Black Therapists Rock

Deran Young

Description

The black community is often thought of as an ongoing saga of reliance, incredible strength, and perseverance, in spite of a brutally harsh past. However, the obvious connection between mental health and racial oppression, health disparities, cultural differences, societal factors, poverty, and reduced quality of life, often goes unspoken.

Thousands of black people are suffering in the shadows while making every attempt to be seen. Although there is no single narrative, mental health and psychosocial wellness underpin many of the challenges experienced by black people. Black Therapists Rock has become a movement that is passionate about loudly speaking our varied truths to begin the healing of emotional wounds that are multiple generations deep. Although we may not be the cause of this deep-seated pain, it is ours to bear and soothe.

The professional perspectives shared in this book strive to inspire hope, beyond the divorce courts, housing developments, emergency rooms, domestic violence shelters, broken homes, jails/prisons, homeless centers, welfare offices, or foster care systems. NONE of us are immune. Statistically, we all have at least one relative that has experienced one or more of these situations. And now, with our #villagementality, we can offer an honest and true source of healing; with compassion, forgiveness and genuine connection for ourselves and others.

Sujets

• Sociologie, société et politique
• Emotions (álbum)
• Popular culture
• Substance Abuse
• Counselor
• Child abuse
• Mental health
• Self-help (disambiguation)
• Self-help
• Depression
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Social sciences
• Psychotherapy
• Emotion
• African American
• Black
• Trouble de stress post-traumatique
• Abuse
• Emotions

Informations

• Publié par: Black Therapists Rock In
• Date de parution: 28 mai 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781732356580
• Langue: English

Extrait

Black Therapists Rock: A Glimpse Through the Eyes of Experts
Copyright © 2018 by Deran Young, LCSW. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law. Your support of the authors’ rights is appreciated.
Published by Black Therapists Rock, Inc.
blacktherapistsrock.com
ISBN: 978-1-7323565-9-7 ISBN: 978-1-7323565-8-0 (e-book)
Published in the United States of America
This Book is Dedicated to The Village:
PAST: Our ancestors who survived extremely harsh circumstances (leaving intuitive clues), so that we could have a foundation to live life "more abundantly."
PRESENT: Those who have experienced so much pain, that they question their ability to love, and yet are courageous enough to explore the possibilities within their heart and mind.
FUTURE: The youth and unborn children who will be able to live in a world with more compassion, because of the pain we are willing to overcome.
THE MISSION OF BLACK THERAPISTS ROCK
Increasing Awareness of Social & Psychological Issues Impacting Vulnerable Communities and Reducing Stigma Related to Mental Health.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD By Lisa R. Savage, LCSW
INTRODUCTION By Deran Young, LCSW
YOUNG, DOPE, AND TIRED AF: The Strengths & Struggles of Black American Millennials by Tiffany L. Reddick, LPC
BEHIND THE SMILE by Khalilah A. Williams, MA, MFT
BRAND NEW ME: The Power in Healing By Chautè Thompson, LMHC
THE REBIRTH: Out of the Ashes By Phoenixx Love, LCSW
SAVING MY YOUNGER SELF By Nicole Thompson, Ed. S.
DON’T GET IT TWISTED! By Nydia E. Guity, LCSW
RAISING OURSELVES: By Catrece M. Davis, LCSW
TEK CYEAR A DE ROOT By Victoria Y. Miller, MS
WHAT’S EATING YOU? By Renetta D. Weaver, LCSW
I DON’T BELIEVE IN MONSTERS By A.C. Fowlkes, PhD
BLACK MINDS IN MEDITATION By Daphne Fuller, LPC
UNFINISHED BUSINESS By Linda Lewter, LPC
IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND By Reginald V. Cunningham, Sr., EdD
PHYSICIAN HEAL THY SELF: Using Non-Traditional Medicine to Heal the Healer By Paula S. Langford, DMin, LICSW
WITH A LOSS COMES A BIRTH By Lennie J. Carter, MS
SEX, SEXUALITY, AND GENDER: The Unspoken Connection to Mental Health By Chasity Chandler, LMHC
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
FOREWORD
Showing up...
I had finished graduate school and wore my MSW credentials with a tremendous amount of pride. Having worked hard for that degree, I had the battle scars as proof. I even secured the first job I applied to.
Although I was only 23 years old, I had found someone who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself.
I was smart and accomplished; yet, the internal negative voices were still loud and believable. The first few years were spent as a newly minted professional in fear. I feared that I lacked life experiences and certainly was inadequate in this mostly “white” space. I clinched to the belief that someday, I would eventually move beyond these insecurities, but I had no idea how .
As expected, I was assigned to most of the Black clients, which is not an uncommon occurrence for those of us in the helping professions. I was cool with that, due to there being a level of comfort working with people who looked like me. My clients loved me because of my easily relatable style, and they found support in talking to someone who “understood” them.
Seeing them was my happy place; I could be authentic and not feel judged. The grandmotherly types would bring me cake, call me sweetheart, and tell me how much I reminded them of their grand-children.
Was I using social work theory in helping them? Well, probably a mix of theory, intuition, and making it up as I went along. Let's be real… it can be difficult to marry theory with practice when you're a new therapist.
So, here's the conflict. When in meetings and social settings with professional colleagues, I wanted to be “unseen.” I often sat quietly in the back of the room, hoping to be ignored and wishing for the time to past swiftly so that no one would ask me a question or my opinion. Even as I write this, the painful realization returns.
A bright, young, Black woman, with so much to offer, yet intentionally dimming her bulb and shrinking. The internal struggle was real. Here I was, reveling in the joy and connections I made with my clients, yet sheltering myself from professional relationships, which had the potential of hindering my professional and clinical development.
I felt as if I didn't deserve the adulation of my clients, and ultimately, I had to question my effectiveness with them. I could not continue to split off parts of myself and fully show up for my clients who needed all of me in the therapy room. The path to being a good therapist is the ability to engage in introspection to increase self-awareness. It’s the insight gained from internal reflection that improves our ability to help our clients.
When we delve deeper into our psyches and decide to live consciously, we know change has to happen. Otherwise, the internal conflicts will cause mental distress and render us ineffective with our clients and in our own lives.
What was my fix?
Trust me, it didn't come quickly or easily. However, what I needed to do was challenge myself to "show up." To show up for myself and my clients.
What does that mean?
For me, it indicated a need to step outside of self-imposed limitations. I had to deal with the internal, negative voices and confront them head-on. I had to deal with the internalized racism and self-doubt that held my mind captive.
I made the internal shift first by being mindful of my thoughts and core beliefs. I challenged them and ultimately learned how to replace them with more realistic thoughts. Then, I engaged in behavioral shifts. I started sitting front and center in meetings. I asked questions and challenged things that didn't make sense to me. I sought out clinical training to improve my effectiveness with my clients and to help bolster my expertise. I also started calling out racism and other ‘isms.’
Also, I became an advocate for my clients and used my position to help shape policy for them. I owned my vulnerability, and rather than seeing it as a weakness, I reframed it as my strength.
Here's what I learned: hiding parts of myself reinforced the notion that I didn't belong and that I was an imposter. I also discovered that my internal struggles often mimicked those of my clients. How could I move them through a process that I had not endured? I also learned that I was cheating others, by not allowing them to learn from me. I had a body of knowledge, and albeit limited, experiences that could have benefited others.
Learning how to “show up” helped me to discover a profoundly creative spirit in myself, and I have now nurtured this creativity in developing programs, models, and concepts that have not only proven to be helpful for clients but other professionals as well.
The stories of Black therapists shared in this book are of those who are doing the work to assure that the best of them shows up in the therapy room. They will inspire you to meet and not shrink from the challenges unique to Black professionals in this society.
You will learn how they reject boundaries of institutional racism and sexism to rightfully claim their part in professional spaces. You’ll find yourself shaking your head in agreement, and at times, shrinking because the story touches an internal place you’d rather not visit. Most importantly, these therapists are showing up and representing what our communities need.
My challenge to other Black mental health professionals is to do the self-work and look for areas where you are holding back parts of yourself. What internal, negative, or self-limiting thoughts are holding you hostage? What do you need to do to s how up more in your life… and in the lives of your clients?
Our communities need representation and your expertise. We owe it to ourselves, and those in need, to show up .
Lisa R. Savage, LCSW
Founder of The Center for Child Development, Inc
And the Delaware Center for Counseling and Wellness, Inc.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thousands of people have shown a significant amount of support to us as authors and to Black Therapists Rock as an organization. There is not enough time nor space to express our sincerest gratitude to everyone who played a role in the success of this project. The names below are only a few highlights of individuals and organizations who provided guidance into this work:
To the Authors who bravely stepped up to this challenge; to bare all, in hopes of helping others heal. I'm so proud to stand next to each of you as we do this tremendous work that we have been called to do in our community and ourselves.
Jackee Holder - our first writing coach, who aligned her schedule with ours, all the way from the United Kingdom, to ensure we offered words from an inspired and vulnerable place.
Audra R. Upchurch - my first writing mentor, who taught me how to be fierce with my words, yet gentle in my approach.
Dr. Romeatrius Moss - who was instrumental in the development of Black Therapists Rock as a non-profit organization.
Aprille Franks - who taught me how to leverage our success and our message to reach thousands of people worldwide.
To the community members of Black Therapist