A number of barriers can hold people back from seeking mental health care, and unfortunately, some people have more roadblocks than others when they reach out for help. Psychiatrist, Dr. William Lawson gave an example of just two of the many barriers that African Americans often face when they seek out mental health care: access and quality of care. In a NPR interview, Dr. Lawson explained, “Dr. Satcher in his surgeon general’s report noted that there was less accessibility of mental health services for people of color for a variety of reasons. Part of it is that many of the systems simply aren’t located in proximity to where people of color are.”
Dr. Lawson went on to tell a story from medical school when he was taught that African Americans cannot develop depression—a gross falsehood. “Part of it is that many professionals simply don’t know how to diagnose properly African-Americans,” Dr. Lawson said. These barriers have had terrible consequences as a 2010 study showed that Caucasians receive mental health care at twice the rate as African Americans even though they suffer from mental illness at the same rate. Many African Americans and mental health professionals are working to remove the barriers that keep people from receiving the therapy they deserve. More and more, African Americans have access to quality mental health care.
The therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in Cary offer quality mental health care that accounts for the unique needs of our African American clients. Our professionals do not want anything to keep anyone from receiving the care they deserve.
Therapy and Trust
In high school, Jinneh’s mother passed away, and she sunk into a depression. A therapist prescribed her medication for the illness, but her family and friends did not trust that the therapist was giving Jinneh the best care. Jinneh did not fill the prescription, and she stopped therapy. Several years later, Jinneh was still fighting depression when her roommate suggested she try treatment again. Jinneh’s depression healed with therapy and medication, and now, Jinneh works full time, educating others about mental illness and mental health care. Jinneh’s story is told in The Washington Post’s article, “Therapists say African Americans are increasingly seeking help for mental illness.” Many others are experiencing what Jinneh went through—feeling distrust toward mental health professionals but also needing care. Trust is an important part of the therapeutic relationship.
Therapists must work to build trust with their clients. Trust is the foundation of a therapeutic relationship, and at our office, we hope to build up trust before a client even steps into their therapist’s offices. We believe in being transparent about the therapy we offer and in equipping our clients with accurate information about what they can anticipate from seeking mental health care at our office.
Our mental health professionals give each client individualized care. Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses, experiences and stories, hopes and dreams, traumas and triumphs. Our mental health professionals do not see a diagnosis but a person. Each client is unique and deserves unique care. Mental health care is a very personal experience, and clients often set the pace of care. Therapists are guide, but they are not dictators. Clients need to feel safe, and as their trust in their therapist grows, they can delve deeper and deeper into emotional and psychological wounds. They can thus delve deeper and deeper into emotional and psychological healing.
Our mental health professionals also give each client holistic care. People are whole beings and their whole lives matter—including their race, culture, and ethnicity. Some mental health care professionals advocate for a “colorblind” approach that minimizes a client’s race. At Thriveworks Cary Counseling, we advocate for an approach that emphasizes understanding and empathy. As African American clients feel comfortable in therapy, they often work through issues such as …
- Discrimination
- Racial trauma
- Anxiety
- Career advancement
- Grief counseling
- Divorce
- Sexual identity issues
- Child therapy
- Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
- Depression
- Anger management
- Executive coaching
- Substance use
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Suspected abuse of a child
- Infidelity
- Addiction
- Job loss
- Psychiatric testing
- Couples and marriage counseling
Our mental health professionals value a client’s community support. Therapists have not always worked well with their client’s communities, but at Thriveworks Counseling in Cary, we understand that a client’s family can play a role that a counselor cannot. Similarly, a faith leader can support a client in a way that friends and family member cannot. Therapists can give care that faith leaders cannot. Each piece of a client’s life is important for their mental health, and each plays an important role.
Scheduling an Appointment for Counseling at Thriveworks Cary, NC
If you are considering mental health care, consider reaching out to our office. Our therapists have appointments available. We offer quality mental health care that is culturally sensitive to our clients’ context. When you contact our office, know that…
- A scheduling specialist will answer your call and help you make an appointment. We do not have voicemail or an automated response system, but we do have real people who help our clients.
- New clients often have their first appointment the day following their first call. If you are ready to start therapy, we are ready to start too.
- Life is busy, so we offer evening and weekend sessions.
- You will never be put on a waitlist because we do not have one.
- We accept a variety of insurance plans.
Call us today.
