Mental health goals for 2026: What Black women need most (according to therapists who get us)

Learning to work with your emotions, rest with intention, and set healthy boundaries are just a few mental health goals therapists recommend for Black women in 2026.

The new year is an opportunity for a fresh start. A chance to reset your focus on what matters most to you.  

You might have New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, save money, or learn a new language. But what about goals that nurture self-love, not just self-improvement—the ones that remind you you’re worthy, you’re strong, and you’re resilient even when you don’t feel like it?

Whether you’re looking for ways to get over a breakup or manage stress, mental health goals can add structure to your healing journey. This guide explores the goals Black women need most in 2026, curated by experts who understand our lived experiences.

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What are mental health goals?

Mental health goals are small commitments to support your emotional and psychological well-being. They focus less on external achievements and more on how you navigate hard seasons. 

Goals for your mental wellness might include learning to stop people-pleasing, finding a better work-life balance, or asking for help to avoid burnout. The general idea is to see and nurture your whole self, including your emotional needs. This builds a resilience that can carry you through even the heaviest times. 

>> Wait, what is mental health exactly? Learn more about it here

Why mental health goals are especially important for Black women

Many Black women deal with complex layers of psychological distress from racism and sexism, on top of personal or family dynamics.¹ But we’re also more likely to stay quiet and suppress any pain we’re experiencing to survive.²

“So many of us were raised to be strong, responsible, and available to everybody but ourselves,” said LaMiya Harrison, licensed clinical social worker and therapist at North Carolina-based Counseling Connections Clinical Group. “We carry family, community, and generational expectations that often teach us to silence our own needs.” 

This “strong Black woman” schema can take a real toll.³ For example, Dr. Brianna Gaynor, clinical psychologist and director at Peace of Mind Psychological Services in Georgia, says it can lead to burnout, anger, frustration, anxiety, and depression.

Mental health goals can help us unlearn harmful patterns and replace survival-based coping with practices that actually support our well-being.

“Setting mental health goals gives Black women permission to be seen and prioritized in their own lives,” said Harrison. “It helps us build practices that protect our peace and honor our boundaries—and create space for healing that many of us were never shown growing up.”

Over time, we can begin to ease intergenerational stress⁴, manage overwhelm, and truly connect with ourselves in meaningful ways, according to Melodi Parker, licensed professional counselor and founder of Texas-based Mending Broken Pieces Counseling and Consulting Services. She reminds us that prioritizing our mental wellness isn’t weakness—it’s an act of self-respect and preservation.

>> Learn more about harmful generational cycles and how we can heal from them

7 mental health goals for 2026: What Black women need most (from therapists who get us)

Boundaries let you know when you’ve hit your emotional, mental, and physical limits. Without them, it’s easy to burn out or find yourself in situations that erode your overall well-being.

Harrison encourages Black women, especially those who struggle to say “no” or are used to being the fixer, to create boundaries that protect their energy—whether that’s limiting access, saying “I’m not available today,” or releasing the pressure to show up for everyone but themselves.

This can also include spending less time with people who drain you or opting out of conversations that increase stress, according to Whitney Coleman, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Jade Clinical Services.

Mental wellness isn’t just about limiting harmful interactions. It’s also about nurturing healthy ones. 

This new year, Coleman encourages leaning into relationships that feel reciprocal. These are the ones that are mutually beneficial, supportive, and affirming—where you both feel seen, heard, and respected. 

And if that relationship is more downtime by yourself, that counts, too.

>> Make sure you know the signs of a toxic relationship—and what to do about it

Difficult emotions aren’t something we need to get rid of, push down, or feel bad for experiencing. They can signal unmet needs or unresolved stress.

“An important goal in the new year is learning to manage emotions rather than suppress them,” said Parker. She says Healthy coping strategies can reduce anxiety and burnout while improving emotional clarity and balance.

Explore small habits, like journaling, meditating, or deep breathing, to help you acknowledge and release what you feel, without judgment.

Time to decompress is one of the most important ways we can restore or boost our mental health. But it can easily fall off our to-do list when we prioritize everything but ourselves.

“Rest is a mental health strategy, not a reward,” said Harrison. “Intentional rest—quiet mornings, unplugging, stretching, journaling, or simply doing nothing—helps regulate the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

>> Here’s how to improve your sleep quality for more restorative rest

Sleep, nourishment, and exercise are foundational to mental and physical health.⁵ It’s worth making them your focus for 2026 if they haven’t been in the past.

“Everything we do is connected to our mental well-being, so if you struggled this past year to eat or sleep well and noticed it impacted stress levels, emotions, confidence, or relationships, prioritize these tasks,” said Dr. Gaynor. “When you treat your body well, you’re showing yourself that you matter.”

If you’re used to putting everyone else first, focusing on yourself can feel outright wrong. But it’s not. Instead of believing the guilt, you can name and release it. 

“Guilt can cause us to silence our needs and over-function through trauma and other wounds,” said Coleman. “Notice when it shows up, and use it as an opportunity to choose peace.”

Your values, passions, and purpose matter. When you live in alignment with what’s important to you, not others, it can be deeply freeing and fulfilling, mentally and emotionally.

Dr. Gaynor encourages you to think about what causes the most frustration or sleepless nights. If it’s rooted in others’ opinions, behaviors, or social media reels, making your life your own should be your focus in the new year.

Similarly, Fanny Tristan, licensed trauma therapist and founder of Her Soul Supply, suggests setting goals that’ll help you feel more in control of your life and its outcomes. She believes your life isn’t something that just happens to you—it’s for you to navigate and actively shape.

>> Ready to live your best life in 2026? Here’s how you do it (according to therapists)

How to set (and actually stick to) your mental health goals in 2026

Prioritizing your wellness in the new year doesn’t have to be complicated. Try these tips for setting mental health goals you can stick to.

• Start small, especially if you’re diving into your mental health for the first time. You don’t need a major overhaul—focus on what you need most in this season.
• Be specific—“three deep breaths during my lunch break” is much easier to stick to than “manage stress better.”
• Stay realistic. Maybe deleting all your social media profiles won’t work for you, but staying offline in the mornings does.
• Show yourself grace. Mental health isn’t pass/fail—it’s ongoing care where you see, validate, and nurture your emotional needs.
• Focus on the process, not the outcome. This isn’t about fixing yourself because you’re not broken—you’re learning, growing, and evolving. 
• Invite support when you’re ready—whether through therapy or your trusted circle.

Your mental health goals should be rooted in compassion and based on your true needs, not an ideal version of who you, or anyone else, thinks you should be.

Mental health goals for Black women FAQs

Do we really need mental health goals?

Mental health goals can help you stay focused on what your mind and body need most. They provide structure, clarity, and accountability as you prioritize yourself and your well-being.

What are some good mental health goals for 2026?

Helpful goals for Black women include setting boundaries to protect our peace, prioritizing rest instead of burning out, processing emotions rather than suppressing them, and living authentically instead of people-pleasing.

What are 5 ways to improve mental health?

You can improve mental wellness by practicing healthy ways to feel and release difficult emotions, caring for your basic needs like nourishment, rest, and exercise, and saying no to draining interactions. Seeking support, like therapy, can also help, especially if you don’t know where to start.

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References

Last accessed December 2025

1. Stevens-Watkins, D., Perry, B., Pullen, E., Jewell, J., & Oser, C. B. (2014). Examining the associations of racism, sexism, and stressful life events on psychological distress among African-American women. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 20(4), 561–569. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036700 ↩︎
2. Woods-Giscombe, C., Robinson, M. N., Carthon, D., Devane-Johnson, S., & Corbie-Smith, G. (2016). Superwoman Schema, Stigma, Spirituality, and Culturally Sensitive Providers: Factors Influencing African American Women’s Use of Mental Health Services. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity : Research, Education and Policy, 9(1), 1124. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7544187/ ↩︎
3. Woods-Giscombé, C. L. (2010). Superwoman Schema: African American Women’s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health. Qualitative Health Research, 20(5), 668–683. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732310361892 ↩︎
4. Center for Mindful Psychotherapy. (2025, March 27). Center for Mindful Therapy. https://mindfulcenter.org/intergenerational-trauma/ ↩︎
5. Unveiling the Connection Between Physical and Mental Health: The Power of Exercise, Nutrition and Sleep – Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. (2024, July 18). Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. https://ppimhs.org/newspost/unveiling-the-connection-between-physical-and-mental-health-the-power-of-exercise-nutrition-and-sleep/ ↩︎