• Celebrity
    • Cardi B and Offset Cover
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Digital Cover – Method Man
    • Digital Cover – Zazie Beetz
    • Fashion News
    • Fashion House 2021
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • MAYBELLINE: FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Prudential – Dream & Plan with Confidence
    • Black History Month
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Festival
  • Events
    • Road to Festival
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • Entrepreneur Summit 2021
    • Wellness House
    • VAX & VIBES Louisiana
    • Girls United Summit 2021
    • She Got Now
    • Fashion House 2021
    • GU Back To School
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • Power Tools
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Cardi B and Offset Cover
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Digital Cover – Method Man
    • Digital Cover – Zazie Beetz
    • Fashion News
    • Fashion House 2021
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • MAYBELLINE: FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Prudential – Dream & Plan with Confidence
    • Black History Month
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Festival
  • Events
    • Road to Festival
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • Entrepreneur Summit 2021
    • Wellness House
    • VAX & VIBES Louisiana
    • Girls United Summit 2021
    • She Got Now
    • Fashion House 2021
    • GU Back To School
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • Power Tools
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Health and Wellness

Exclusive: Taraji P. Henson Helps Those Affected By COVID-19 With Free Virtual Therapy

By Jasmine Grant · Updated December 6, 2020
Through her Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, the actress aims to help people cope with the stress of this global crisis.

In every way, the COVID-19 outbreak has upended our lives and Black communities are being hit the hardest. More and more of us are reporting feelings of stress, anxiety and hopelessness — especially healthcare workers on the front lines and the thousands of families who have lost loved ones. That’s why Taraji P. Henson, through her Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, is doing something to make sure people who need mental health services the most can get them ASAP.

Henson just announced the COVID-19 Free Virtual Therapy Campaign, which aims to connect individuals and families most affected by coronavirus to mental health services they would otherwise be unable to afford. The fundraising initiative was set up to help cover the cost of teletherapy services by licensed and culturally competent providers.

Loading the player...

Henson spoke exclusively with ESSENCE about what inspired her to take action. “We’ve never been through anything like this. It’s new for all of us and it’s frightening,” she says. “If you were already suffering from mental issues, this doesn’t help. Most people in underserved communities can’t afford healthcare. And you should never have to choose between a meal and your mental health. So I felt like I needed to do something.”

Henson launched her Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation last year in honor of her father, who openly suffered from mental health issues since returning from duty in the Vietnam War. Since its inception, the foundation has been working tirelessly to get therapy resources in urban schools, increase the number of African-American therapists and reduce prison recidivism. Now, there’s a new fight on the horizon: getting Black people in therapy during one of the toughest global crises. “If you’re going to try therapy, this is the time to try it,” she maintains. “Every aspect of our life is being tested right now and we are only human. We can’t do it alone.”

View this post on Instagram

DONATE: Text NOSTIGMA to 707070 support therapy for those in underserved communities @tarajiphenson @blhensonfoundation

A post shared by BLH Foundation (@blhensonfoundation) on Apr 8, 2020 at 6:46am PDT

Henson, who has been vocal about her struggles with anxiety, is being intentional these days about reclaiming her joy. Some days, it means sitting outside on her patio for fresh air. On other days, it comes from dabbling in new hairstyles or having a laugh with her best friend Tracie Jade Jenkins (who also helps lead the foundation as executive director.) But more than anything, she’s been reflecting on the changes that are on the other side of this epidemic.

“What we see is that nobody’s invincible,” she believes. “Whether you are white, Black, Asian descent, or wherever you’re from, we have all been leveled. We are in this together as humans. I don’t mean just with the COVID-19 piece. I’m talking about life. I hope we come away from this with more compassion for each other. We want a level playing field now, honey.”

If you would like to seek therapy sessions through the Free Virtual Therapy Campaign, you can register on viaThe Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s website starting April 15th. Those who want to donate funds to the program can simply text “NOSTIGMA” to 707070 and make their pledge.

Share :

TOPICS:  Health and Wellness celebrity congress coronavirus Entertainment essence lifestyle Mental Health News Taraji P. Henson The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation therapy

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2022 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now