If you’re black, it is likely that you have ingested any number of narratives about therapy and its significance (or lack thereof) in our community. Perhaps, you’ve had loved ones tell you, “You don’t need therapy, just pray about it” or “What happens in this family stays in this family” or “Only crazy people go to therapy”. You may have been told that your depression or anxiety were manifestations of a lack of faith or worse, not real.
Traditionally, our scripts about what it means to be strong and resilient have often been a disservice to our healing and growth. Burnout is not the same as strength. Denying that you have needs is not the same as resilience. Suppressing your emotions is not the same as courage. We are not protecting our loved ones, our faith, or ourselves by saying we are okay when we are not.
More and more, we are acknowledging our pain, and facing the fears of exploring that pain within us. In the last few years, we have made great strides in the process of de-stigmatizing counseling. Prominent members of our community including Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Issa Rae, Taraji P Henson, and Jada Pinkett Smith have all come to the table with their own stories and their own reasons for advocating for the benefits of therapy. They are actively acknowledging that it is okay to need help, and are empowering us to ask for it. We are learning that it is more important than ever, that we have access and encouragement when it comes to taking care of our mental health.
Historically, our creativity has allowed us to develop hundreds of methods that support us in taking care of ourselves (music, poetry, art, church, family, etc). Today, we are beginning to truly engage in the process of cultivating health and wellness in our lives, and are utilizing therapy as another option.
SO, when you make it to the door of a therapist’s office, know that you are not crazy! You are a human, a black human, who is brave enough to look inside yourself and investigate the depths of your pain, strong enough to let a trustworthy and hopefully well-trained person witness it, and courageous enough to know that needing help does not equate weakness. It’s the first true step towards living… and not just surviving.
At Isaiah Counseling & Wellness, our therapists are well attuned and culturally sensitive to the experience of cultivating wellness as a person of color. Our diverse team includes black therapists in Charlotte, and welcomes the opportunity to support you in your healing process. Through an empowering partnership with one of our competent therapists, people learn to be intentional and active creators of joy in their own lives. They feel more whole, more present, and better equipped with the tools needed to successfully navigate relationships with the people most important to them.
For more information about our services or to speak with one of our therapists of color, call today!