"Can we live our lives beyond just the opposition to oppression?"- Danielle Locklear

Softness and ambition can coexist. In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, host Niya Baxter sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Danielle Locklear for a powerful conversation on healing, rest, and reclaiming worth beyond the grind. Together, they unpack the importance of culturally responsive therapy for Black women, the deep harm of toxic hustle culture, and the liberation that comes from setting boundaries without guilt. Danielle shares her journey into therapy, how community shapes healing, and why rejecting capitalist definitions of productivity is an act of resistance. If you’ve been craving space to live softer, this episode is your reminder that you don’t need permission to choose peace—just the courage to honor yourself.

Keywords:

Black women, mental health, therapy, empowerment, boundaries, hustle culture, community, capitalism, self-care, nervous system

Takeaways:

Culturally responsive therapy is crucial for Black women.

Toxic hustle culture pressures Black women to overachieve.

Living a soft life can coexist with ambition.

Setting boundaries requires internal permission.

Capitalist narratives often dictate our self-worth.

Rest is not laziness; it's a necessity.

Community plays a vital role in healing.

Self-care is essential for managing stress and anxiety.

Chapters:

00:00 Empowerment and Community Building

03:10 The Journey to Becoming a Therapist

06:03 Culturally Responsive Therapy for Black Women

08:53 Rejecting Toxic Hustle Culture

12:13 Living a Soft Life vs. Ambition

14:52 Setting Boundaries and Internal Permission

17:53 Understanding Capitalist Narratives

22:46 Resetting the Nervous System

28:00 The Role of Community in Healing

Reach out to Danielle Locklear to connect:

www.daniellelocklearcounseling.com

@dlcounselingatx on Instagram

Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

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Stay in touch with me at @glamourgirlniya and @blkgirlambition

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