Nationwide -- As Mental Health Awareness Month shines a light on emotional well-being, one woman is transforming how communities of color understand healing — and the importance of joy.
Dr. Kristen Guillory, a former professor of counseling and social work, is more than a mental health professional. She’s known by many as “The Soul Reader” — a transformational coach, international speaker, and best-selling author whose soul-awakening work blends radical honesty with humor and storytelling. With more than two decades of experience, she’s become a powerful force in redefining mental health through a culturally grounded, holistic lens.
Her work reaches far beyond addressing depression and anxiety. “Mental health also means joy. It means rest. It means freedom,” says Dr. Guillory. “And it means challenging the beliefs and burdens we’ve been told to carry — especially when we think there’s no space for us to be seen, held, or healed.”
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A common thread in Dr. Guillory’s practice is helping those who have silently carried the weight for everyone else — caregivers, the “strong ones,” and high achievers. “There’s a quiet belief that we’re not allowed to hurt. That we can’t be overwhelmed. That there’s no room for us to fall apart,” she explains. “That belief is dangerous — and it’s time we start rejecting it.”
She’s particularly vocal about the impact of shame and the way it silently shapes how people show up in life and relationships. “Shame is one of the greatest threats to mental health,” Dr. Guillory says. “And demolishing it is part of the healing process.” She also calls attention to how code-switching, often seen as a survival skill, can mask one’s authentic self and contribute to emotional fatigue. Reclaiming one’s voice, she says, is a radical act of wellness.
Her best-selling book Look, Stop Hiding dives into this very notion — exploring what it means to live authentically in a world that often asks us to shrink. From boardrooms to barbershops, she’s helped people unearth their inner truth and lean into lives of purpose, rest, and clarity.
Beyond her work with women, Dr. Guillory is also the founder of Candid Conversations for Men, a safe space for Black men to explore emotional healing, vulnerability, and strength without shame. Whether leading large-scale talks or one-on-one sessions, her approach remains deeply personal and profoundly impactful.
This isn’t traditional therapy. This is soul-level healing.
These are Dr. Kristen Guillory’s upcoming retreats:
• July 3–7, 2025: REST: A Retreat for Black Women—a 5-day immersive experience in Pompano Beach, FL, dedicated to healing, connection, and radical rest. Set by the ocean at Tru by Hilton Pompano Pier, the retreat offers a sacred space to pause, breathe, and reclaim joy through storytelling, movement, and intentional stillness. Learn more at RestRetreat.net
• November 1–11, 2025: in Santorini, Greece, for the Sabbatical Experience—a transformative retreat designed to help individuals embrace ease, rest, and purposeful living. Set against the stunning backdrop of Santorini’s cliffs and seas, this immersive journey blends soulful conversations, curated activities, and intentional pauses to affirm that rest is not a reward, but a right. Learn more and register at KristenGuillory.com/
nZinga Austin is also the Co-publisher of Our Black News Scoop and Southeast Queens Scoop. The documentary of about 1/2 hr long is getting rave reviews.
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