Therapy for the treatment of Black men and women is a person-centered, individualized type of psychotherapeutic care that takes into account the emotional and mental impact of being a black person of color in today’s society. Thriveworks Chesterfield therapists use traditional therapy techniques implemented through an anti-racist lens, addressing issues like racism, colorism, toxic masculinity/misogyny, and others. This type of therapy is meant to create a safe space for black individuals to express their emotions and alleviate their stress in an environment that caters to their unique experiences.
Therapy for Black men and women is much like standard psychotherapy in that Thriveworks Chesterfield therapists will use a variety of approaches depending on each client’s needs. However, it will also heavily incorporate person-centered therapy, which means that every client’s individual experiences, goals, and needs will be at the forefront of treatment.
Therapy for Black women and men will last as long as necessary to achieve the client’s therapeutic goals, whether that be a few months or years. Generally, though, true progress will often take at least five months. Thriveworks therapists in Chesterfield, VA will continue to provide care for as long as necessary to help clients meet their therapeutic needs.
Mental Health Care for African Americans in Chesterfield, VA—Culturally Aware Therapy
Understandably, many African Americans are skeptical of going to see a therapist or meeting with a counselor. At Thriveworks Chesterfield, our goal is to build a foundation of trust for the therapy we provide. We understand that choosing to start therapy is a difficult decision, but African Americans often feel that burden more intensely. We hope to ease that burden with accessible and quality mental health care. Reach out today for help.
Trust and a Therapeutic Relationship
Trust is the foundation of mental health care, and it is absolutely necessary that counselors and therapists prove themselves as trustworthy. One of the many ways the therapists at Thriveworks Chesterfield build trust is by rejecting “colorblind” techniques that minimize a client’s cultural and ethnic context. Instead, we acknowledge that our own culture, ethnicity, and race play a part in the therapy we give. We also acknowledge that our clients’ culture, ethnicity, and race play a part in their identity and their experiences. The professionals at Thriveworks Chesterfield work to make the therapy room a safe space where clients can speak freely of their experiences.
Offering individualized care is also essential to building trust. When clients are free to speak openly, they often experience deeper healing in therapy. Everyone needs a place where they can talk about their fears and struggles, dreams and hopes, opportunities and challenges. Everyone needs a place where they can think and feel and process without fear and without shame.
Common Topics in African American Counseling
The professionals at Thriveworks Chesterfield spend time getting to know individual clients. In many ways, the client sets the goal and pace for the therapy. The more trust they have for their therapists, the more topics they will bring up. African American clients often use therapy to tackle issues like…
- Discrimination
- Grief counseling
- Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
- Executive coaching
- Racial trauma
- Depression
- Couples and marriage counseling
- Career advancement
- Eating disorders
- Child therapy
- Divorce
- Substance use
- Anger management
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Job loss
- Suspected abuse of a child
- Addiction
- Psychiatric testing
- Infidelity
- Sexual identity issues
In the past few years, Psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere has seen 20-25 percent more African American clients at his counseling practice in New York City, and he observed how there is an “increasing number of African Americans who feel increasingly less stigmatized about coming in and seeking therapy and who also recognize the healing power of therapy.”
Setting Up an Appointment at Thriveworks Chesterfield
Thriveworks Chesterfield offers accessible and quality mental health care that respects our clients’ cultural experiences. If you think you could benefit, contact Thriveworks Chesterfield to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional who provides culturally informed care. We offer evening and weekend sessions, provide same-week appointments, and accept most major insurances.
