Why Do Black People Fear Therapy?

Why Do Black People Fear Therapy?



63 percent of Black people feel depression is a personal weakness. ...

It is quite common that mental health diagnoses or any problems with emotional health can be seen as a weakness in the African American community.  It is unfortunate because it stops so many of us from seeking proper help to move forward in our lives.  It is important to get the word out that it is not a weakness to need help and assistant by talking to someone who can get you through difficult times in your life.  This is very different from talking to a friend or loved one because this person is trained to give you an objective outlook, not necessarily to give you their opinion but to get you to address the obstacles in your life and get you to see how to mitigate those obstacles.  Those obstacles could include:  previous trauma, depression, anxiety, or just an inability to keep a job or having meaningful and lasting relationships.

Being emotionally and mentally healthy should not be seen as a weakness but should be seen as important as your physical health, having your finances in order, and having good valued relationships with others.   If you do not focus on your emotional and mental health you will have deficiencies in all the other areas of your life.  Your finances will suffer because you may not be able to keep a job.  Your relationships will suffer because people will find you hard to deal with or troublesome in some way.  Your physical health will especially suffer.  You will wonder why you cannot get out of the bed on some days, why you have so many aches and pains,  why you get headaches more often then most other people.  There are a myriad of other physical symptoms one can suffer when your mental and emotional health is out of balance.

For Me Talk Therapy is the place for you to come.   For Me Talk Therapy is focused on you as a consumer and not about what diagnosis best fit you.  However, sometimes naming what your issue is can be another way of labeling the disease and understanding the disease is separate from yourself.   The person and the disease are two separate entities that can give one the ability to learn new ways of dealing with an illness.  It is no different from a person with cancer learning that they need treatment for a fixed amount of time.  For example, a person who suffers from being bipolar can learn to manage their condition with or without medications.  Whichever is best for the person can be a discussion point between consumer and therapist to assure they are taking the right course of action for their treatment.

Therapy should be looked at as a time limited treatment to get a person back on track with their life.  It is not a weakness.  Therapy is a tool to improve one's emotional and mental health.

Register for individual or group therapy today (267)388-4909.

Week Four: For Me Talk Therapy

For Me Talk Therapy

So starting a business is not easy.  I am a traveling therapist.  So far no clients but I am very much full of enthusiasm.  I went to a health fair and was able to get my business name out there and talk to many people who needed therapy.  I also was able to network with the Greater Baptist Exodus Church on Broad and Fairmount.  I attended the St. Joseph University Block party also as a networking opportunity and an opportunity to try to solicit clients.  This is probably the toughest part of getting started because I am not a sales person.  I am a business of one person and starting money equals zero.  Therefore, I have to be a webpage developer, marketer, promoter, salesperson, advocate, and bookkeeper.

So far, I have applied to get my LLC. $374.95. I had to purchase Square, a way to take payments, $49.95 plus tax.  I have been putting out e-mail blasts, Facebook page ads ($8.00), advertising by all social media avenues that I can (mostly for free), twitter, Facebook, psychology today.com ($30.00 monthly fee), google, and this blog.  All this work so far, including my in-person networking, has generated 0 clients.  I do; however, receive a lot of annoying phone calls from telemarketers.  I have learned to block each individual call.

I have received at least two really good potential calls but they did not materialize into paying clients.    I will soon be making appearances at churches, mental health centers, senior centers and other locations to try to boost my visibility.  Starting a business is very challenging.  You think the clients will just find you but it is not that easy.  I would like to mention one other great networking tool for Black Therapists: Black Therapist Rock on Facebook.  Great social networking tool for Black therapists.

Would like to start this group in the Fall.  I know the need is out there.  Call "For Me Talk Therapy" to register: 267-388-4909.

Why Choose Rosemarie Reid for a Therapist...

Who am I?  

Hi, I am Rosemarie Reid.  I am a lincensed master’s level social worker.  I graduated from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research with a Master’s in Social Service, May 2016.  I also hold a Master’s in Human Services which I obtained in 2000. I have been doing social work for 22 years since I graduated undergrad. I have experience working with the elderly, the homeless population, women issues, and mental health.  I also have 15 years of experinece working with children and youth through working at the Department of Human Services (DHS) children and youth division.  I have run therapeutic groups for 7 years through DHS for children who have been sexually abused and for the non-offending parents who have had to deal with the aftermath of the abuse.  

I am currently working on getting an additional license which requires me to provide 3000 hours of counseling and will allow me to bill insurances. 

Areas of experience: 

Trauma, PTSD, sex abuse, sadness and grief, career counseling, life coaching, elderly mental health issues and elderly transitional issues, homelessness, anxiety, and depression.

What is my target population?  

I offer individual and group counseling. Adolescents, adults/parents, and the elderly.

What do I hope to gain or what is my goal?

My goal is to use my degree, licensure, and experience to begin counseling people as private counselor primarily servicing the African-American population.  I realize there is a need in our communities.  I come with a gift to speak openly and honestly with individuals while allowing them to feel empowered, not judged, and promote good mental health and emotional health.  I will be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years experience.  Other than this disclosure to my supervisor regarding counseling sessions, all counseling sessions will be confidential.  

What would be the benefits of using a therapist who is under supervision?

• I will always be required to follow all rules and protocols as described by the social work code of ethics.

• I will be privy to a supervisor who has been doing individual and group counseling with over 30 years of experience.

• I travel to my clientele.  Zip Codes: 19131, 19130, 19132, 19143, 19139

• The cost of counseling by a fully licensed counselor or psychologist is anywhere from $100 to $250 an hour.  My cost will range from $20 - $100 depending on the individual’s ability to pay. Ask about pricing packages.

• You will have the benefit of a therapist who is willing to put all her energies into a good therapeutic relationship that will ultimately benefit the client therapist relationship.

Week One

Rosemarie Reid, MHS, MSS, LSW. 

Trying to start your own business in scary and daunting.  There will always be a million and one reasons why you cannot do it now, or why you need to wait until the right time.  Others will dissuade you; however, often you will be your biggest enemy.  Fear of failing has been my biggest enemy.  However, I have decided to put all the energy and money that I can into this business to make it work.  I have been putting energy into working for others for years and now it is time to put that same energy into myself.  I hope that you all will support me and assist me in my endeavors, as this is something I have wanted to do for the last ten years.

Week one, I have begun with paying for a url, which meant creating my own webpage, www.formetalktherapy.com.  I also subscribed to a membership to psychology today, https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/302216.    I also designed and bought my own business cards and letterhead. If anyone has suggestions for other free advertisement please let me know.  I was able to get client forms and screening tools off the web.  

In addition to setting up these two items I created my business e-mail: formetalktherapy@gmail.com.  I set up a free advertising on YP marketing solutions, http://www.yellowpages.com/philadelphia-pa/mip/for-me-talk-therapy-530554013.  I also have a business number where clients and other therapists can reach me, 267-388-4909.

A little about Rosemarie the therapist.  I am a licensed Master's level Social Worker talk therapist.  I graduated from Bryn Mawr College, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research with a Master's degree in  Social Services, May 2016.  I have a second Master's in Human Services from Lincoln University; I graduated May 2000.  I have been working as a Social Worker since 1993.  

I have experience with the elderly, homeless population, women issues, children and youth issues, and child welfare issues.   My audience and specialties are Anger Management, Trauma, and PTSD issues.  I am well versed and able to provide therapy and/or counseling on the following disorders:  Anxiety, Behavioral Issues, Career Counseling, Chronic Impulsivity, Coping Skills, Depression, Grief; and, Parenting, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, Sexual Abuse, Suicidal Ideation, General Teen Issues, and Elderly Persons Disorders.  I provide individual as well as group therapy.  I have been running an adolescent trauma group for over six years for the Department of Human Services in Philadelphia.  I am currently under the supervision of a Clinical Licensed Social Worker who has post graduate experience of 15 years.  

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I have a client focus on African-American, Other Racial or Ethnic Background but I certainly can provide therapy to anyone.  The specific ages of my populations range:

• Preteens / Tweens (11 to 13)
• Adolescents / Teenagers (14 to 19)
• Adults
• Elders (65+)

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My Treatment Approaches include: 

   Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Though I am not able to take insurances I do work off a sliding scale fee which ranges from $25-$100 per session.  Check out my websites and my pages.  I would love to hear from others in the field and how we can help one another in this business.