By Us

For Us

Mental Wellness Group for Black Same gender loving, Gay, and Bisexual Men

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Harness The Strengths of Psychology, Culture, and Spirituality to Enhance Your Life Today

Sign Up for the For Us, By Us Group Today

This wellness group goes beyond therapy. It goes beyond mental health. It focuses on the mind, body, and spirit. This group is specifically designed for Black same gender loving, gay, and bisexual men who may be experiencing:

  • General or social anxiety

  • Depression

  • Low self-worth

  • Navigating racism

  • Coping with homophobia or biphobia

  • Financial anxiety

  • Loneliness

  • Identity concerns and/or confusion

  • Strained spirituality

  • Church hurt

Connect with a Community of Like-minded Black Men Ready to Heal Together

For Us, By Us is a confidential, tight-knit online group that meets once a week for 14 weeks. The group is facilitated by Dr. Jonathan Mathias Lassiter, a Black same gender loving licensed clinical psychologist. This group was created by Dr. Lassiter based on years of practice and research related to African-centered psychology, spirituality, religion, and treating emotional problems.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn and practice mental health skills

  • Develop and practice spiritual tools

  • Discover Black American and ancient African cultural gems, proverbs, and practices

  • Connect with cultural and biological ancestors

  • Cultivate community and ease loneliness

  • Reclaim spirituality and start to heal from church hurt

  • Sing and make joyful noises

  • Move and dance

This group is open to men (ages 18 and up) in NY, NJ, and 42 other states including GA, DC, IL, MD, AL, SC, MI, and many others. For a complete list see this map of states (if your state is in blue, you are eligible to attend For Us, By Us).

Contact Dr. Lassiter for more information about the group, including the screening process and cost

Learn More about the For Us, By Us Group Today

FAQs

Is For Us, By Us right for me?

1

For Us, By Us is a wellness group that goes beyond group therapy and focuses on helping Black same gender loving, bisexual, and gay men harness African-centered culture, spirituality, and mental health science to improve their overall health and cultivate community. After fully participating in this group for 14 weeks, members will walk away with enhanced self-worth; more cultural pride and raised critical consciousness; real world tools to navigate racism, homophobia, biphobia, financial anxieties; and science-based strategies to improve their mood.

This group is for men who are not in severe distress.

This group is for men who may be experiencing mild to moderate emotional distress and navigating a world that is generally unkind to Black same gender loving, bisexual, and gay men. This group is for men who want to build community and participate in an African-centered and Black American cultural space.

This group is for men who are ready to commit to a 14-week communal journey of discovering themselves; recovering their cultural and spiritual strengths and birthrights; and evolving into healthier versions of themselves.

What is the typical schedule for the For Us, By Us group?

2

For Us, By Us 14-week Schedule

  • Pre-group one-on-one assessment with Dr. Lassiter to ensure the group is a good fit for you

  • Week 1: Introduction to Group and Group Members, Cultivating Community Agreements

  • Weeks 2 - 6: Raising Consciousness

  • Weeks 7 - 9: Strengthening Connection

  • Weeks 10 - 13: Building Competence

  • Week 14: Planning for the Future

  • Post-group one-on-one final session with Dr. Lassiter

What makes For Us, By Us different from other group therapy programs for Black men?

3

For Us, By Us is not just a men’s group. It is not just a Black men’s group. Nor it is a queer men’s group. This group is specifically designed for men who live in the world with all three identities as Black same gender loving/gay/bisexual men.

This group has been created and is facilitated by a Black same gender loving man who is highly trained in mental health science and practice. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Lassiter is part of a group that makes up less than 1% of psychologists in the United States. His training along with his lived experience has helped him create a treatment and space that is wholly unique, and that few other professionals can offer.

This group is based on culturally centered research conducted by Dr. Lassiter and other African-centered psychologists. This research has been published in prestigious academic journals including HERE, HERE, and HERE.

More importantly, this group was created using science and therapeutic practices made for and by Black people. A lot of men’s groups use therapy practices and skills created by white people and may try to adapt them to fit Black lives, essentially teaching Black people how to be healthy from a white point-of-view.

This group is different. This group uses African-centered and Black American cultural strengths; healing methods and rituals; and mental health tools to center Black same gender loving, gay, and bisexual men.

How do I learn more about the group? Can I sign up now?

4

Contact Dr. Lassiter anytime via the contact page or email to learn more and schedule your intake session.