Nationwide — Transformational coach, bestselling author, and happiness expert, Trish Ahjel Roberts is taking African Americans back to Africa. But it’s not what you might think. Trained in yoga, meditation, and energy healing, Roberts has created a unique, 10-day experience for women and men who identify as part of the African Diaspora to start the first quarter of the new year in a bold and adventurous way – by traveling to Ghana, West Africa for mental, physical, and spiritual healing.
In the United States and around the world, Black people suffer from the effects of racism and its related trauma whether they are aware of it or not. In her memoir, Thinking Outside the Chrysalis: A Black Woman’s Guide to Spreading Her Wings, Roberts discusses her own experiences. “I couldn’t go on a job interview and say I left my employer because of institutional racism that had me creeping toward a nervous breakdown. I couldn’t tell them I took a month off on a mental health leave of absence and looked for a new job at the advice of my therapist. Instead, I told them I wanted to work closer to home for the benefit of my young daughter. It was true but with glaring omissions.”
Navigating ongoing race-based trauma and the related stress, anger, and self-doubt can lead to mental, emotional, and physical health problems for millions of Black Americans. In her book, Roberts cites sources from the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health indicating that, “In the United States, 23% of women aged 40-59 are on anti-depressants. Over 14 million adults have an alcohol use disorder, and 10% have a drug use problem at some point in their lives.” As with other indicators of stress, the Black community is often impacted more than the general population.
Roberts believes she has the solution. “When I was growing up in the 80s, I didn’t think Africa was a desirable place to visit. We were taught it was nothing more than a jungle filled with poverty, famine, and disease. I traveled all around the world before finally deciding to take a trip to the Motherland. Then in 2021, I discovered that my first cousin, whom I lost touch with after my grandmother died, had been living in Ghana for 25 years! She didn’t want to raise her kids in New York City where we grew up. She felt Africa was a better, safer choice.”
With her newfound connection to the continent, Roberts led the first Ghana Soul-Healing Retreat in 2023 to glowing reviews. Retreat participant, Chloe Colbert, raved, “I experienced such a sense of self-love and acceptance from both our group and the local people. I found out who God really is in Ghana! I felt spiritually awakened and definitely healed. I feel like God gave me a bag of what I needed and when I came home, I sorted it out and put all the pieces in the right places. It was amazing.” Colbert was also interviewed for Roberts’ Mind-Blowing Happiness Podcast on the topic, “Are Retreats Important for Black People?”
Roberts promises retreat attendees will rejuvenate their mind, body, and soul through healing plant-based foods, powerful workshops, gentle yoga, guided meditation, rhythmic dance, and drumming lessons, breathtaking natural beauty, and time for reflection.
She believes she is building community and creating meaningful connections across continents. She says, “In 2023, I led a group of 12 people and most of them still get together monthly. They have created lifelong friendships that are deeply rooted in their experience together in Ghana.”
Roberts is currently accepting applications for her next group which launches on February 28.
She made the focused decision to invite people to her soul-healing retreat just a couple of months in advance with the explanation, “I’m looking for people who want to step out of their comfort zone and take action to experience a life-changing transformation. I don’t want the folks who take 12 months to make a decision and still aren’t sure. I’m looking for passionate people who can immerse themselves in healing their mind, body, and spirit for 10 days with no distractions.” Learn more about Roberts and her upcoming soul-healing retreat at GhanaRetreat.com
About
Trish Ahjel Roberts is the founder of the Mind-Blowing Happiness coaching company and author of four books including the bestselling 12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness which was endorsed by iconic spiritual leader and TV personality, Iyanla Vanzant.
She is a certified life coach, registered yoga and meditation instructor, and energy healer with over a decade of study in Buddhist philosophy and mindfulness. She has been featured on CBS46-TV in Atlanta, WBLS-FM New York, and many media platforms. Her latest book, The Anger Myth: Understanding and Overcoming the Mental Habits That Steal Your Joy, is scheduled for release in April.
For press inquiries, contact hello@trishahjelroberts.com or 404-981-8889.
