Boston Barbershop Clinic Supports Mental Health Therapy for Men

A new mental health initiative, The Barbershop Clinic, has launched in Boston. It offers group therapy sessions in a familiar setting — the barbershop — to promote open discussion and healing among men.

Founded by Vania Arroyo in February, the program has hosted three cohorts over a period of seven months. The clinic has provided free sessions led by licensed therapist Rob Badgett, aiming to break down the mental health stigma among men.

The first session is held in-person at the In the Cut barbershop, at 1437 Tremont St. in Boston, while the remaining ones are virtual. Once they complete the series of sessions, clients receive a list of resources to continue their mental health support needs.

The program specifically aims to address mental health stigma among Black and brown men by providing culturally connected therapy led by diverse professionals.

Matt Parker, a Roxbury resident and youth organizer, told GBH that participating in The Barbershop Clinic has been life-affirming. 

“It just felt like a place where once you enter, once the talking begins, you feel like you're supposed to be there,” Parker said. “Now I know: ‘Hey, therapy might be an option for me.' And that's a big deal because, often enough, the stigma attached to therapy, especially for Black and brown men, is still very tough, relatively taboo.”

“One of the challenges within group therapy is, first, getting over all of the ideas, the dispositions, the stereotypes, the narratives as it relates to therapy,” Badgett said in a statement shared with GBH.

Arroyo and Badgett say they plan to expand The Barbership Clinic to additional locations, including other cities along the East Coast.

“This is 100% a community effort. This will not happen without the help of the community and people investing in this vision,” Arroyo explained. “Our goal is to transform barbershops into safe spaces where men can connect with therapists.”