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 Newport News 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 Newport News 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 Newport News, VA will continue to provide care for as long as necessary to help clients meet their therapeutic needs.
Therapy for African Americans in Newport News, VA
The social stigma that many African Americans feel regarding mental health care has a variety of roots—not the least of which are the many abuses they have experienced throughout history within the health care system. Many African Americans feel that going to therapy is airing dirty laundry with outsiders, but as more and more people are going to therapy, attitudes are changing. A growing awareness of what mental health problems are and how they are treating is combating the social stigma.
Another important factor is that many mental health professionals are growing in their own awareness of how to provide therapy in a culturally sensitive way. The staff at Thriveworks Newport News aims to be a part of this positive trend by offering therapy that is culturally sensitive to the needs of African Americans.
Demonstrating Trust
The social stigma that surrounds mental health care is often the manifestation of distrust. In many ways, the African American community has reason to be skeptical of a health care system that has not always looked out for its best interests. Another factor is that people are not always aware of the benefits mental health care can offer. Uncertainty can breed distrust. As mental health professionals work to provide mental health care based upon transparency and trust, this stigma often fades. Here is what the staff at Thriveworks Newport News is doing to establish trust in the therapeutic relationship.
The therapists and counselors at Thriveworks Newport News offer personalized care to each client. In many ways, the client controls the pace and the goals for counseling. As the therapeutic relationship is established, the professionals at Thriveworks take time to get to know each of their clients and allow their clients to get to know them. Safety is the foundation of good mental health care, and our staff works hard to make the therapeutic relationship safe so that each client can share their dreams and hopes, challenges and struggles without fear and without shape.
A big part of earning trust is demonstrating respect and cultural intelligence regarding a client’s social, ethnic, and economic context. Some mental health professionals aim to be “colorblind,” and they do not account for their clients’ unique experiences and challenges. The therapists and counselors at Thriveworks Newport News instead know that each person’s cultural context matters to who they are as an individual. It plays a role in how and why people make the choices they do for their lives. Further, our mental health professionals understand that their own ethnicity and culture will affect the care they can offer. Our staff is committed to building trust through empathy and respect instead of a minimization of cultural issues.
When trust goes deep, so can the therapeutic relationship. When clients feel comfortable, they often work through more and more issues in their lives that are important to their mental health. In a session, African American clients often work with their therapists to address issues like…
- Discrimination
- Grief counseling
- Racial trauma
- Career advancement
- Child therapy
- Divorce
- Anger management
- Executive coaching
- Substance use
- Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Suspected abuse of a child
- Job loss
- Depression
- Addiction
- Infidelity
- Couples and marriage counseling
- Psychiatric testing
- Sexual identity issues
Setting Up Counseling at Thriveworks Newport News
Are you ready to work with a mental health professional? If so, you are not alone. The professionals at Thriveworks Newport News are ready to offer respectful and culturally sensitive care.
We accept a variety of health insurance plans and work with many insurance companies. Call Thriveworks Newport News today to make an appointment, or schedule a session online to get started.
