You are an asset to your mental health. This is not just demonstrated by showing up to therapy and putting the tools that your therapist gives you into play, but it is also shown by advocating for yourself. Key questions can be asked when beginning therapy to ensure that your voice is heard and your needs are met. One may find that interviewing your therapist is intimidating and that the client should be going through an intake process, but therapy should be collaborative and consider the dual relationship between client and therapist. This is why Acacia places collaborative approaches at the forefront to help clients engage in ways that are meaningful and beneficial to them. To address your concerns, one may ask questions such as “have you ever worked with an African American,” or make it known that including your culture and social world is important to you. To assess cultural competence, you may also ask questions that address intersectionality concepts and how it influences therapy. Questions are also not reserved just for your initial session. During ongoing therapy, you may feel that lines of communication do not reflect your beliefs or cultural identity. You can directly address this issue with your provider. This can look like asking questions such as “how can we implement my culture to strengthen our communication,” or by introducing something of importance to you while in therapy, such as stating, “prayer helps me recenter my thoughts.” Your therapist should allow you to openly express your ideologies and use them to reinforce therapeutic models. Click on part 3 of the “Reclaiming Black Mental Health” video series to find out what other elements may help you find an excellent therapy fit.
About the Author: Shereece Saxton Harley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), and MSW who provides assessment and counseling services for individuals from early adolescence through adulthood.