Thriving in Alignment: Dr. Joshua Nwosu on Black Mental Wellness

What does Black Mental Wellness mean to you?

I want to see Black people living holistic lives where our actions align with the values we espouse. Black mental wellness looks like thriving in self-esteem, managing and regulating emotions, community connectedness, clarity in purpose, with faith, intentionality, and optimism for the future.

How do you promote change and well-being in the Black community?

I promote change by providing education, resources, and various services (e.g. individual therapy, coaching, workshops, and more) to the community.

What are some upcoming events you are leading, that promote mental health and wellness, that you would like for our Black Mental Wellness audience to know about?

Please follow @psychandsounds on Instagram and TikTok so that you can keep up with the latest events I may be participating in.

Tell us about your educational and/or professional training, and current area of expertise related to mental health and wellness?

I attended Oakwood University, a small HBCU in Alabama, for undergrad. After college, I worked at a boarding school for a year as an assistant dean, before beginning graduate school at Loma Linda University. I trained in an array of treatment settings with diverse clinical populations and defended my doctoral dissertation which focused on testing biosocial theory among suicidal and self-harming teenagers enrolled in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program. I went on to complete my doctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center, training in adult cognitive behavioral therapies and engaging in population health interventions, palliative care treatments, DBT, multicultural consultation team, and behavior activation. At this time, COVID changed everything, and I developed a support ground for under-represented minorities at the medical center. After pre-doctoral internship, I graduated with my PhD in Clinical psychology, and a specialization in primary care psychology, and accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Washington DC Veteran Affairs. During postdoc, my services focused on mental health services for veterans diagnosed with HIV and Liver Diseases and substance use disorders. I completed my postdoc at the DC VA and immediately began working with the VA Maryland Healthcare system where I provide brief evidence-based treatment interventions for individuals with complex mental and physical comorbidities.

What are some ways that you promote mental health and wellness through your area of expertise?

I own a small private practice offering a variety of services including individual therapy (e.g. insomnia, anxiety, cultural stressors, depression, chronic pain, and stress related to chronic medical conditions). I collaborate with churches/community events/institutions/schools that would like mental health educational seminars/workshops, event speaking, resources, and/or consultation.

What are some things that we should know about your area of expertise?

Many people’s mental and physical health would be significantly better if they were getting quality sleep at night. Sometimes worry thoughts, pain, restlessness, and other issues can get in the way of that. I do plenty of work with individuals experiencing insomnia, and I often find that when we’ve treated the insomnia, we can reduce depressive and anxious symptoms simultaneously.

How can we encourage more people to seek mental health treatment?

More people will seek mental health treatment if, as a culture, we openly and privately celebrate authenticity and transparency, especially for black men. More will be encouraged if we normalize routine mental wellness check-ups and maintenance sessions and reinforce healthy behaviors, relationships, and movements in our communities.

What are your recommendations for ending stigma in the Black community?

There’s a notorious quote… “Can’t change the world unless we change ourselves.”

I believe ending stigma starts with individuals who are becoming informed and evolving. If we all have a growth mindset with actions to match, we can all become leaders of change within our own circles, and will advocate for policies, curriculums, and institutions that fosters a new culture of mental health in the community at large.

What can potential clients expect during an initial session? Follow up sessions?

Potential clients should expect for me to be ask a lot of questions, and for them to also have their questions answered in the initial session. The main thing I would like to walk away with after the initial session is having a clear understanding of the challenge that my client wants to address, as well as some of their history, values, goals, motivations, and expectations they may have.  I am someone who honors and values their time and will be keeping their goals at the foundation of whatever evidence-based treatment we begin in the subsequent sessions.

How do you make time for your own wellness and self-care?

I have to set pretty firm boundaries and structures in my life that help me ensure that I am taking care of myself.

What are your top 5 favorite wellness and self-care strategies?

2. resting and/or getting quality sleep

3. creating art and/or writing a poem or song

4. quiet time in prayer, deep breathing, and meditation

5. engaging with my community (friends, family, church)

Dr. Joshua Nwosu is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Maryland, where he provides evidence-based treatments to adults experiencing depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic medical conditions and other diverse issues. Community organizers, schools, churches, corporations, and institutions have regularly sought out Dr. Nwosu as a speaker, preacher, panelist, consultant, and workshop leader. Out of a desire to integrate his love for art with his passion for mental health accessibility, Dr. Nwosu founded PsychAndSounds. Through PsychAndSounds, he has created a virtual community for creatives and music fans to discuss the intersection of mental health and artistic expression. Across social media platforms, PsychAndSounds create and share content that address mental health stigma, provide psychoeducation, and introduce resources to make mental health services more accessible, especially for Black clients. Through PsychAndSounds, Dr. Nwosu has also provided individual support for artists, musicians, athletes, and teams seeking to enhance their mental performance.