About this Event
Join us for a powerful and timely book signing and author talk with Ashley McGirt-Adair celebrating the release of her new book, The Cost of Healing in Silence.
Saturday, April 4th | 3:00–5:00 PM
Book Signing & Author Talk
In conversation with Dr. Obari Cartman
Ashley McGirt-Adair is a licensed psychotherapist, TEDx international speaker, and founder and CEO of the Therapy Fund Foundation, an organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to mental health care in Black and historically excluded communities. Featured in Forbes, MSNBC, and HuffPost, her work centers racial trauma, health equity, and culturally responsive care, empowering individuals and institutions through transformative healing and advocacy.
About the Book
The Cost of Healing in Silence: Navigating Racial Trauma and the Call for Culturally Responsive Care offers an up-to-date and expert roadmap for creating a more culturally responsive mental health care system. Blending contemporary research, practical tools, and deeply personal stories, McGirt-Adair explores how racial bias and stereotypes infiltrate counseling spaces—and how meaningful healing can begin when care reflects the identities and lived experiences of those it serves.
The book provides:
- Actionable guidance for recognizing and addressing racial bias in therapeutic settings
- Inspiring amplifications of marginalized voices whose pain has often been overlooked
- Strategies for expanding access to Black therapists and implementing culturally responsive care
- Tools for understanding racial trauma and navigating the scars it leaves behind with dignity and intention
Perfect for people of color who have experienced discrimination or inequity in healthcare, The Cost of Healing in Silence is also essential reading for therapists, educators, healthcare professionals, and allies committed to building a more equitable system of care.
Ashley will be joined in conversation by Dr. Obari Cartman—father, author, educator, and grassroots mental health advocate dedicated to the emotional and cultural wellness of Black communities. Dr. Cartman earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hampton University and his Ph.D. in clinical and community psychology from Georgia State University. He is the CEO of MANifest Wellness, LLC, an African-centered cultural wellness organization providing rites-of-passage programs, professional development training, and community healing experiences. Dr. Cartman is the immediate past president of the Chicago Association of Black Psychologists and currently serves as vice president of the Midwestern Underground Railroad Network.
This event will include an author talk, moderated conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing. Attendees will leave with deeper insight into racial trauma, culturally responsive mental health care, and the power of healing that honors identity and community.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Da Book Joint, 6900 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, United States
USD 24.09
