For Black women,
by Black women.
Our mission
& values
The SBW Wellness Collaborative (what we fondly refer to as “the collaborative”) is the entrepreneurial manifestation of the passions of licensed psychologists, Drs. Akilah Reynolds and Martinque Jones. The meaning of SBW is two-fold, Supporting Black Women and Strong Black Women. Accordingly, it is our mission to support Black women in defining strength in a way that facilitates wellness. We highlight the connection between support/help-seeking and strength, namely by communicating that strength is seeking support when needed. Through its multifaceted programming, The Collaborative extends the reach of psychological services beyond the therapy room to the community.
The team.
Dr. Martinque “Marti” Jones
Dr. Martinque “Marti” Jones is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Texas and is the Principal Investigator of the BWell Lab. Dr. Jones’ research centers on applying an intersectional framework to the study of Black women’s identity, mental health, and counseling processes. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of North Texas, Dr. Jones completed research postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan and Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Jones is a Licensed Psychologist, and clinically her areas of concentration include group psychotherapy and concerns specific to women of color--this concentration was developed throughout her APA accredited counseling psychology doctoral internship at the University of Florida Counseling and Wellness Center.
Dr. Akilah Reynolds
Dr. Akilah Reynolds is a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, CA where she works at an academic medical center, a local university, and in private practice at The Black Girl Doctor. She has ten years of clinical experience working across multiple settings (including: hospitals, psychiatric inpatient facilities, community mental health, schools, juvenile probation). Dr. Reynolds specializes in child psychology, parenting, and wellness among professional women. Her research and practice are at the intersection of media, psychology, and culture. She has published articles and continues to engage in translational research about the strong Black woman schema and Black women's mental health. Dr. Reynolds believes psychology has the power to transform lives. To that end she is passionate about empowering people to live the life of their dreams by encouraging mental health and wellness.
Alexis Jones, MA
Alexis Jones is the social media manager of the SBW Wellness Collaborative. She is currently a 2nd year Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Auburn University. She graduated from Spelman College (B.A. in Psychology) in 2016 and Columbia University (M.A. in Clinical Psychology) in 2018. Alexis is interested in ways that culture and racial identity work together to influence resilience, quality of life (e.g. physical and mental health), and success (educational outcomes) of African Americans across the developmental span. She is also interested in the development of prevention and intervention strategies that positively impact the physical health, mental health, and well-being of young adults.