Take 3!
How we view mental health and those who access it within the Black/African American community is vastly changing. Many of us have grown up hearing messages like “What happens in this family, stays within this family,” or “Just pray about it,” or my personal favorite “So you’re crazy?”
Once stigmatized, many are now seeing the value of taking care of one’s mental health and the statistics on mental and behavioral health amongst this group are flooring.
Finding a therapist who is culturally competent and can understand the nuances of being Black/African American can be a critical piece on your journey of healing. In your search for a provider, it may be important to reflect on your comfort with speaking about difficulties you may face or issues that are isolated to your community. Having someone who understands and can empathize about the challenges that these issues may bring professionally, socially and culturally can sometimes make all the difference in therapy.
As a Black therapist, I understand the history of mental health in the Black community. I recognize how far we have come, but also how much further we need to go to in terms of how mental health is viewed and how it impacts one’s life in our community. get to where we need to be in terms of how mental health is viewed and how it impacts one’s life in our community. I am here to provide a comfortable and safe space to start your healing journey.