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501(c)3 serving Philadelphia's trauma-impacted and justice-involved women.

Promoting healing on both an individual and collective level

In order to eradicate myths and remove the stigma related to mental health in the black community, we must first name it and then replace it with culturally relevant services. We address, head-on, the complex intersectionality of adverse childhood experiences, race, and the criminal justice system.

Our Beliefs

Sankofa is breaking the physical and emotional chains of trauma. Trauma can be buried beneath depression, anxiety, and anger, without any recognizable origin. The traumatic event may have occurred a week ago, or half a century in the past. To help survivors of trauma make sense of what they're experiencing, psychoeducation is the best place to begin.

The tree of life.

Our Focus

Our focus is YOU. We support individuals as they begin to heal and become aware of their inner strengths. We achieve this by providing a space where you can express your concerns.

Forging new pathways for our life journey.

Our Goal

We will be there for you every step of your journey. Our goal is to support your growth beyond your struggles as you move forward to where you want to be in your life.

The crippling effects of mental distress.

Depression & Anxiety

Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we experience in our lives. Depression symptoms take many forms, and no two people’s experiences are exactly alike. 

The trauma iceberg illustration. How I'm feeling below the surface that you can see.

Trauma & PTSD

Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can continue after traumatic events. Sometimes trauma is virtually unnoticeable even to the person's closest friends and family. This highlights the importance of talking to someone after a traumatic event has occurred, even if they show no initial signs of disturbance.

 

The innocence of the inner child.

Childhood Trauma

Abuse – physical, sexual, and emotional – is traumatic for a child and will affect brain development. It can continue to be impactful throughout adulthood. Some of those traumatic experiences include:

  • neglect and/or extreme poverty
  • a violent household
  • losing a parent or sibling 
  • a mentally ill or addicted parent
  • feeling unsafe in their neighborhood
  • experiencing discrimination based on their race, ethnicity, or sexuality
  • being bullyed

Racial Trauma

The traumatizing role of microaggressions can have profound effects. Research has linked racism to a host of impairments, including serious psychological distress, physical health problems, depression, and anxiety (Williams et al., 2014). 

Reclaiming our past provides us with valuable knowledge to protect our future while understanding and shifting our present condition.

Sankofa Healing Studio - 501(c)3 organization

serving Philadelphia and the surrounding area

(215) 802-3533