Therapy is by far one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I wish it hadn’t taken a near-death experience to get me there, but HEY, I’m only human. (More to come on the mess I got myself into that led me to therapy next week…)
I was definitely NOT a fan of therapy when I was younger. My parents really tried, and I thank them for that, but it was a no from me dog. The offices were grossly sterile and the therapists incredibly condescending. You’re not about to ask me to sit on the floor and play with blocks while I tell you about my feelings at the age of 14. We can both sit in grown people chairs and have a conversation if we need to talk, Susan. *eye roll* I was not about it.
Luckily, I’ve made some ~decisions~ that created the opportunity for me to meet my current therapist. For the first time, I truly let my walls down and was able to get to the heart of the things that had been holding me back for years. I genuinely did not know that you could have a therapist that was a woman of color in her 30s. Someone that I could relate to. Someone that could potentially understand what I am ACTUALLY talking about. As an adult this was still a mind blowing concept to me, but it made all the difference. Believe me when I say there is absolutely no reason to go to therapy if your therapist isn't a match.
Can we just take a moment to recognize how important representation is though??? I went 25 years of my life without a service I really could have benefited from because I didn’t see anyone that looked like me in that field. Not to mention the negative stigmas surrounding mental health and particularly mental health in the black community. Without representation, there’s no opportunity to remove the stigma. Without removing the stigma, we can't all get the support that we need.
ANYWAY — my therapist really tells it how it is, so when she validates my thoughts or feelings it really means something. It gives me a true opportunity to grown and learn regardless of my initial thoughts going into it. She also gives me tangible strategies for how to deal with whatever I’ve got going on. When I first started going to therapy, I couldn’t stand the super vague, circular talking. It felt like a waste of time, and honestly, who is paying hundreds of dollars to solve riddles? If I wanted an escape room, I would have gone to an escape room.
I could go on all day raving about this woman, but I will leave it with this. I will never be done learning about myself, and that’s okay. That’s literally the point of life. Therapy gives me a space to be my most open and honest self. A space where I can discuss my feelings with someone rational, and gain the tools to make positive decisions in my life.
I’m just saying... you should think about it. What do you have to lose?
Love,
Coco