Authentically Be You

01/19/2026

Networking doesn’t have to be performative, awkward, or exhausting.

If the word alone makes your shoulders tense, this space was created with you in mind.

This workshop is for therapists who care deeply about their work, value authenticity, still want to build meaningful professional connections and build their client caseload with ease… without forcing themselves into a version of networking that never fit.

In this interactive workshop, you'll learn :
• How your natural way of connecting is your strategy
• Simple reframes that remove pressure and comparison
• Practical tools you can use immediately, even if networking usually feels uncomfortable

No scripts that feel fake.
No small talk Olympics.
Just connection that aligns with who you actually are.

If this resonates, I’d love to have you there.

Comment WORKSHOP to register 💛

01/16/2026

I avoided networking for a year as a therapist. Now it’s my #1 referral source for therapy clients.

And I am sharing what I discovered to build my private practice in my Virtual Workshop.

Networking for Therapists that Hate Networking

In this FREE Virtual workshop, you’ll discover:
→ Your natural connection style as your networking strategy
→ 3 powerful reframes that remove the pressure
→ Practical tools you can use immediately

No elevator pitches. No performance. Just authentic connection.

🗓️ Wednesday, January 21 | 7-8PM EST

Just comment WORKSHOP to register for free 💛

01/13/2026

Sometimes Self-Love Looks Like Leaving the Coffee Shop

A therapist's perimenopause discovery and what self-love actually looks like for high achievers who struggle to rest. A personal story about listening to your body.

01/12/2026

We don’t start out doubting ourselves.

Most of the time, that inner critic was learned.
A voice that once came from parents, teachers, partners, culture… slowly became your own.

And after a while, it’s hard to tell where you end and the expectations of other people begin.

This is part of the work we do in therapy…
gently separating what was inherited from what’s actually true for you.

Clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from slowing down enough to listen differently.

If you’re ready to unpack the voices you’ve been carrying and reconnect with your own, I’m currently accepting new therapy clients online and in person in Dunwoody, Georgia.

DM me "CONSULT" to book your free consultation. 💛

01/06/2026

I signed the contract and immediately felt relief.

Last month I hired an amazing Social Media Strategist I Am Alicia Noelle I’ve been in her social group for a long time and she has become a friend, so this helped. We had a consultation conversation about what she wanted to do, and just leaving that conversation, I felt lighter.

But when I signed the contract? That’s when it really hit me. The weight of social media wasn’t ALL on me anymore.

I still make videos and give input on content, but I don’t have to figure out when to post, what to post, write every caption, or manage logistics. That weight? Lifted.

Suddenly, I felt more creative. Ideas came back. I felt revived in my business.

That’s when it hit me: “You never know the weight you’re carrying until it gets lifted.”

Earlier this year, I hired a VA - Robyn .robyn, who’s a godsend. Same thing. She made everything easier, and I didn’t realize how much I was doing until she took things off my plate. Now she’s my Online Business Manager.

I wasn’t running a business. I was managing—all the time, while being a therapist. My brain was always thinking in the background. 🤯

I didn’t know until I got support.

That’s the thing about weight:
You normalize it.
You adapt.
You tell yourself, “I’m the only one who can do it.”

Until you don’t have to anymore.

And suddenly there’s space. Clarity. Energy returning.

If you’re realizing how much you’ve been holding, here’s your reminder:
You’re allowed to get support before you burn out.
You don’t have to wait until it’s unbearable.

Sometimes relief comes quietly.
And sometimes it changes everything.

That’s why I created The Soulful Clinician Collective, a space for therapists who’ve been holding it all alone. Time for community to build confidence, sharpen clinical identity, and practice aligned with your values.

Comment “COLLECTIVE” and I’ll send the link your way to start a FREE 7-day trial.

01/02/2026

There’s so much pressure to arrive at a new version of yourself just because the calendar changed.

A new goal.
A new routine.
A new plan to finally get it right.

But what if this season isn’t asking you to reinvent yourself…
What if it’s inviting you to listen?

You’re allowed to enter this year slowly.
You’re allowed to rest without explaining why.
You’re allowed to keep what’s working instead of burning it all down.
You’re allowed to honor the growth that didn’t come with applause.

Perfectionism will tell you you’re behind.
Your body will tell you when it’s time to move.

Real change doesn’t come from urgency or pressure.
It comes from compassion, reflection, and trusting your own pace.

If you’re starting this year feeling tired, tender, or unsure… nothing is wrong with you.
You don’t need fixing.
You need space.

And that’s more than enough right now. 🫶🏾

01/01/2026

Hey new and old followers 💛 Happy New Year!

I’m Bianca Hughes (aka Joy) an East London 🇬🇧 girl raised by a Caribbean immigrant family 🇯🇲🇦🇬. I arrived in Atlanta on a 3-year visa 20 years ago and never left.

The UK raised me, America matured me. I identify culturally as Caribbean, then English with a sprinkling of American. 🇺🇸

I spent 10 years in the travel industry before everything shifted in 2011. After a year of searching, prayer, and reflection, I realized my gift was emotional healing. I became a therapist and graduated on my birthday in 2015, at 36 (never too late to change your career).

Since then, I’ve spent over 8,000 hours sitting with people on their journey of inner healing.

I am a Soul Aligner passionate about guiding high achievers overwhelmed by perfectionism to create profound confidence, relief, self-trust, and authenticity in their lives.

You don’t need anything added to who you are. My work is about helping you align to your soul and tune back into YOUR frequency, so you can stop performing, stop living from other people’s expectations, and connect to your power.

In 2018, Authentically Be You Counseling & Wellness Studio became official.

I’ve been on over 30 podcasts, hosted two of my own, and spoken to audiences about overcoming perfectionism and stepping into authenticity.

I also founded the Soulful Clinician Collective, a mentorship community for new therapists who want clarity, confidence, and community without burning out.

When I’m not working? You’ll find me at a coffee shop, by the river, doing a jigsaw puzzle, reading, traveling, or with friends. Fun fact: I’m a Mental Projector, 6/2 in Human Design.

I invite you to follow along for honest conversations, tools and tips about overcoming perfectionism, cultivating self-trust, soul alignment, and permission to be your authentic self.

If you’re into mental health content and heart-work, drop a “💛” below and tell me, how are you celebrating YOU this year?

12/29/2025

And here’s the thing about vulnerability… it asks us to slow down long enough to actually hear what someone is sharing, not just rush to make it feel better.

When I opened up a few weeks ago about my English accent and how much I’ve smoothed it living in America ove the years… it wasn’t about wanting reassurance. It was about sharing something I struggle with because my how I sound today reminds me of how I shrunk myself to be understood.

So people responded with love and shared you loved my accent (which is my current smoothed out accent). These responses reminded me how easy it is to miss the deeper message when someone is being honest with us.

Sometimes we don’t know what to say.
Sometimes we want to life their mood.
Sometimes their vulnerability makes us uncomfortable.

But in the vulnerable moments most people aren’t looking to feel better, they what to be heard and seen.

So if someone shares something vulnerable with you, try this instead:

🌻 “Thank you for sharing with me.”
🌻 “How can I support you right now?”
🌻 “I’m here, even if I don’t have the words.”

Those moments matter.
They build safety.
They build connection.
And honestly… that’s why so many people go to therapy, to have a space where they don’t have to perform, manage the other person’s emotions, or pretend they’re okay.

If this resonated with you, and you’re in Georgia looking for a therapist who gets the nuance of identity, shrinking, vulnerability, and finding your voice again…

Book a FREE 15-minute consultation. Comment "CONSULT" or click the link in my bio to get started.

I offer virtual and in-person therapy sessions in Dunwoody, Ga. 💛

08/21/2025

Your authentic self is someone's answered prayer 🙏🏽

There is somebody out there waiting for your authentic self.

Not the polished, perfect version you think you need to be, but exactly who you are right now.

After taking a unintentionally year-long break from my email list (because fear and overthinking had me in a chokehold 🤦🏽‍♀️), I had to remind myself of this truth.

Sometimes our fears override our values of connection and inspiration.

But you have the power to inspire and change someone's world just by showing up as you.

What does this quote mean to you? Let me know in the comments.

08/06/2025

Looking for a therapist can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what to ask.

Save this list of 8 questions to help you find the RIGHT therapist for you.

11/29/2024

Save this gentle reminder 💛