“Soul Work Rooted in Care” - Talking with Kayla T. founder of Broken Hearts Restored
Mental health matters, and far too often access to care is particularly challenging for marginalized communities. But there are many folks who remain committed to a shift - heart-centered souls like my dear sista friend, Kayla T., Certified Mental Health Coach, Emotional Wellness Facilitator, and the founder of Broken Hearts Restored, a nonprofit dedicated to making healing safe, accessible, and culturally grounded for the Black community.
Her work centers mental health coaching, restorative spaces, and what she calls “soul work rooted in care” to help individuals reclaim emotional safety, wellness, and belonging. Driven by lived experience and legacy, Kayla is committed to reducing the stigma around mental health in Black communities and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and held. Feel free to follow on instagram.com/brokenheartsrestored or email hello@brokenheartsrestored.org.
Her words and wisdom are reminders - we belong to each other. As we heal ourselves, we heal the collective.
I love that your aunt inspired BHR. Tell us more about her, and what other factors led you to start BHR, where you are building community and uplifting the importance of Black mental health.
Yes, my Aunt Gemma was one of the biggest inspirations behind Broken Hearts Restored. She was a Grenadian-born woman who lived in Brooklyn, NY. I remember how much she loved to write and tell stories; her laughter, her thick Grenadian accent, and the way she’d affectionately sing, “Kay, Kay-laa, you there?” on the phone because she’d be talking away lol. As a kid, I’d sometimes be ready to hang up, but now I smile because her voice is unforgettable.
What wasn’t talked about was her experience with Bipolar Disorder and Depression. I was young. My parents only explained bits and pieces when they absolutely had to; and it’s no fault of theirs. Back then, we didn’t have the language. Mental health simply wasn’t discussed in the Black community, and when you add in Caribbean culture, silence was often the default.
Another deep inspiration for BHR is Kalief Browder, who was from the Bronx, NY. Watching Time: The Kalief Browder Story it shook me. He was a young Black man who was wrongly accused and held in solitary confinement for over 100 days. While incarcerated, he was beaten and tortured. His story broke my heart and left me with sleepless nights. When he finally came home, he was never the same. He struggled with severe mental health challenges, and despite his strength, he ultimately died by suicide. The system failed him—and his story is one we must never forget.
And lastly, the Black community itself is my forever inspiration. The love I have for our people is unmatched. But too often we grow up unseen, unheard, and misinformed especially when it comes to our emotional well-being. We pass down stigmas, silence, shame, and survival without the tools to actually heal. I wanted to build something that would lift us up and out. A place where we could return to ourselves. So many give up simply because they have no access to resources or spaces that hold them without judgment. Broken Hearts Restored is that space; a safe space for us to feel, to be held, and to be whole again.
Let’s dive more into the mission of Broken Hearts Restored. What is your hope for how your organization will contribute to greater understanding, compassion and acceptance of mental health challenges in our community?
At its core, Broken Hearts Restored exists to create space; for truth, for tenderness, and for transformation. Our mission is to restore self-love, uplift soul-care, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities. I often say: we're not here to fix people—we're here to remind them they were never broken to begin with. But so often, untreated mental health challenges make us feel like we are.
I want to bring mental health into our communities in a different way. I’m a Certified Mental Health Coach who meets people where they are—and before anything else, I help them feel seen and emotionally safe. Because emotional safety is the foundation. And it’s the piece most people forget when trying to connect with Black folks who’ve been taught to be strong, not vulnerable… to survive, not soften.
At Broken Hearts Restored, we don't lead with pathology; we lead with presence. We understand that healing doesn’t always start in a therapist’s office. Sometimes it starts in a circle. Sometimes it starts on a block. Sometimes it starts when someone finally feels held, not judged.
Honestly, so much of this began before BHR even had a name. I can’t tell you how many of my friends I helped search for a therapist; just off the strength of a really good sisterhood conversation. No deep work, no certifications back then. Just trust. They went to therapy not because I told them what to do, but because I made it feel safe to go. Because someone listened. That’s what BHR is rooted in. That’s what we want to do for Black and marginalized folks—be that listening ear, that gentle nudge, that safe first step toward care.
My hope is that BHR becomes both a mirror and a refuge. A mirror that reflects how common our mental health struggles really are; especially in communities where we were told to keep it together no matter what. And a refuge where people feel emotionally safe enough to say, “I’m not okay,” without shame, silence, or fear of being misunderstood.
One way I plan to bring this vision to life is through our upcoming Self-Love Reset Pop-Ups—community-based soul-care stations that make mental wellness visible, accessible, and culturally relevant.
These pop-ups will offer people a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with themselves. But the greater vision is to open a physical space where someone can stop by when they feel overwhelmed. Whether they need a moment to themselves, a calming atmosphere, or just to not be alone; that space will exist. Because the emotional weight we carry after navigating our daily lives, and the burdens we bring back into our homes; deserve somewhere to land.
Mental health care doesn’t always look like therapy. Sometimes it looks like being seen. Being heard. Being gently reminded that your feelings matter and your story isn’t too much.
If you need someone to talk to, we’ll be there.
If you just need someone to listen and see you—we’re already there.
Broken Hearts Restored is here to normalize mental wellness in our community, and to meet people exactly where they are; with care, not conditions.
We know you are a Mental Health Coach and Emotional Wellness Facilitator. Can you share how you show up for folks in one-to-one sessions? How does your Christian faith support you in this work?
It might sound cliché, but I really do show up with a full heart every time. Before each session, I ask God and my ancestors; to guide me. I always say being an empath is a gift and a curse, but in this work, it’s one of the most sacred gifts God has given me. I’ve always had the ability to hold space for people without judgment. Now, I’m able to do that through a trained, trauma-informed lens.
In each session, I start by learning my client’s story—because we all have one. Some of us have never been given permission to name it, let alone heal from it. Through conversation and care, my clients are able to unlearn generational trauma, unpack what they’ve carried in silence, and begin centering wellness in ways they may have never seen modeled.
Wellness is one of those topics that often went unspoken in Black households. We didn’t have time to slow down. Many of our parents and caregivers didn’t mirror wellness for us because they were in survival mode. Coaching creates space for people to finally ask themselves: What does healing look like for me? Each client is different, but at the root, mental health coaching is a way to feel supported, seen, and sometimes lovingly held accountable as they step toward wholeness.
Our Heart Space coaching is not therapy. Therapy is focused on diagnosing and treating mental illness; our mental health care coaching is about supporting emotional wellness. Therapy is a powerful tool, but sometimes people need something more… or something different. I don’t diagnose—I hold space. I help people unpack what they’re carrying, unlearn harmful patterns, and move forward with tools that support healing. I help them get closer to wellness in a way that feels accessible and culturally grounded. For many of my clients, coaching becomes the bridge; especially when traditional therapy has felt unfamiliar, out of reach, or not emotionally safe in the beginning.
As a Christian, I lean on God in everything I do; and BHR is no exception. God is at the center of this work. I remind people that when the hard days come, and they do it helps to have faith in something bigger than yourself. Prayer is a wellness staple we affirm in this space, because faith and healing are not separate here. They walk together.
Finally, what is the best way for folks to support BHR, Inc.?
One of the best ways to support Broken Hearts Restored right now is to begin engaging with the resources we’ve created to spark reflection, care, and conversation. If you’re someone who wants to deepen your awareness around cultural understanding, allyship, and emotional safety—especially when entering Black-centered spaces—I’d recommend starting with our free reflection guide, Are You Invited to the Cookout?
It’s a heart-centered invitation, not a test. The guide offers thoughtful prompts, definitions, and real questions to sit with—especially for white allies or non-Black supporters who want to show up with intention and humility. It's not about perfection. It’s about being willing to reflect, listen, and stretch your emotional capacity alongside us.
📩 You can stay connected and be the first to hear about our workshops, healing circles, and upcoming events by joining our mailing list:
tinyurl.com/BHRList💸 If you’d like to help sustain this work, we welcome donations of any size. Your support helps us host healing spaces, design culturally rooted resources, and one day open a physical community space where people can come to breathe, reset, and be held:
tinyurl.com/DonateToBHR🫶🏽 If you’re looking for one-on-one support, I offer Heart Space Coaching—trauma-informed sessions rooted in emotional safety, cultural care, and faith. Whether you’re navigating generational trauma, burnout, or just craving space to be held and heard, coaching can be a powerful next step. You can express interest or apply here:
tinyurl.com/BHRHeartSpaceCoaching🙏 And finally, keep us in prayer. We’re building something sacred; something that holds both the heartbreak and the hope. Whether you support by reading, giving, booking a session, or simply sharing our work, it all matters. We’re grateful for everyone walking this journey with us.
We’re also preparing to introduce Gifts from Aunt Gemma—a legacy-based offering inspired by my late aunt, whose challenges and quiet love shaped so much of this work. This gentle resource is being created for those navigating mental illness and transitions from psychiatric care, offering comfort for both patients and their families. It’s a soft place to land when healing feels hard; and a reflection of the love we all deserve.
Your support helps make offerings like this possible.
