Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, renowned life coach, psychologist, and advocate, has dedicated nearly two decades to transforming lives through her innovative hybrid approach to mental health. Though her recent viral interviews with Nick Cannon and Cam Newton skyrocketed her public profile, Bryant has long been a leader in the mental health space and a trailblazer for change, especially within the Black community.
In a candid conversation with 21Ninety, she shared her insights on how Black women can embrace high-functioning behaviors in 2024 while reflecting on her career journey and her commitment to dismantling generational dysfunction.
The High-Functioning Woman in 2024
As the new year kicks off, many women are setting resolutions, and Bryant believes the key to becoming a high-functioning woman begins with self-love.
“Boundaries are the epitome of self-love,” she explained. “They’re God’s hedges—not just a form of protection but a sacred space for growth and safety.”
Establishing healthy boundaries, she noted, allows women to show up authentically in their relationships and navigate life with emotional intelligence.
For Bryant, being high-functioning isn’t about perfection but about balance.
“High functioning is the ability to regulate your emotions, identify your triggers, and articulate them,” she said. “It’s about respecting others’ emotions and opinions without being shifted or thrown off your square.”
By focusing on emotional intelligence and self-regulation, Black women can nurture healthier relationships, strengthen communities, and avoid the pitfalls of low-functioning behaviors rooted in trauma responses.
Bryant’s advice is rooted in practicality and compassion. She emphasized that being high-functioning also involves acknowledging moments of low functionality. Those moments are often tied to unhealed traumas.
“In relationships, for example, it’s essential to have a partner who can facilitate and support you through your low-functioning moments without sinking into their own. That’s how we build balance and avoid internal struggles,” she said.
Dr. Cheyenne Bryant on Building a Purposeful Career
Although Bryant seems to have “popped up” recently, her journey spans 17 years of tireless work. She was a marriage, family, and child therapist before transitioning to life coaching. As she reflected on her career, she was clear that her current spotlight isn’t about fame but about purpose.
“I’ve been in the mental health field for years, building tools and modalities that help people heal and transform their lives,” she said. “Now, I’m blessed to share those tools on a broader platform.”
Bryant’s career began with a foundation in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic principles. She combined her teachings with life coaching to create a hybrid approach. This method, she explains, allows her to work with clients holistically, addressing both the root causes of their struggles and their goals for the future.
“Therapy heals you, but coaching takes you where you want to go,” she said. “Together, they’re the most effective tools to deal with the whole person.”
Her work as the president of the NAACP in her region and as a mental health advocate laid the groundwork for her current prominence. While her collaborations with high-profile figures like Cam Newton and Nick Cannon have brought her into the public eye, Bryant views this visibility as a responsibility.
“This isn’t about celebrity for me. It’s about expanding my audience so I can bless more people with the tools they need to thrive,” she shared.
Shifting the Culture
Bryant’s viral interviews and contributions to platforms like “Tonight’s Conversation” have positioned her as a cultural change-maker. Her candid discussions about relationships, emotional intelligence, and healing resonate deeply with her audience. She’s particularly proud of her impact on dismantling toxic cycles within the Black community.
“I’ve always been passionate about interrupting generational dysfunction and providing tools for real change,” she explained.
Her mission extends beyond her own practice. Through the Dr. Bryant Institute, she offers a hybrid life coaching certification program to train others in her methods.
“This program is for people who want to change lives,” she explains. “Not just therapists or coaches but anyone passionate about making an impact. The real paycheck isn’t monetary; it’s the lives you transform.”
Bryant’s approach to life and work is rooted in purpose and authenticity. Her advice for Black women aspiring to be high-functioning in the new year underscores the importance of self-love, boundaries, and emotional intelligence.
“When you understand your purpose, you’re not swayed by external opinions,” she said. “You’re rooted in something greater—a higher calling.”