Change the Way You Think, to Change the Way You Fly
Addressing negative core beliefs with Black women clients.
Posted December 3, 2025 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
Recently, I was working with a client, and she said, “Dr. Plummer, my negative self-talk is so bad. It’s filled with statements like, "I should, I could, I must, and I can’t." As we continued to talk, I provided psychoeducation around cognitive distortions, core beliefs, and the establishment of our original thought processes. At the end of the session, she had a plan that included identifying her core beliefs, acknowledging the triggers (emotional, environmental, and behavioral), creating counterstatements that allow for cognitive restructuring, and incorporating grace and gratitude (through journaling) in her daily practice.
Psychiatrist Aaron Beck identified core beliefs as our fundamental beliefs about ourselves (individually), others, and the world (as a whole). These beliefs are rooted in early messages in our childhood that were verbalized to us, modeled in behavior by others, or demonstrated and reinforced by society and social norms. These core beliefs, that may be largely subconscious , dictate our subsequent emotions, thoughts, and actions.
While core beliefs can be positive and negative, it is important to note that most people with negative self-talk tend to have negative core beliefs. For many Black women, the negative core beliefs are rooted in their early exposure and experiences as a double minority. Both a racial minority and a gender minority, Black women are further in the margins than many of their counterparts. Thus, early in life, specifically through socialization and reinforcements, they learn that their needs are less important than others’, their voices are less valued than others’, and their need for care is less of a priority than others’. These beliefs continue through adolescence and adulthood and are reinforced by a few facts:
While there is more evidence to demonstrate how society (in large) and people (individually) contribute to the messaging and reinforcement of negative core beliefs (and thus negative self-talk) for Black women, acknowledging the discomfort of the aforementioned is a start to accepting how and why many Black women may have negative self-talk at various periods of time or throughout their entire life.
In my book, The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women, core beliefs and the psychoeducation to aid in cognitive structuring are discussed.
As you continue to work with your Black women clients, here are a few things to consider:
Catalyst Questions (for you, clinician, to ask your client):
Therapist’s Introspection (for you, clinician, to ask yourself):
Journal Prompts (for your client to ask herself):
Addressing core beliefs is deep and impactful work. For decades, our clients carry their core beliefs and, equally so, are reinforced within themselves, their families, their communities, and our society as a whole. However, either through cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, strengths-based and solution-focused therapy, or a range of other approaches, their decade-long journey with negative core beliefs can be addressed in a matter of weeks, months, or brief years, thus creating a newfound freedom that allows them to shine bright or fly with light.
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LaNail R. Plummer, Ed.D., LCPC, is a mental health expert, educator, speaker, and author of The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.