Tina Knowles Dishes on Therapy for Beyoncé and Solange: A Family Affair

“I took my girls to therapy,” Tina Knowles declared, shaking up the conventional wisdom of parenting. The 72-year-old matriarch of the Knowles clan opened up about the pivotal decision to seek professional help for her daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, when they were just kids, aiming to mend their sibling dynamic.

At the 2026 L.A. Times Festival of Books, Tina recounted the challenges of raising two musical prodigies under one roof. “Beyoncé was a little superstar at 7 or 8,” she reminisced, “winning talent competitions left and right. Then came Solange, just 11, and suddenly it felt like everything revolved around her.”

As the older sister, Beyoncé began to show signs of irritation towards Solange. “In families with age gaps, especially with girls, they start drifting apart around 10,” Tina explained. “The older one gets her own friends and doesn’t want a little sibling in her space.”

But it wasn’t just a phase; it was a growing rift. “The more Beyoncé pushed Solange away, the sadder Solange became,” Tina noted. “I wanted them to understand each other better.”

Enter therapy. With a therapist client from her hair salon, Tina sought out a child therapist to help bridge the gap between her daughters. “I took my kids to therapy, and my family was not on board,” she recalled. “In Black families, there’s this stigma—‘You’re gonna make those kids crazy!’”

But Tina was determined. “It opened Beyoncé’s eyes,” she said. “She realized, ‘This is my little sister. We’re always gonna be close.’” The sessions transformed their relationship, fostering kindness and understanding that has lasted through the years.

“They could’ve gone in different directions,” Tina reflected, “but I was terrified of that. Therapy was ahead of its time for us, but it was the best decision I ever made.”

Despite the positive outcomes, not everyone understood her choice. “My husband at the time questioned why they needed therapy at such young ages,” she shared. “But it taught them that it’s okay not to be perfect and that talking things out is crucial.”

Tina drew parallels between mental health and physical health: “If you have heart disease, you see a heart doctor. Therapy is no different.” She expressed disbelief at those who dismiss its importance during tough times.

After her split from Mathew Knowles in 2011, Tina faced her own struggles with sadness and depression. “I wanted to rebuild my self-esteem but found it hard to find help that wasn’t focused on addiction recovery,” she admitted. “Therapy is vital—whether it’s a support group or just chatting with friends about healing.”

“We need to drop the stigma,” she urged. “It’s essential for everyone.”

Tina’s journey culminated in her debut memoir, *Matriarch*, released in April 2025, which dives deep into her Texas roots and the challenges of raising two iconic daughters. The book soared to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list.