About The Cost of Healing in Silence
This book is more than research and reflection, it is deeply personal. I tell this story through the lens of my grandmother’s life, a woman whose strength carried generations yet whose pain was often unspoken. She died far too early, and I often find myself wondering: Would she still be here today if she had been given the space, safety, and support to heal out loud?
My grandmother’s silence, like that of my own in the past, and so many in our communities, was not by choice but by circumstance. This silence was shaped by stigma, limited access, and a system that was never built for us. Through her story, I invite readers to see the hidden costs of carrying trauma quietly and the generational impact of unaddressed pain.
The Cost of Healing in Silence explores racial trauma not only as a psychological wound but as a cultural inheritance, one that shapes identity, health, and even longevity. At its core, this book is a call to action: to demand and create care that is culturally responsive, affirming, and accessible.
This is for anyone who has felt unseen in their suffering, for every family who has buried a loved one too soon, and for every therapist, policymaker, or community leader ready to help rewrite the story of healing.
It is my hope that by sharing my grandmother’s story, and my own, we break the silence together and begin to imagine a world where healing is not hidden, but honored.
About The Author
Ashley McGirt is a psychotherapist, TEDx international speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of the Therapy Fund Foundation, a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers to mental health care in Black and historically excluded communities. She specializes in trauma, racial trauma, leadership, health equity, mental health, and self-care. Ashley holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, operating a private practice where she addresses racial trauma, depression, and anxiety. Featured in Forbes, MSNBC, and HuffPost, Ashley also serves as the NAACP State Area Conference Health Chair. Through her speeches, workshops, and consultations, she empowers individuals and organizations to unpack emotional burdens, prioritize self-care, and foster healing and equity.
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Healing has a cost...but silence costs us more.
