Why Don’t African-Americans go to Therapy?
March 11th, 2008 |by Tonya Ladipo, LCSW
Click here to contact Tonya and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile
There are many different ideas about why we don’t seek therapy. Some believe that it is only for wealthy, White people, others believe that you don’t go outside the family with your problems. Some of these thoughts keep us struggling more than we need to. Here are some of the more prevalent ones.
“But I’m not touched”
Many of us think you have to be “touched” or “crazy” to go to therapy.” While it’s true that some people with mental health issues seek therapy, it’s really a service for anyone. Therapy is a paid service that connects you with a trained professional who provides you with the support you need to live a healthier and happier life.
When I first met “Andre” he was apprehensive about seeking therapy. For many months, he questioned whether or not he should be in therapy. Overall, he felt that his life was manageable and that he did not have enough problems to go to therapy, after all he had a job and people who cared about him. He certainly was not “crazy”. After several discussions about the purpose of therapy and its benefits to him as a rationale person, Andre accepted his desire for therapy. In fact, in a recent session Andre said that the healthiest people he knows are all in therapy. He realizes that therapy is a place that can benefit everyone, not just a small segment of the population. Andre further explained that the people he knows who have the most problems aren’t in therapy. Of course, as a therapist, this makes perfect sense to me. Recognizing that your life is not how you want it to be or that you need additional support takes a lot of courage and self-reflection. These are not the thoughts of a “crazy” person. Rather, this is the thought process of someone who has a sense of who they are and wants more from their life and themselves.
”I can talk to my friends and family”
Why do you need to go outside of your family/church/friendship circle to get the help and support you want? Sometimes, you don’t. But sometimes, going outside of that comfortable and familiar circle will propel you to make the changes that you want to. When people talk with their family or friends, many times they don’t tell them everything that’s going on in their head or in their lives. This isn’t to be deceptive, but because you care about your family and friends and you care what they think about you.
Keisha came to see me because she was thinking about leaving her husband. She recently found out that he had an affair. Her family adored her husband and she was afraid of what they would say. She hadn’t made up her mind about leaving, but she needed someone to talk to, someone who wouldn’t immediately tell her what to do, whether that meant leaving or staying.
When you’re concerned with what the other person is thinking and feeling, you cannot focus on yourself and your own needs 100%. That’s the benefit of therapy. You can share all of your thoughts and feelings without being concerned about the therapist. In doing this, you can focus on you, what you need, what you want, and ways to accomplish that. Sometimes people are more honest when they go outside their circle of family and friends. As backwards as it may sound, it can be easier to talk to a stranger, easier to share your feelings, fears and pleasures with someone who you do not see everyday.
Keisha was relieved to talk about her marriage, what her husband did wrong and what she did wrong with someone who did not judge her or tell her what to do. This freedom allowed her to be honest with herself and decide what she believed to be best for her. Ultimately, she decided to stay and work on her marriage. Keisha said that she was glad that she used therapy to help her sort this out. Had she gone to a friend, they might have told her to leave “that no good . . . .” And her family may have told her to stay in the marriage, to stick it out “for better or worse”. Keisha realized that she needed to come to her decision on her own, not to be told by others what to do.
Does this mean that your family and friends aren’t helpful to you? Absolutely not. Instead, it means that therapy can add to the support that they provide, by giving you support in a very different way. Therapy can provide you with an objective person who can help you review your options as you decide what is best for you.
“It’s just another racist system”
As African-Americans, we are aware of the persistent racism in our country. This is true on a large scale as well as in our daily interactions. We have many reasons to be suspicious of outsiders, to be distrustful of their motivations and actions. The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is a perfect example of why we are wary of outsiders.
Our schools consistently peg our children as aggressive, out of control, and low achieving. We have to fight to receive the same service as our White counterparts, whether it’s in our schools, hospitals or office. Going to therapy poses another opportunity to encounter racism and discrimination if you’re met with an insensitive or ignorant therapist.
When I worked in an agency, I often saw African-American clients who said in the first session, “I’m so relieved that you’re Black.” Some said that they felt more comfortable with an African-American therapist because they could talk about life and their culture without having to teach or explain the basics. Others did not like the racism they encountered with White therapists.
“Ayanna”, an African-American woman in her 30’s with two children, previously met with a White therapist before coming to see me. She was put off when the therapist began asking questions. The therapist wanted to know about her educational history and was surprised when Ayanna said that she went to college. She then asked how many years of college Ayanna completed, rather than assuming that Ayanna had a college degree, as she does. When the therapist asked about Ayanna’s children and family, she asked if the children had the same father and where was he? At this point Ayanna knew that she wouldn’t be comfortable with a therapist who assumed that she was not formally educated and had children with different men simply because she is African-American.
Why African-Americans can benefit from therapy?
“So why bother?” With all of the struggles and oppressions that we face on a daily basis we need an outlet. We need a comfortable environment where we can talk about the impact oppression has on us and talk about healthy and productive ways to deal with it. Holding in the pain, frustration, anger, and sadness eats at you, leaving you feeling angry and dissatisfied, not a rewarding way to go through life.
When you find an effective therapist, therapy can be a place to gain support and find more satisfying ways to live life. It is the one place, perhaps the only place, where you don’t have to have all of the answers and you don’t have to worry about the person sitting across from you. It is a place where you only have to worry about yourself and your needs. Therapy provides an objective perspective from a trained professional. The therapist’s objectivity comes from not having a personal relationship with you. The therapist knows you now, as you are, not as you were. They can provide feedback based on what they see now, not based on how you used to be. Although our family and friends may love us and provide us with support, they cannot be objective like an outsider. Unlike personal relationships, a therapist has no ulterior motives; the only motive is to make the changes in your life that you decide to make.
How can African-Americans find a therapist?
First, figure out what is important to you. Do you care what race your therapist is? What about gender? If you think that seeing an African-American therapist is necessary for you to be open and honest with them, then look for that. If you’re not sure, then try a few different therapists out and see what feels right to you. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Remember, this is a service that you’re paying for; you are the client. As a paying customer, you have the right to ask for what you want. From there, the therapist can tell you if they are able to provide that service. If they cannot, ask them to give you referrals until you find what you’re looking for.
Before scheduling an initial session, determine the therapist’s fee and make sure that you can afford it. Therapy is a useful tool that helps people in times of crisis and fosters growth in times of reflection. However, it is not as useful if you are not committed to it. So make sure that you can afford the therapist you choose. If you have to alter your budget to afford it that’s fine; if it obliterates your budget then look for someone with a lower fee. If you have to cut out dining out 3 times a week or paying for your morning coffees, that’s altering your budget. If you cannot afford to pay your rent/mortgage, that’s obliterating your budget. Finally, don’t forget what you already know. You get what you pay for. Do higher prices mean better service? Not necessarily, but a quality and effective therapist will charge within the average range for the area. When you’re ready to enhance your life or get help with a current crisis, a therapist might be just the one to call.
©Copyright 2008 by Tonya Ladipo, LCSW. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish granted to GoodTherapy.org. The following article was solely written and edited by the author named above. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the following article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment to this blog entry. Click here to contact Tonya and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile
March 13th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I found this article to be extremely informative and insiteful. As a white therapist, I want everyone to feel welcome in my office, not just those who are like me. So, I am glad to have this insight so that when someone who is different from me comes into my office, I will understand a little of the hesitations he or she may feel.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I am a black therapist, and I also appreciate this article. However, I was a little taken aback by two things: first, the author seemed to assume that a black person needs assurance that the therapist will take a black person as he is now rather than as who he was before. Why would that be a problem? Have all black people done something in the past they are ashamed of? Do the only black people who seek therapy have a past to hide? And, I also was intrigued by the author’s need to state that black people need to be able they can afford therapy. Yes, I realize the statistics about the discrepancy in income between black and white people. But, to think that black people need to be reminded that they should check to make sure they can afford something before doing it is a bit insulting to the race.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I appreciate both of the previous comments and find truth in them. I have found in my practice that black people do not come in for help as frequently as white people. I am glad to know at least some of the reasons for this discrepancy. Thank you.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I am not sure where the author is located, but I am located in the deep south of the United States. Many of the stated reasons why black people do not seek therapy are shared by those in the south. I was astounded when I spent a year in Vermont by the sheer number of people who sought help in therapy. Almost everyone I met had a therapist. And, these people all seemed very well adjusted to me. Not only did these people have therapists, they weren’t ashamed to admit it! When I moved back home, I started noticing how uncomfortable people were with the idea of therapy. When I stopped to analyze this, I came to many of the same conclusions as the author. Even being met w/ stereotype is true for southerners. We’re all dumb blonds with cars up on blocks in the yards of our trailer parks, right? I can’t imagine what a southern black person must go through. I guess they have the same scenario minus the blond part, plus a bad weave and a pile of chicken bones on the front porch. Sigh….Anyway, I was struck by the similarities, and the article gave me something new to think about. So, I thank the author!
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
My husband used to work in a largely African American populated community and he and I have spoken in the past about the reticence that many in this population feel about seeking help such as therapy when it is necessary. I think that for him he discovered that many were embarassed about having to seek this type of help and felt that they would be ostracized from their families by doing so. I think we have to do a better job of ducating everyone that receiving therapy hdoes not mean that you are crazy and that it can be just what you need to get back on life’s track to success.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:40 am
In my experience too I have noticed a hesitation among many African Americans to seek counseling. I just think that in this population there is a stigma still attached to these sorts of things but it is up to all of us to provide everyone with the resources that they need to be successful in life, and if this includes therapy, then we have to find a way to spread the word that it is OK to seek this out.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Maybe you could look at this in another way. . . maybe some groups of people choose not to share their issues with others outside of what is most comfortable and familiar to them and would rather work out their problems among friends and family instead of going thru an outsider. I realize that there are cases in which severe mental illness would require medical intervention but not every single issue necessarily requires a counseling or therapy session.