Becoming the House: A Conversation with Dr. Thema Bryant
Saturday Scroll
I first met Dr. Thema Bryant when I was leading Psych Central. At the time, she had just stepped into her role as President of the American Psychological Association, and seeing this brilliant, loc’d Black woman in such a visible and pivotal position was beyond inspiring.
Since then, Dr. Thema has built an extraordinary platform rooted in the belief that healing is our birthright. Through her work, she explores the intersections of faith, psychology, community, and self-reclamation, reaching audiences around the world.
Dr. Thema Bryant is a clinical psychologist, ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and tenured professor at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. As the 2023 President of the American Psychological Association, she has been a leader in addressing mental health disparities and promoting culturally responsive care.
It was a pleasure to reconnect and have her join me for this conversation.
Read our interview below.
Faye:
So, before we dive into all the firsts you’ve navigated, I want to start with a simple but powerful question: Before the titles, the platforms, and the work, who was little Dr. Thema?
Dr. Thema:
I love that question. It's so important. I am definitely the result of my parents and my community—the ways people poured into me and shaped, influenced, and inspired me.
A funny story comes to mind. When I was in nursery school, we were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. I said, "I want to be a house for the homeless." They told me, "You can’t grow up to be a house. You have to pick something else."
Later, when my book Homecoming came out, someone said, "You knew exactly what you were talking about—you became a house." I love that. Being a healer, a safe space, a sanctuary—that’s where my heart has always been.
Growing up, I was a very sensitive child, probably teased for it. But I felt everything deeply. I’m also the daughter of two ministers—my father was a pastor and my mother did women's ministry. That foundation of faith, responsibility, hope, and love for community really shaped me.
Faye:
That's incredible. What a vision to have at such a young age. It’s clear, even now, how deeply that call to ministry lives in your work.
I'm curious—have you always embraced that part of yourself while navigating the professional world, or did it take time?
Dr. Thema:
It definitely took time. For a long while, I rejected the idea of ministry. My father was a bishop, and his view was that if you were called to ministry, it should be your only focus. I knew very early that I was drawn to psychology, and because of my father's perspective, I assumed I couldn't pursue both.
It wasn’t until later that I learned about being bi-vocational—that you could be called to two paths. Eventually, I embraced that and found a way to be a bridge between faith communities and mental health communities.
Faye:
That’s beautiful. But I imagine there was resistance—both from the mental health world and from faith communities.
Did you feel pushed back from both sides?
Dr. Thema:
Absolutely. In the mental health world, some professionals didn’t grow up in faith traditions—or had painful experiences—so they often dismissed faith entirely. I teach multicultural psychology at Pepperdine, and we make a point to honor religion as part of a person’s worldview.
On the faith side, I've heard harmful messages about mental health: that if you're truly faithful, you won't ever feel depressed, or that prayer alone should cure everything.
Because I have roots in both worlds, I’ve been able to speak to both communities with love but also correction. Being an insider has allowed me to open doors that outsiders often can't.
Faye:
That’s so important. There’s such healing in being able to say out loud that faith can both hurt and heal.
I think about my own experience—I was raised Catholic and had some really tough experiences with the nuns. It pushed me away from my faith for a long time. Witnessing the way you talk about these complexities has been healing for me—and I’m sure for so many others.
Dr. Thema:
Thank you for sharing that. It’s so important to name it honestly. Faith can be both a source of pain and a source of deep healing. Whenever humans are involved, a vehicle like faith can be used for harm—or for incredible good.
Faye:
That's a word.
I just came back from a few days in New York with the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women program, and it was so powerful to be in a room full of Black women pouring into each other.
But then you come back home, turn on the news, and it feels like we’re constantly in the crosshairs. Especially as Black women.
How do you protect your spirit and your hope in a time like this?
Dr. Thema:
Such an important question. Two things come to mind.
First, we have to prioritize spaces that nourish us. So many of us are running on empty—chasing significance, financial security, love—and without consistent nourishment, we burn out. Wellness has to be a daily, weekly rhythm, not something we save for when we’re already depleted.
Second, we have to stay informed without drowning. The 24-hour news cycle is designed to shock and terrify us. I encourage people to monitor their intake. Maybe read instead of watch. Set limits. Stay aware—but not overwhelmed.
And then, crucially, focus on your sphere of influence. Pick your area—whether it's mental health, education, policy—and pour your energy there. Otherwise, you’ll feel helpless.
Finally, we need to train ourselves to notice the wins. We're quick to share bad news but often overlook good news. Healing starts when we amplify what’s going right, too.
Faye:
I love that. It really reminds us that the power is still in our hands.
You mentioned earlier something that stuck with me—you talked about "chasing significance." Can you say more about what you mean by that?
Dr. Thema:
Yes. Many of us are raised to set constant goals—one year, five years, ten years. And while goal-setting can be positive, when it becomes rooted in capitalism or colonial mindsets, it robs us of joy.
You never get to fully celebrate a win because you’re immediately asked, "What’s next?"
For those of us who grew up with poverty or trauma, there's often an internal sense of not being enough. So we keep achieving, but we still feel empty. Busy doesn't mean healed. True healing is when you can sit quietly with yourself and still feel whole.
Faye M:
That resonates so deeply.
When I left the "fancy" roles and started working on my book, I realized how much I had been chasing proximity to privilege, to feeling special. It was hard to admit that to myself.
Dr. Thema:
It’s so powerful that you could name it and even more powerful that you could walk away from it. That’s true courage—to recognize that what you once thought would bring joy actually isn't the source of your happiness.
Faye M:
Motherhood made me brave. I have three boys, and I want them to live differently. To feel loved and worthy without having to prove themselves in the ways I felt I had to.
Dr. Thema:
That’s such a gift you're giving them.
And it also models for them the freedom to reimagine their lives. We often stay stuck because of something called the "sunk cost fallacy"—believing we can’t change direction because we've invested so much time or money. But you’re showing them that even after investing, you can still choose differently.
And that’s one of the beautiful parts of being alive: we get to decide.
Faye M:
That is so beautiful. When doubt or grief creeps in, what are the ways you return to yourself? Any rituals you can share?
Dr. Thema:
Two things come to mind.
First, dancing. Movement helps me release tension, breathe deeply, and reconnect with joy. When I dance, I feel most like myself.
Second, my sisterhood circle. We call ourselves "The Gathering." It’s a group of compassionate, spiritual women where we can show up authentically—not performing strength, but truly sharing our highs and lows. And when we leave, none of us feels drained—we’re all nourished.
Faye M:
That’s incredible. I never underestimate the power of a strong circle of women. It really can change your life.
Before we go, are there any books or upcoming events you want to share?
Dr. Thema:
Yes!
Please check out Matters of the Heart: Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love. It came out in February and is available in audiobook form too—I'm the narrator.
I also have a workbook called Reclaim Yourself, and the companion book Homecoming. My podcast, Homecoming, is available on YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, and iTunes.
And for Mother’s Day, I’m hosting a retreat in San Diego for mothers, godmothers, those grieving mothers, and those navigating complicated mother relationships.
If anyone is interested, you can email my support team at support@drthema.com.
Faye M:
Amazing. Thank you for sharing your work—and thank you for being here. When you step into new spaces, you never know if people will still want to talk to you. I'm so grateful.
Dr. Thema:
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for your heart, your transparency, and this platform.
Faye M:
Thank you so much.
Dr. Thema:
Take care!