Therapy for the Black Community

In the black community, especially in the U.S., therapy has a bad connotation. People of color often think back on the ways our people were treated during the early days of therapy when black Americans were used for experimental treatments without their consent. It’s hard to overcome these serious injustices, and today, fear of being harmed by this field has caused many people of color to avoid therapy. Luckily, over the years, more and more people of color have become therapists themselves, which helps black people feel safer in therapy sessions. Therapy started to become something that black people could trust to help them through difficult times. Today, there are many therapists who have made therapy a positive thing for people of color, and who are dedicated to redeeming the field. At Ubuntu Psychological Services, we understand if you’re hesitant to seek therapy, but we’re here to help you change your mind. Keep reading to learn more about why people of color trust Ubuntu Psychological Services for therapy.

We Invite You to a Safe Space to Talk

Our therapists are people of color, so we understand some of the many challenges that face our melanated community. From outright discrimination to well-meaning people who put us in difficult situations, dreading the awkwardness of explaining ourselves or code-switching keeps many people from scheduling therapy. Why would you knowingly add one more complicated interaction to your day? We get it. At Ubuntu Psychological Services, we are dedicated to providing therapy and assessment services that are safe, comfortable, and welcoming for people of color. Part of that is because we have experienced some of the same struggles you have. It’s also because we have training and experience in a type of counseling called culturally competent therapy. This approach to therapy is all about non-judgement and validation of a person’s lived experience. It also means we do our utmost to ask questions to understand you, but we’ll also do research to understand your culture. In short, we don’t think it’s our client’s job to educate us.  

Reasons to Consider Therapy

Stigma related to seeking therapy coupled with the “black people don’t do therapy” narrative told to us by our loved ones prevent people of color from seeking therapy. If you’ve been thinking about scheduling therapy, consider your answers to the following questions:

- Do you frequently feel stressed, sad, angry, or otherwise overwhelmed by high levels of emotion?

- Are you struggling with the effects of generations of stress, trauma, and discrimination?

- Have you had a tough time finding a place within your career field or with your peers?

- Would you like to develop skills to better communicate with your loved ones?

- Are you trying to work through a difficult transition or challenging experience?

- Do you need a sounding board to talk through a problem?

- Are you healing from a traumatic experience or experiences?  

What to Expect During Sessions

During your initial session, your therapist will answer any questions you have. They’ll also have some questions for you to learn about your history and goals for therapy. From there, you’ll work with your therapist to create a plan and set goals for ongoing therapy sessions. At each session, your therapist will check in with you about the time between visits. They’ll ask if you have tried any of the strategies you’ve learned in therapy in your daily life. If you have, you’ll discuss how it went. If you haven’t, you’ll discuss ways to utilize the skills you’re learning to alleviate distress and improve your life. If certain strategies aren’t working, you’ll adjust and move forward. This process of learning and developing skills in sessions and applying them outside your appointments will continue as long as you need to achieve your goals.

Scheduling a Session

Are you ready to get started working with our trusted therapists? We hope you’ll take a few moments to schedule a discovery call. This short conversation allows people to get to know their therapists and ask any questions. During your online intake session after the discovery call, you’ll dive deeper into your past, health history, and goals for therapy. Then, you’ll develop a plan for ongoing sessions and schedule your first therapy visit.