On Sunday, August 31, mental health practitioner and community healer Philicia Ross, LCSW-C, will lead a virtual gathering designed to nurture the emotional and mental well-being of Black women and femmes.
The session, Holding Space: Who Am I Without the Hustle, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT via Zoom and invites participants to pause, reflect, and reclaim self-worth beyond constant productivity.
This monthly series centers Black women in conversation, care, and community. August’s focus is on releasing the pressure to overgive, overachieve, and carry it all.
A space for rest and reflection
The gathering will begin with grounding exercises and community agreements before moving into a candid conversation about the truths we carry. Through guided journaling and optional sharing, participants will be invited to unmask survival roles, challenge beliefs like “I have to earn rest,” and explore identity beyond hustle culture.
A somatic prompt will encourage participants to slow down and connect with their bodies, followed by a closing ritual and self-love offering. The session ends with reflections and goodbyes, honoring both connection and boundaries.
Who this space is for
Holding Space is created for Black women of all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences who want to feel seen, centered, and supported. There is no expectation to have answers. Participants are invited to come as they are and be witnessed without judgment.
About the facilitator
Philicia Ross is a licensed clinical social worker, mental wellness educator, and founder of Village of Sound Mind, a virtual mental health and healing space centering Black women, femmes, and communities of color. Her work blends anti-oppressive care, narrative therapy, and liberation-focused practice, informed by her lived experience navigating chronic illness and systemic harm.
Ross created the Holding Space series to offer a consistent, community-based circle where participants can assess what is no longer serving them and move gently toward their truth.
Event details
Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT
Location: Virtual (Zoom link provided after registration)
Cost: Donation-based (minimum $1, suggested $5)