Dr. Edith Langford

11/08/2025

A stigma is a mark of disgrace. We are currently in an epidemic of ‘Cultural Silence’ about stigmas because we don’t want to make real the American history related to the stigmas that were passed down to us. Stigmas are based on our family’s cultural, ethnic or religious beliefs. Initially, we accept these to be facts about another group of people. We use those very limited beliefs to pre-judge people. That is what prejudice is-to pre-judge. We cannot be fair when we prejudge. We are silent because to challenge a stigma we inherited is to challenge our core family beliefs.

Everyone we meet is different from anyone else we know. We all deserve a chance to be known for who and what we are. Grouping and stereotyping based on an old often wrong family belief implies that we know a person and their worth before we interact with them. We don’t unless we have been exposed to ask questions and learn to know that person. It still doesn’t mean you can apply what you now know even to her twin sister. Please go to my website and sign up for my mailing list. I will be providing more takeaways on this topic.
Www.Edithlangford.com

01/08/2025

I am certain that we all need the power to escape and relax from time to time. Sometimes we need to tune out in the middle of a workday, during a stressful interaction with someone we actually love but, don’t really like very much today.
Discover the coping mechanisms that enable you to manage your own emotions. Ask friends about how they cope. Some call it a re-set.
Try different things like; walking, singing, listening to music, reading a book, light stretching, praying or just excusing yourself from others and taking a quiet moment alone.
Document the Coping techniques that work for you in a journal. You may include the context in which you used a strategy. This way you can return to a technique that works for you.

24/07/2025

Not every therapist is the right therapist.
If you’ve ever left a session feeling unseen or unheard, you’re not alone.

In this carousel, we break down 3 red flags and 2 green flags to help you find a therapist who truly gets you—someone who honors your full story, not just your symptoms.

Swipe through, save it for later, and share with a friend who’s looking for support.
You deserve care that feels like home.

23/07/2025

Attitudes and Beliefs about seeking Help can be barriers to finding mental health treatment; many people see it as a sign of weakness to ask for help- I can do it myself. Even if you are a mental health professional, it is not advisable that you attempt to treat yourself, friends or family. You deserve the skill and objectivity of a professional. Other very real concerns about seeking help such as; financial constraints, limited provider availability or even language band cultural barriers can all be addressed and resolved. Just go online to psychologytoday.com. scroll around to see who is available. Become familiar with the sight. You know what I say, “stay ready and you don’t have to get ready.” You can also dial 988 to learn about services near you that respect your ability to pay, also if you or anyone you know is in crisis Text HOME to 741741. Stigmas have held us back from the help we need. Terms such as counselor, therapist and coach can be confusing and very misleading, use sources that will provide professionals who are licensed in the field of mental health.

17/07/2025

I have identified three of the initial aspects of generational trauma as it goes from one generation to the next that complicate the already difficult task of ending the cycle. First, we often don’t know that the emotional and mental challenges we face are a result of generational trauma. Sometimes we think, 'this is how my family has always and must continue to function, this is who we are.' Not like the trauma that started in your lifetime, generational trauma often occurred so long ago that its originator or perpetrator may be unknown or no longer alive. Finally, with awareness of the trauma, we are mandated to work to find the appropriate mental health professionals for the family. We need a professional to help us separate what is not damaging about your emotions and behaviors from the dangerous ones that we have normalized. We can now stop the cycle and not pass it to the next generation. We are going to take a close look at legacy trauma, that lingering impact of generational trauma through the eyes of an ethnic group.
Yeah, let’s play the other race card. Native Americans, the Indigenous people of the Americas are the unfortunate expert survivors of such trauma generational trauma while simultaneously living in the current abuse and the never ending impact and consequences of historical abuse. For more information about the history of this horrific legacy, current abuse and how people are healing, follow the writer, Suzanne Methot. Her latest book Legacy: Trauma, Story and Indigenous Healing, also comes with a workbook. Note the healing points.
To learn more about resources available for trauma survivors, go to SAMHSA, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This the national agency responsible for providing information about resources available for treatment and current statistics about different types of trauma and their symptoms, please visit: https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=samhsa_main&query=+trauma&commit=Search

30/06/2025

27/05/2025

A day in the life a therapist with empathy. Listen
I learned to listen. My full and unwavering acceptance of having been hoodwinked and bamboozled by the racist American medical system and the harmful role it’s members played at every stage of her life, came late for me but, not too late for my clients to benefit.
When my clients speak to me, it is my duty to place context, recent past events and the current flow of their states in and around the words. My ears are only one listening tool. Is my heart beating faster as I listen to the story of what happened in their lives over the last week? I must feel them.

“Ok, so you relapsed. Tell me about what lead up to the relapse. Where were you? Who were you with? I recall you saying that was an old gambling buddy”. “ Now, tell me more about how you two guys ended up together Saturday.”

2-“Yes, I see your drawing and I hear it also”, I said to my young female client. “Hold the drawing close to your ear, what is this pretty little girl with blue tears saying?” “Do you want to talk to her?” “Say what you think would make her happy.” “Let her know that you and I are listening to her.” This is as far as I go in a first session with a child who has drawn a self portrait.

My little female client and I have established a common goal. We are going to role play listening to this little girl. Together we will explore why she has so many blue tears. I will talk about the braid in her hair and why they look like knife blades, what she knows about knives and has she ever seen one used to hurt someone or has she ever thought of hurting someone with a knife. But, for now we have a project to work on together because, I heard her drawing.

20/05/2025

The journey to “I Hear You: A Black Therapist on How Not to Lose Your Mind in America” continues—and we’ve officially entered the editing phase. Two chapters at a time, edits go back and forth, all in preparation for that big publication day. But here’s the best part: Your voice still matters.

The journey to “I Hear You: A Black Therapist on How Not to Lose Your Mind in America” continues—and we’ve officially entered the editing phase. Two chapters at a time, edits go back and forth, all in preparation for that big publication day. But here’s the best part: Your voice still matt...

13/05/2025

Edith and Hiyatt
Dr. Artie Nelson, Psychiatrist
Black Women’s Mental Health Institute Conference 2023. I Can’t wait to return to the Black Women’s Mental Health Institute’s 10th Anniversary Celebration this Wednesday, May 14!
Last year’s conference was an unforgettable experience—filled with powerful conversations, healing, and inspiration from leaders. I’m so honored to support a mission rooted in equity, justice, and the mental wellness of Black women.

07/05/2025

DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH I WANTED TO REMIND YOU TO ALWAYS TRUST YOUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THEY ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU

I entered semi-retirement in 2019. When COVID hit I could not refuse some patients desperately seeking mental health counseling. I locked down in a very strict manner; masked up, gloved down and sanitized everything. I got all the boosters, limited visitors, postponed all trips, converted all in-office sessions to remote therapy and prepared myself to bunkered down for the long haul.

No, I am not unusual. I am a mental health professional and most of my colleagues did the same thing. We wanted to be there for patients during the only pandemic most of us had ever known. But, we knew the mental issues would be off the chart and they were. My caseload went from 10 to 40 as I listened to and supported public school teachers trying to teach 36 sleepy kids on a screen as many of their colleagues has jumped ship-no shade. I scheduled divided 30 min appointments for nurses who did not know what day it was. As some softly began to snore on the phone, I would just hang up the phone and send them peace, just a few minutes of peace.

Dr. Edith Langford, PhDEdith Langford is a psychotherapist with four decades of experience. A former consultant for the Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Bush and Clinton administrations, she has written about addictions for The Guardian and USA Today. Psychotherapist, Writer, Advoca...

17/04/2025

I dressed up in a dress that I made to visit the library

05/04/2025

My report card from the school I ran away to with my brother.

Being two, I had no business being there but the teacher let me stay and learn.

I am so grateful to all my teachers through the years, the official ones (at this school, and all educational institutions through to my PhD. faculty ) and the “unofficial” ones like my brother, Charles and my parents, Helen and Charlie Langford, who you will hear more about in my book, I HEAR YOU: A Black Therapist on How Not to Lose Your Mind in America.