Talk it out
When I was applying for schools I was feeling discouraged because it was my third time applying and I was ultimately fed up with giving my all and schools not recognizing my hard work. Instead, they focused on the numbers overlooking my experience, drive, and passion for the field. I needed someone to talk to about what I was going through as a young adult trying to get into graduate school. For those of you who have pursued higher education in a healthcare professional such as dentistry, medical, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant and etc. You all have an idea of where I’m coming from. Pursuing higher education as a Black woman is hard. The hard reality is the higher up you get in your pursuits the less likely you are to see people of color. I’m working my hardest to change that.
Anyway, I want to talk about how my experience went after attending a therapy session with a licensed psychologist. I find it that I seemly can't relate or connect on a level with anyone other than someone of color when it comes to seeking advice in my personal life. You want to make sure the person you’re talking to can somewhat relate. A few months prior I started listening to this podcast called Therapy For Black Girls hosted by Joy Harden Bradford, a clinical psychologist. Along with her insight on mental health issues and the impact they have on the black community. She has a website that features Black therapists throughout the United States. I searched my area and found someone who was close to where I lived. I scheduled a free 15 min consultation briefly, gave her my story, and then scheduled an appt.
Upon my arrival, I noticed that the building her office was in was familiar to me as I always drove past it and never knew of any of the offices on the inside. When I finally got into the building her office was within a suite so as soon as she opened the door I was inside. The vibes of her office were perfect, the lighting was deemed, the candles filled the room and her decor was so welcoming. I didn't feel like I was going into a session. I felt like I was in the living room sitting on the couch having a conversation. Which is exactly the type of vibes I needed.
The session went great. We basically talked about the tribulations that were preventing me from getting into physical therapy school. She suggested that instead of paying for therapy I should save my money and put it towards tutoring for the GRE. She then went to explain her journey to becoming a psychologist and how she changed her career. At the moment I realized the importance of sharing my journey with others especially with others who knew the challenges that came with applying to graduate school.
It was a great experience and I’m glad I took the time to take care of my mental health. I really want to eliminate the stigma that Black people don't need therapy. Which in my option we need it the most. All of the things Black people have gone through with this country such as institutionalized racism, oppression, health disparities, segregation and etc. It's important that we admit that we have to talk through the challenges we face as African Americans in a world that wasn’t built for us. Therapy is the first step.