S9E21: Reclaiming Mindfulness with Dr. Natalie Watson-Singleton

What if the practices your grandmother had, the rituals in your faith community, the quiet moments your people carved out just to survive… what if that was mindfulness all along?

In this episode, Laura sits down with Dr. Natalie Watson-Singleton, Associate Professor and Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Spelman College, for a conversation that reclaims mindfulness from the wellness industry and returns it to where it has always lived — in Black culture, in community, and in the body.

Dr. Natalie challenges the idea that mindfulness is a “white woman wellness trend” and names it for what it really is: an ancient, intergenerational practice that Black women have been doing out of necessity and survival for generations. She also gets practical, walking through what mindfulness actually looks like for a busy, high-achieving Black woman who has been told to just breathe but never shown how.

In this episode:

Why mindfulness is not new to Black women, and how to reclaim it for your own holistic wellness
What happens in the body and brain when we practice presence, and why it directly strengthens your leadership
How to build a sustainable mindfulness practice that fits your real life

About Dr. Natalie

Dr. Natalie Watson-Singleton is a licensed clinical psychologist; Associate Professor of psychology at Spelman College; and owner of her own psychotherapy and consulting practice, NWS Wellness and Consulting, LLC. Dr. Natalie is committed to providing evidence-based and culturally-responsive wellness care to individuals and organizations. She has published numerous research papers on topics related to supporting the health and wellness of African Americans, and her research has resulted in approximately $5 million worth of grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. She is the founding creator of BlackFULLNess, a mindfulness-based wellness app for Black adults. Her work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association, the Association of Black Psychologists, the Association for Women in Psychology, and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. Overall, Dr. Natalie aims to produce research that can bridge science and practice to improve the lives of diverse communities.

Connect with Dr. Natalie:

Website: https://www.nwswellness.com/

Instagram: @nws_wellness

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-watson-singleton-phd-4254477

Blackfullness app: https://www.blackfullness.com/

BWL Resources: