We are going through a lot right now. Dare I say this is the most unique situation our community has ever been through? COVID-19 is killing our people. Cops are killing our people. We keep getting these well-intentioned (but also very emotionally charged) check-ins from people we haven’t heard from in months (maybe years?). And yet, we are still expected to show up at the protests, on these Zoom meetings, and make time for all the other adulting we have to do.
This is a lot.
So, in these times (or maybe before these times), you may have been itching to seek out somebody to talk to.
But, you aren’t sure the most efficient way to do that.
As someone who went through multiple therapists before she found the right one, I hear you.
So, here are three steps to efficiently search for a therapist.
Because Black mental health matters.
Don’t let these people (read: this racist-ass country) ruin you before your time.
Step 1 – Ask some questions
Not sure if it’s the right time for therapy?
I wrote about that here.
When I started out looking for a therapist, I was really hoping I would find someone like Dr. Rhonda. Shout out to Insecure! I really wanted a Black woman because I felt like I wouldn’t have to explain or de-code my experiences to my therapist. But, we all know that Black therapists are unfortunately harder to come by, especially if you live in a smaller, less diverse city.
So, beyond race and gender, what other things should you be considering?
According to the American Psychological Association, you should think about questions such as:
- What kind of license does your ideal mental health professional have?
- What is their area of expertise?
- What are their fees? (Do they accept your insurance? Is there a sliding scale policy?)
A more comprehensive list of questions can be found here.
Step 2 – Use search engines designed with our community in mind
- Therapy for Black Girls is a poppin’ resource. The website was started by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and serves as a space for Black women to come together to search for a therapist and find other resources for healing. The website has a therapist directory where you can enter your zip code and find therapists in your area.
- Therapy for Black Men is also an additional resource that offers similar resources. This website was started by a husband and wife duo, Vladimire and Benjamin Calixte. The search engine also asks for a zip code and gives you a list of therapists in your area.
- Therapy for Latinx (for our Afro-Latinx community) was inspired by Therapy for Black Girls and was founded by Brandie Carlos. Guess what this site has? You are correct, homie! Yet another search engine! Mental health professionals galore!
- Open Path Collective is another resource that has served a few of my friends well. According to their mission statement, they are a “non-profit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to individuals, couples, children, and families in need.”
So, if you are putting off mental health support because of that bank account, check out Open Path.
Step 3 – Get Organized
So, you’ve asked yourself the big questions for your “dream” therapist, clicked through the search engines, and you have a list. Start to make those appointments! When you get to this stage, it might be tempting to put off making calls because…I’m not going to lie, therapy is tough. It makes you come face to face with emotions and patterns that you would rather push to the side. But, don’t give up now!
Make some appointments and send some emails.
Then, after you’ve had your first appointment, reflect on how you felt with your mental health professional.
Psychology Today has a great list of signs that you’ve found your match.
You can find that here.
I’m no mental health professional.
I’m just a stressed out medical student trying to keep it together while getting this degree. But, these are the steps that helped me (and some of my friends) and I hope they help you as well.
What are some ways you find mental health resources as a Black millennial?
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