. I was sad to finish it, but I know this is one that will stick with me for a long time. It’s one of those ones that will be bedside with me for the rest or the year and years to come!
I am a person who is generally good at friendship. At making friends and maintaining the friendships and relationships I already have, my husband calls me a girl’s girl, and I view sisterhood as one of my most valued treasures in life.
But Dr. Joy’s book helps highlight the psychological, social, and cultural importance of friendship between Black women. There are thoughtful reflection questions, advice and points of how to navigate tough conversations and scenarios during sometimes muddied waters, and practical steps and suggestions of how to show up as a good friend in your own circle and in global sisterhood in general.
I am a person who is generally good at friendship. At making friends and maintaining the friendships and relationships I already have, my husband calls me a girl’s girl, and I view sisterhood as one of my most valued treasures in life.
But Dr. Joy’s book helps highlight the psychological, social, and cultural importance of friendship between Black women. There are thoughtful reflection questions, advice and points of how to navigate tough conversations and scenarios during sometimes muddied waters, and practical steps and suggestions of how to show up as a good friend in your own circle and in global sisterhood in general.
November 20, 2024
Written for this exact moment in history! To all my sisters I see you! 💜
April 25, 2023
Sisterhood Heals is a practical handbook/guide that specifically highlights how black women can use our community, friends, and girlfriends in our healing process. I think this book will be helpful to not just black women but all women that have really close friendships and support groups. The author is a psychologist who has practical experience with these sisterhood groups, and you can tell from the way she writes. I loved the writing style, and I also really liked the questions and practical resources/steps at the end of each section. The way the author wove in pop culture, society, current events, and social media was fun and relatable.
I definitely recommend this book not only to individuals and friend groups but also to social workers and people that work in group settings. I really enjoyed it and will be trying to incorporate the practical steps outlined in the book when I can with other women in my community.
Thank you, Random House- Ballentine, for this arc for an honest review.
I definitely recommend this book not only to individuals and friend groups but also to social workers and people that work in group settings. I really enjoyed it and will be trying to incorporate the practical steps outlined in the book when I can with other women in my community.
Thank you, Random House- Ballentine, for this arc for an honest review.
June 27, 2023
This book really needs a deep dive, time to take notes and thoughtfully consider each chapter. At first blush I thought this was very well done with actionable examples and questions for consideration at the end of each chapter. I can see a workbook going with this text! So proud of Dr Bradford- Therapy of Black Girls is a never miss podcast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2023
I knew that Dr. Joy Harden Bradford's book would be good because if you've listened to her podcast, you know that her words and advice have never missed. But it exceeded my expectations.
Dr. Joy's book is one that is absolutely needed, especially in the times we're living in now. The pandemic, racial and political divisions, gun violence and record homelessness have created a bubble of despair that many Black women are having a hard time bursting through. But having a supportive sister circle not only helps us break through, but also gives us the tools we need to be better friends, partners, mothers and whatever else we're tasked with doing. Dr. Joy breaks down the ways in which we can be there for our sisters, how we can create new friendships and what we can do when the friendships come to an end.
I have been listening to Dr. Joy's podcast, "Therapy for Black Girls," for awhile now and the knowledge she drops every week has been incredibly helpful for so many Black women, myself included. Her book just adds to it without delving into "therapy speak" or being condescending. She speaks to Black women using her own experiences, which makes her advice incredibly relatable. I truly loved the section of the book that talks about friendships when a sister has a life event that changes the dynamic of the circle, like an engagement or pregnancy, and what we can do to make sure the friendships remain intact while acknowledging (and being happy for) said change.
I've had so many friends get married and have children, which changed our friendships. I am one of those friends who is extremely supportive of my friends and their goals, but I'm also a realist. Many of those friends became distant because they have families who are now their priority, something I support and acknowledge. I don't have any ill feelings towards them because being married is not something I will ever want, but the majority of my friends did. Those friends found more common ground with other wives and mothers, and I'm okay with that. I miss them, but I understand. In Dr. Joy's book, she talks about grieving the loss of a friend and how other friends in the sister circle can help, which I wish I had read years ago. That advice would have been so helpful whenever I needed to grieve the loss of a friend.
Having a supportive group of Black women is a blessing not just for the friends in the circle but for Black women and society in general. We look to each in so many different spaces and having that support is crucial when dealing with the world. Dr. Joy's advice is also a blessing because she could have easily used her time and expertise to just get the bag. But her words are intentional, non-judgmental and soothing without being preachy.
I absolutely recommend this book to my readers.
Dr. Joy's book is one that is absolutely needed, especially in the times we're living in now. The pandemic, racial and political divisions, gun violence and record homelessness have created a bubble of despair that many Black women are having a hard time bursting through. But having a supportive sister circle not only helps us break through, but also gives us the tools we need to be better friends, partners, mothers and whatever else we're tasked with doing. Dr. Joy breaks down the ways in which we can be there for our sisters, how we can create new friendships and what we can do when the friendships come to an end.
I have been listening to Dr. Joy's podcast, "Therapy for Black Girls," for awhile now and the knowledge she drops every week has been incredibly helpful for so many Black women, myself included. Her book just adds to it without delving into "therapy speak" or being condescending. She speaks to Black women using her own experiences, which makes her advice incredibly relatable. I truly loved the section of the book that talks about friendships when a sister has a life event that changes the dynamic of the circle, like an engagement or pregnancy, and what we can do to make sure the friendships remain intact while acknowledging (and being happy for) said change.
I've had so many friends get married and have children, which changed our friendships. I am one of those friends who is extremely supportive of my friends and their goals, but I'm also a realist. Many of those friends became distant because they have families who are now their priority, something I support and acknowledge. I don't have any ill feelings towards them because being married is not something I will ever want, but the majority of my friends did. Those friends found more common ground with other wives and mothers, and I'm okay with that. I miss them, but I understand. In Dr. Joy's book, she talks about grieving the loss of a friend and how other friends in the sister circle can help, which I wish I had read years ago. That advice would have been so helpful whenever I needed to grieve the loss of a friend.
Having a supportive group of Black women is a blessing not just for the friends in the circle but for Black women and society in general. We look to each in so many different spaces and having that support is crucial when dealing with the world. Dr. Joy's advice is also a blessing because she could have easily used her time and expertise to just get the bag. But her words are intentional, non-judgmental and soothing without being preachy.
I absolutely recommend this book to my readers.
January 1, 2024
Sisterhood Heals is the soothing balm that every black woman needs to cover her scars and restore her energy! This book truly is a gem that is by us and for us. No matter what crossroad you are in currently, there is something for you.
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford fuses testimonies of women from ages 24-56 with scholarly research to create a landscape of relatability and purpose. She covers everything from friendship breakups to establishing a community of sisterhood with strangers. Sisterhood heals shares applicable tips and poses relevant questions to the reader to help them along their journey of discovery. It is nearly impossible not to reflect on how you show up for fellow sisters and realign yourself with the purpose of moving the collective forward.
Personally I couldn't have come into this at a better time in life but truthfully this is a book that can be revisited time and time again. Consider checking out Sisterhood Heals and passing it to a sister friend. Because as a strong women.... May we be them, may we know them, may we raise them.
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford fuses testimonies of women from ages 24-56 with scholarly research to create a landscape of relatability and purpose. She covers everything from friendship breakups to establishing a community of sisterhood with strangers. Sisterhood heals shares applicable tips and poses relevant questions to the reader to help them along their journey of discovery. It is nearly impossible not to reflect on how you show up for fellow sisters and realign yourself with the purpose of moving the collective forward.
Personally I couldn't have come into this at a better time in life but truthfully this is a book that can be revisited time and time again. Consider checking out Sisterhood Heals and passing it to a sister friend. Because as a strong women.... May we be them, may we know them, may we raise them.
May 26, 2024
I’m reading this book after two “best friends” left my life during my wedding season. One of them was my person the last 8 years. This book has helped me in the forgiving process. Im still on my healing journey but like someone else said this book feels like a warm hug. Dr. Joy has a way of validating your feelings and bringing a potential two sided perspective on common friendship issues.
I really appreciated the prompts she gave us for various situations that many like myself never had exact words for, nor were taught.
The reflective questions and activity really make you think deeply about your friend circles.
The ideas of how to support one another whether it is a close friend or the global black sisterhood was inspiring and left me wanting to go above and beyond for my friends moving forward.
This was a key piece to healing my friendship wound. I will definitely be running to this book for help the next time I’m in a friendship struggle, though I hope I won’t have to again, I’m glad this beautiful resource is available to me if I need to pick it back up.
Thank you Dr. Joy! 🫶🏼
I really appreciated the prompts she gave us for various situations that many like myself never had exact words for, nor were taught.
The reflective questions and activity really make you think deeply about your friend circles.
The ideas of how to support one another whether it is a close friend or the global black sisterhood was inspiring and left me wanting to go above and beyond for my friends moving forward.
This was a key piece to healing my friendship wound. I will definitely be running to this book for help the next time I’m in a friendship struggle, though I hope I won’t have to again, I’m glad this beautiful resource is available to me if I need to pick it back up.
Thank you Dr. Joy! 🫶🏼
July 8, 2023
Actionable tips on being in community
I am always up for a book about friendship and liked that this book focused specifically on the healing power of Black women in community with one another. I really liked that this book has actionable tips and scripts about how to nurture friendships among Black women. It is a comprehensive look at friendship across the life span from making new friends, showing up well for the women in your life, and going through the ups and downs of friendships from grieving, loss, and the end of friendships. The writing is clear and easy to get into. The book didn’t rate as high for me because it felt like it started off really strong and I was so excited and that feeling didn’t stay throughout. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have that feeling of EXCITEMENT for me. I was looking to be changed like I was when I read Mia Birdsong’s “How We Show Up.” Here I felt tidbits that were really helpful but overall didn’t feel like I covered new ground. BUT this could be just the book someone else needs.
I am always up for a book about friendship and liked that this book focused specifically on the healing power of Black women in community with one another. I really liked that this book has actionable tips and scripts about how to nurture friendships among Black women. It is a comprehensive look at friendship across the life span from making new friends, showing up well for the women in your life, and going through the ups and downs of friendships from grieving, loss, and the end of friendships. The writing is clear and easy to get into. The book didn’t rate as high for me because it felt like it started off really strong and I was so excited and that feeling didn’t stay throughout. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have that feeling of EXCITEMENT for me. I was looking to be changed like I was when I read Mia Birdsong’s “How We Show Up.” Here I felt tidbits that were really helpful but overall didn’t feel like I covered new ground. BUT this could be just the book someone else needs.
July 16, 2023
Some books are mirrors and some books are windows into other peoples experiences. What a window this book was for me.
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford’s structure of this book is one of my favorites. This book is loaded with cited information, and Dr. Joy is able to dissect and give it more meaning so that anyone can understand it. She gives different styles of writing throughout and constantly mixed it up (bulleted lists, interactive checklists, graphs, poems, reflection questions etc.). The way she writes, I felt like we were having an important conversation together, yet she still made me laugh with references of Juvenile or how she speaks in third person. She intertwines real life accounts and is able to delve deeper into their experiences and the importance of Black sisterhood and community.
She is an experienced therapist and I enjoyed her perspective a lot. She spoke of group therapy and the power of knowing other people are going through the same thing as you, that feeling of not being alone.
So whether this book may be a mirror for you or a window, I highly recommend either way as it was extremely well written and worth the read! #goodreadsgiveaway
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford’s structure of this book is one of my favorites. This book is loaded with cited information, and Dr. Joy is able to dissect and give it more meaning so that anyone can understand it. She gives different styles of writing throughout and constantly mixed it up (bulleted lists, interactive checklists, graphs, poems, reflection questions etc.). The way she writes, I felt like we were having an important conversation together, yet she still made me laugh with references of Juvenile or how she speaks in third person. She intertwines real life accounts and is able to delve deeper into their experiences and the importance of Black sisterhood and community.
She is an experienced therapist and I enjoyed her perspective a lot. She spoke of group therapy and the power of knowing other people are going through the same thing as you, that feeling of not being alone.
So whether this book may be a mirror for you or a window, I highly recommend either way as it was extremely well written and worth the read! #goodreadsgiveaway
December 27, 2023
Encapsulates sisterhood beautifully! A very warm hug from a black woman. Calls us in with love with a challenge to be a better sister to all black women. Cannot recommend this book enough!!!
May 4, 2024
More 4.5 ish.
September 9, 2025
Reflecting on your early connections: Who offered you the most support in your childhood years? In what ways did your relationship with your parents shape you? How did you and your siblings interact with each other? What kind of friendships did you form during your childhood?
At its core, this book argues that forming strong connections—physical, mental, and emotional—is not merely beneficial but essential for human development and survival. The author particularly focuses on how Black women thrive through relationships with other Black women.
Research consistently shows that forming meaningful connections helps combat isolation, which significantly impacts our physical and mental wellbeing. The healing journey involves acknowledging difficult experiences while preventing them from defining us completely. For Black women specifically, true healing means embracing joy instead of being defined by past traumas - finding strength in connection rather than remaining trapped in painful narratives.
I found the discussion on tenderness particularly moving. The author suggests that tenderness between Black women must be consciously cultivated as "what was native has been stolen." This practice of gentleness—both with others and with our most vulnerable selves—offers a powerful framework for healing.
The foundation of effective sister circles rests on consistency. Without regular participation from all members, groups struggle to develop the cohesion necessary for creating a truly supportive environment. Bradford emphasize during member screening the vital importance of consistent attendance and punctuality.
The book explains how our relationship foundations are built on inherited ideas formed in youth, shaping how we connect, manage differences, and determine who deserves our care. The health implications are striking: psychologist Julianne Holt-Lunstad's research shows isolation is as harmful as smoking fifteen cigarettes daily.
This book feels personal to me, as when the writer explain a sisterhood, it means women create "corrective emotional experiences" by building affirming, trustworthy relationships. Showing up consistently, extending grace, and apologizing when necessary builds and rebuilds trust.
As an Asian reader, I initially felt the Black women's sisterhood concept was distant from my experience, but I've come to appreciate how the writer articulates universal healing principles through a specific cultural lens. While "sisterhood" in the African American context has unique historical and social nuances that differ from Asian experiences shaped by Confucian values and different family structures, the core principles of healing through connection resonate across cultures.
Though written by an American clinical psychologist with Western therapeutic approaches, many of the healing concepts can be adapted to diverse cultural contexts when approached with cultural sensitivity. The book's emphasis on relationship formation may reflect Western individualism rather than Asian values of group harmony and social hierarchy, yet the fundamental need for meaningful connection is universal.
At its core, this book argues that forming strong connections—physical, mental, and emotional—is not merely beneficial but essential for human development and survival. The author particularly focuses on how Black women thrive through relationships with other Black women.
Research consistently shows that forming meaningful connections helps combat isolation, which significantly impacts our physical and mental wellbeing. The healing journey involves acknowledging difficult experiences while preventing them from defining us completely. For Black women specifically, true healing means embracing joy instead of being defined by past traumas - finding strength in connection rather than remaining trapped in painful narratives.
I found the discussion on tenderness particularly moving. The author suggests that tenderness between Black women must be consciously cultivated as "what was native has been stolen." This practice of gentleness—both with others and with our most vulnerable selves—offers a powerful framework for healing.
The foundation of effective sister circles rests on consistency. Without regular participation from all members, groups struggle to develop the cohesion necessary for creating a truly supportive environment. Bradford emphasize during member screening the vital importance of consistent attendance and punctuality.
The book explains how our relationship foundations are built on inherited ideas formed in youth, shaping how we connect, manage differences, and determine who deserves our care. The health implications are striking: psychologist Julianne Holt-Lunstad's research shows isolation is as harmful as smoking fifteen cigarettes daily.
This book feels personal to me, as when the writer explain a sisterhood, it means women create "corrective emotional experiences" by building affirming, trustworthy relationships. Showing up consistently, extending grace, and apologizing when necessary builds and rebuilds trust.
As an Asian reader, I initially felt the Black women's sisterhood concept was distant from my experience, but I've come to appreciate how the writer articulates universal healing principles through a specific cultural lens. While "sisterhood" in the African American context has unique historical and social nuances that differ from Asian experiences shaped by Confucian values and different family structures, the core principles of healing through connection resonate across cultures.
Though written by an American clinical psychologist with Western therapeutic approaches, many of the healing concepts can be adapted to diverse cultural contexts when approached with cultural sensitivity. The book's emphasis on relationship formation may reflect Western individualism rather than Asian values of group harmony and social hierarchy, yet the fundamental need for meaningful connection is universal.
January 22, 2024
📚 : Sisterhood Heals | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I’m grappling with this one, heavy. As Sza would say, these 20 somethings, I tell ya. The power and healing of sisterhood is unmatched. Every time I found myself wondering if Dr. Joy would talk about this part of friendship or that part, sis did not disappoint at all. Full transparency, I started this last August with some girlfriends and closed it due to it throwing some harsh truths about myself, how I show up as a friend, and the sadness it brought realizing some friends needed to be grieved or simply let go of. Having conversations with the women in my life recently reinforced the need for the loss in other friendships. The need for conversations, even if they are with myself, because let’s be honest, we dont always get the closure we need from other people. That’s okay. 🤎
This book was pure therapy. It’s so special to me, in the fact that you feel like you’re having a conversation with your homegirl on the couch. In this case, it’s Dr. Joy. Hey girl heyyyy. She is giving you some real shit to think about. From topics on attachment styles( insecure vs. secure attachment?) to the roles we play in our friendship groups (are you the Joan, Whitley, Issa, Bernadine, or Kelli of your group?) to handling money between friends to grieving and its impact (death losses & non-death losses) to lifting Black women up in the workplace, online, and on a global scale. To opening yourself up to gaining friends in different ways. To not only providing a safe place for another Black woman to land, but also thinking about how our sisters show up for us in that way. Me and Dr. Joy are homegirls in my head, and my homegirl made me think about what truly is important in friendship for me: care, intention, community, gentleness and bluntness (it’s the gemini in me). Reminiscent of All About Love, it is a book I will carry with me through the rest of my days and come back to for reference when I need to. It’s for all Black women in all eras of their lives, filled with beautiful gems to live by, techniques to practice, and questions to ponder over with your sisters. Go grab it! Be ready though for the truth-telling and shifts it’ll make in you. 🫶🏽
I’m grappling with this one, heavy. As Sza would say, these 20 somethings, I tell ya. The power and healing of sisterhood is unmatched. Every time I found myself wondering if Dr. Joy would talk about this part of friendship or that part, sis did not disappoint at all. Full transparency, I started this last August with some girlfriends and closed it due to it throwing some harsh truths about myself, how I show up as a friend, and the sadness it brought realizing some friends needed to be grieved or simply let go of. Having conversations with the women in my life recently reinforced the need for the loss in other friendships. The need for conversations, even if they are with myself, because let’s be honest, we dont always get the closure we need from other people. That’s okay. 🤎
This book was pure therapy. It’s so special to me, in the fact that you feel like you’re having a conversation with your homegirl on the couch. In this case, it’s Dr. Joy. Hey girl heyyyy. She is giving you some real shit to think about. From topics on attachment styles( insecure vs. secure attachment?) to the roles we play in our friendship groups (are you the Joan, Whitley, Issa, Bernadine, or Kelli of your group?) to handling money between friends to grieving and its impact (death losses & non-death losses) to lifting Black women up in the workplace, online, and on a global scale. To opening yourself up to gaining friends in different ways. To not only providing a safe place for another Black woman to land, but also thinking about how our sisters show up for us in that way. Me and Dr. Joy are homegirls in my head, and my homegirl made me think about what truly is important in friendship for me: care, intention, community, gentleness and bluntness (it’s the gemini in me). Reminiscent of All About Love, it is a book I will carry with me through the rest of my days and come back to for reference when I need to. It’s for all Black women in all eras of their lives, filled with beautiful gems to live by, techniques to practice, and questions to ponder over with your sisters. Go grab it! Be ready though for the truth-telling and shifts it’ll make in you. 🫶🏽
August 30, 2023
Sisterhood Heals, by creator of #TherapyforBlackGirls Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D, is a beautiful testament to the power of sisterhood and what it means to Black Women.
There is beauty, power, love, joy, and safety in the kinship we share. This book explores the various ways in which this community acts as a safe space and healing balm for us. It also illustrates how sisterhood is a means of survival for us all, as well. Covering topics such as cultivating friendships, finding our "place" & "holding space" in groups, seeking community, and navigating the life stages of our friendship circles, reading Sisterhood Heals feels like listening to a good girlfriend. It is insightful, relatable, and lists reflections at the end of each chapter that readers can apply to their own lives.
It would be love if all my sisters and those who love + support us check out Sisterhood Heals. Buy a copy for someone, even. This book is a celebration & poignant reminder that we are out here supporting each other, loving on each other, and making the world go round in the process. It also serves as a toolkit for optimum community within our own respective groups. Sisterhood Heals is an absolute must-read for me!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the eBook! 📚🎉
There is beauty, power, love, joy, and safety in the kinship we share. This book explores the various ways in which this community acts as a safe space and healing balm for us. It also illustrates how sisterhood is a means of survival for us all, as well. Covering topics such as cultivating friendships, finding our "place" & "holding space" in groups, seeking community, and navigating the life stages of our friendship circles, reading Sisterhood Heals feels like listening to a good girlfriend. It is insightful, relatable, and lists reflections at the end of each chapter that readers can apply to their own lives.
It would be love if all my sisters and those who love + support us check out Sisterhood Heals. Buy a copy for someone, even. This book is a celebration & poignant reminder that we are out here supporting each other, loving on each other, and making the world go round in the process. It also serves as a toolkit for optimum community within our own respective groups. Sisterhood Heals is an absolute must-read for me!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the eBook! 📚🎉
June 25, 2023
Building healthy friendships takes a lot of work, and truly wonderful friends can become a sisterhood. What this looks like changes over time as women's needs change, and as the world changes. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford has helped Black women heal together for more than twenty years. Her work enables Black women to prioritize their mental health and become the best possible versions of themselves.
This is a book specifically about community healing and group therapy for Black women, but I think there are important takeaways for all women. As a therapist, Dr. Bradford introduces attachment theory, stages of development, the hierarchy of needs, and cognitive restructuring into this book. With this in mind, there are mini quizzes and questions to ponder scattered throughout the text, making it thought-provoking in the best way.
Suggestions for approaching the complicated emotions at transition points of life, changing friendships, and even navigating professional lives is invaluable. It is very gently discussed and validated; emotions are what they are, and it's how we deal with them that potentially builds or destroys friendships. The book is practical and straightforward and can help build a better life.
This is a book specifically about community healing and group therapy for Black women, but I think there are important takeaways for all women. As a therapist, Dr. Bradford introduces attachment theory, stages of development, the hierarchy of needs, and cognitive restructuring into this book. With this in mind, there are mini quizzes and questions to ponder scattered throughout the text, making it thought-provoking in the best way.
Suggestions for approaching the complicated emotions at transition points of life, changing friendships, and even navigating professional lives is invaluable. It is very gently discussed and validated; emotions are what they are, and it's how we deal with them that potentially builds or destroys friendships. The book is practical and straightforward and can help build a better life.
July 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine as well as the author for this informative ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #RandomHouseBallantine #DrJoyHardenBradford #SisterhoodHeals
Title: Sisterhood Heals
Author: Joy Harden Bradford PhD
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine
Publishing Date: June 27, 2023
This book was not only not my typical choice but it was also outside my comfort zone. I don’t usually gravitate towards self help but this one came highly recommended. I was pleasantly surprised. This was a joyful read full of positive messages on how to make and be a friend. This book comes just in time to provide a fresh perspective and a message like a warm blanket. Dr. Joy writes to Black women using her own experiences and expertise as a psychologist, but anyone will benefit from her thoughtful and insightful advice on effective communication. She shows us how to grieve our lost friendships and move on. She shows us how to recover struggling friendships as well as improve existing relationships.
The words on these pages are a gift to anyone. It’s full of great advice. It’s very well written and full of positivity. I would recommend it to anyone, despite her background.
#NetGalley #RandomHouseBallantine #DrJoyHardenBradford #SisterhoodHeals
Title: Sisterhood Heals
Author: Joy Harden Bradford PhD
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine
Publishing Date: June 27, 2023
This book was not only not my typical choice but it was also outside my comfort zone. I don’t usually gravitate towards self help but this one came highly recommended. I was pleasantly surprised. This was a joyful read full of positive messages on how to make and be a friend. This book comes just in time to provide a fresh perspective and a message like a warm blanket. Dr. Joy writes to Black women using her own experiences and expertise as a psychologist, but anyone will benefit from her thoughtful and insightful advice on effective communication. She shows us how to grieve our lost friendships and move on. She shows us how to recover struggling friendships as well as improve existing relationships.
The words on these pages are a gift to anyone. It’s full of great advice. It’s very well written and full of positivity. I would recommend it to anyone, despite her background.
July 2, 2023
Book Summary:
We've all grown up hearing about the magic of sisterhood. But for most of us, this magic has never been scientifically explored – or explained. That's where Dr. Joy Harden Bradford comes into play. She delves into what makes sisterhood so impactful and powerful, breaking it down, explaining it – and providing tips on how to nurture these relationships.
My Review:
Sisterhood Heals is an informative and interesting read. I'll be the first to say that I don't read enough fiction, but Dr. Joy Harden Bradford's book instantly caught my attention. I think this is a book that we should all read, as it breaks down so much about the healing process.
This book is broken into four parts: exploring how relationships are shaped by childhood experiences, exploring role vulnerability, exploring/understanding barriers and conflicts, and finally, strategies for finding/developing/creating sister friendships.
Read Sisterhood Heals to understand more about the complex nature of friendships and relationships.
Thanks to Ballantine Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
We've all grown up hearing about the magic of sisterhood. But for most of us, this magic has never been scientifically explored – or explained. That's where Dr. Joy Harden Bradford comes into play. She delves into what makes sisterhood so impactful and powerful, breaking it down, explaining it – and providing tips on how to nurture these relationships.
My Review:
Sisterhood Heals is an informative and interesting read. I'll be the first to say that I don't read enough fiction, but Dr. Joy Harden Bradford's book instantly caught my attention. I think this is a book that we should all read, as it breaks down so much about the healing process.
This book is broken into four parts: exploring how relationships are shaped by childhood experiences, exploring role vulnerability, exploring/understanding barriers and conflicts, and finally, strategies for finding/developing/creating sister friendships.
Read Sisterhood Heals to understand more about the complex nature of friendships and relationships.
Thanks to Ballantine Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 29, 2023
The transformative power of Healing in the Community was written by a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. She is also the driving force behind the award-winning podcast Therapy for Black Girls.
This reads like a map of sorts. How to improve your connections with other people.
Sisterhood is a safe place. A place where we drop the face we show to the world and just be who and what we are. These circles of friends are a community. But there is so much more to those friendships. They must be nurtured. They need to evolve as we do. This book will help you with that.
Dr.Joy shows us ways in which modern relationships with black women are influenced by the past. She shows us how to grow in those friendships even after we fall out. So many ways to have healthy and sustainable relationships. Full of love, empathy, and a desire for us all to be better and have better relationships.
NetGalley/ RHPG/BALLENTINE June 27, 2023
This reads like a map of sorts. How to improve your connections with other people.
Sisterhood is a safe place. A place where we drop the face we show to the world and just be who and what we are. These circles of friends are a community. But there is so much more to those friendships. They must be nurtured. They need to evolve as we do. This book will help you with that.
Dr.Joy shows us ways in which modern relationships with black women are influenced by the past. She shows us how to grow in those friendships even after we fall out. So many ways to have healthy and sustainable relationships. Full of love, empathy, and a desire for us all to be better and have better relationships.
NetGalley/ RHPG/BALLENTINE June 27, 2023
Read
January 26, 2025i honestly really enjoyed reading this book!! I've been an avid listener of the therapy for black girls podcast and i was looking forward to reading this book for a while. i'll be honest and say i did go into this book to seek guidance on making new friends and while the book does provide that, there is so much that dr. joy communicates throughout the book. From discussing topics such as attachment styles to strategies of building friendships with other black women, it was refreshing to see these topics discussed. there were many things and discussions that i already knew about but other topics were new to me and allowed me to think about being in a community. in many ways this book can be seen as self-help but also a reminder why community is important and will enable us to heal and grow together as black women
June 26, 2023
A wonderful, insightful book full of moving, thought-provoking, and practical reflections, questions, and suggestions for tapping into your friendships and support/sister circles. As the book blurb notes, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is an in-demand therapist for Black women and has an award-winning podcast Therapy for Black Girls - Sisterhood Heals is centered on the experience of Black women and I think the content will resonate with any woman looking to self-reflect and nurture and/or repair their relationships with their friendship group/sister circle.
Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
February 12, 2025
SISTERHOOD HEALS is insightful, intelligent, and inspirational … without being preachy. The real life situations shared are totally relatable, and Dr. Joy is brilliant as she helps us to navigate varying friendships and other types of relationships.
I listened on Audible; however, I loved this book so much that I must purchase the paperback too, because the actionable suggestions are doable; thus, I would like to highlight (many) sections for future reference.
I also plan to purchase a copy of SISTERHOOD HEALS to send to each of our four adult daughters!
Thank you for writing this beautiful book, Dr. Joy!🙏🏾
I listened on Audible; however, I loved this book so much that I must purchase the paperback too, because the actionable suggestions are doable; thus, I would like to highlight (many) sections for future reference.
I also plan to purchase a copy of SISTERHOOD HEALS to send to each of our four adult daughters!
Thank you for writing this beautiful book, Dr. Joy!🙏🏾
April 29, 2023
Sisterhood Heals is a deep dive into the unique ways that Black women create sacred spaces to commune, heal, laugh, and destress. Dr. Joy explains ways to foster healthy relationships with our sisters and how to validate and allow space for one another and examines how these sister circles literally prolong our lives. This book is so important and valuable and contains a wealth of information. I plan to buy hard copies for myself as well as all the sisters in my circle. I'm grateful to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
July 27, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Sisterhood Heals, as this book came during a time when I needed to rely on sisterhood to get through sudden life changes. I’ve been grateful to experience several sister circles in my life, and I don’t take them for granted.
I love that Dr.Joy started the book with an overview of attachment styles and childhood trauma/experiences and how they impact how we show up in sister circles. Even if you have strong relationships with your sister-friends, I believe there is something for everyone in this book!
I love that Dr.Joy started the book with an overview of attachment styles and childhood trauma/experiences and how they impact how we show up in sister circles. Even if you have strong relationships with your sister-friends, I believe there is something for everyone in this book!
October 4, 2023
Okay not to be dramatic but I feel forever changed 🤣🥲 Even a quick pass through listening to the audiobook felt so enriching and gave me a lot to reflect on. I love that we got personal examples, data & stats, and most of all practical tips when it comes to forming and keeping community with Black women. Will definitely be buying a hard copy to reread this and take notes. Reading this in the fall made this book feel extra cozy, even though I was (kindly) dragged several times. Thank you Dr. Joy ✨
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