Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is done glorifying the grind. During her appearance on The Baller Alert Show alongside hosts Ferrari Simmons and BT, she got vulnerable about her mental health journey and the therapist who helped her unpack a lifetime of lessons.
“I talk to my therapist at least once a month,” Bottoms shared. “Her name is Dr. Rosa Turner‑Ash. She’s helped me connect so many dots between my childhood trauma and how I’ve shown up as an adult.”
But one moment stood out. After she stepped away from City Hall, Dr. Turner‑Ash told her something that reshaped her entire mindset: “You were a strong mayor, but I want you to be a powerful governor. Strong Black women push through, and they have heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, and they die. Powerful women stop. They learn the lesson, and then they move on.”
It hit home for Bottoms, and it’s hitting home for a lot of women who’ve been told their strength is their only option. The constant pressure to “keep going” comes at a cost. Bottoms is now choosing power over pressure.
She’s not shy about the work it took to get there. Therapy helped her identify patterns, shift her mindset, and realize that being a leader doesn’t mean sacrificing her health.
