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Why Tina Knowles Put Beyoncé and Solange In Therapy — And Why It Worked
Tina Knowles, the powerhouse mother behind global icons Beyoncé and Solange, is opening up about a deeply personal and pivotal parenting decision: putting her daughters in therapy. In a series of heartfelt interviews promoting her new book, Matriarch, Knowles explained how therapy helped nurture the bond between her daughters—at a time when fame threatened to drive them apart.
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Why Did Tina Knowles Put Beyoncé and Solange In Therapy?
Tina Knowles, 71, says the decision came from love—and a determination to protect the sisterly bond between Beyoncé and Solange.
During her appearance on CBS Mornings with Gayle King, Tina explained:
“Because Beyoncé had become this little star in the town, and she was always so close to Solange and kind to her, but then she was in this singing group and everything took place at our house. So the other girls in the group would tell Solange to shut up and be quiet and all that, and I started noticing that [Beyoncé] wasn’t protecting her sister.”
She noticed a growing divide.
“I got a thing about that and I was like, that’s your sister. You don’t let other people talk like that. And [Beyoncé] was like, ‘Yeah, but she comes in and bursts in and wants to boss us around and do steps.’ So I just started seeing this separation and I was like ‘Oh no. Y’all are going to grow up close—whatever I have to do to make that happen.’”
Her solution? Therapy.
But this wasn’t a popular choice at the time. This was unheard of at the time, especially in the Black community.Tina said:
“My family was upset, my husband was upset. Matthew [Knowles] said, ‘I don’t want any parts of that.’”
Watch the clip (3:21–4:17):
A Mother’s Effort to Protect Solange’s Space
This wasn’t the first time Tina Knowles opened up about her decision to put Beyoncé and Solange into therapy. In a past interview with Maria Shriver, Tina reflected on the early challenges of balancing attention between her daughters during Beyoncé’s rise to fame.
“I was very sensitive to Solange not feeling left out. All the attention and work was going into Beyoncé’s career, so I started taking Wednesdays off from work just to focus on Solange.”
“I wanted the counselor to help Beyoncé be more sensitive to Solange,” she said.
Watch the clip (1:46–3:10):
Did Therapy Work?
In a recent conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Tina Knowles reflected on the long-term impact of her decision. She still believes it was one of the best parenting moves she made.
Tina’s goal wasn’t to fix her daughters — it was to equip them with the tools for emotional clarity and connection. Her proactive decision to seek therapy for Beyoncé and Solange reflects the heart of positive parenting, where empathy, communication, and long-term relationship building take priority over short-term discipline or appearances.
Today, their bond is undeniable. Beyoncé and Solange are known for being fiercely supportive of one another, often sharing heartfelt moments in public and online.
Their connection has even graced the stage: Solange joined Beyoncé during her culture-shifting headlining set at Coachella in 2018, and Beyoncé had previously joined Solange on stage during her own Coachella performance in 2014.
These moments aren’t just fan favorites—they’re symbols of a sisterhood that’s been nurtured with intention, care, and therapy.
A Matriarch’s Mission
Tina Knowles’s new memoir Matriarch is now a New York Times bestseller. In it, she dives into the triumphs, challenges, and lessons from raising three powerhouse women: Beyoncé, Solange, and Destiny’s Child original member Kelly Rowland—whom she also calls her daughter.
“Whatever I had to do to make sure my girls grew up close—I was going to do it,” Tina says. And clearly, she did.
