If you have been here for a while then you might have read my, "The Last Outfit," post. It was a post a wrote about 2 months after a life altering car accident. That car accident not only changed how I drive, who I allow my car but it unfortunately changed my mental state. I was diagnosed with PTSD which is post traumatic stress disorder. For me, I alway equate PTSD with our military veterans. What I never realized was that any life altering event can cause trigger this disorder.
Let's fast forward to 2020. What I like to refer to a, "The Year of the Quarantine." The year that the US and most of the would was introduced to a pandemic that would keep us in the house for house. It would cause us to wear a mask (for year or so later), it would change the world as we know it. That year, I experienced something mentality that I had felt before but not very often, anxiety.
I couldn't even step outside of my house because my anxiety triggers. I would have mini panic attacked, I would wash my hand excessively, I didn't want to go to the grocery store and the list goes on. Let's add the fact that black men and women were being gunned down in the streets and the videos were circulating social media. To top all of that my job started to become overly stressful and intense, I felt like I could not breath. I had no idea to function in this new world with my anxiety episodes and my PTSD so I know it was time to make a big change.
I decided that it was time to start looking for a therapist. It was time that I took my emotional, mental, and physical health into my own hands. I needed to fill like myself again or at least close to it. I had no idea where to start though. In the black community, therapy can be such a taboo topic. We are told to pray about it or just get over it, especially as a black woman. Let's be honest, it's sometime we need to talk it out with somebody that doesn't know use and get the tools we need to continue on. Therapy is a judgement free zone and we need that.
When I was looking for my therapist I wanted to be sure that they would match up with my personal needs and the concerns that I needed relief from. Looking for a therapist is just like looking for a doctor or a hair stylist. You want the best person for you and you want to be sure that they are able to effectively help you find ways to cope with your needs. I have five tips to finding the perfect therapist or therapists for you.
5 Tips to Find that Perfect Therapist
- Check with your friends for recommendations. You will be surprised at how many of your friends or family member are already in therapy and would recommend their therapist. This way you know that the person is trusted by somebody close to you.
- Look at the therapist's specialities. When you are searching the website be sure to check what that therapist specializes in. You might have childhood trauma but you are going to a marriage therapist. You don't want that.
- If at first you don't find a match, try and try again. I went through 4 different therapist until I found my current one. You have to be comfortable telling your therapist, "Hey, this is not working but thank you." You are paying for it so you need to get what will help you.
- Check with you current employer. A lot of companies offer life assistance programs where they help you deal with life. One of those ways would be with a counselor or therapist.
- Ask you primary care physician. When I told my primary doctor the ways I was feeling she suggested therapy and even had a list of potential therapist I could give a call. I trust my doctor so I know I could trust her recommendations.
If you are in the Atlanta or surrounding area and are looking for a counseling service check out Ray of Hope Counseling Services. They offer an array of services such as individual therapy, couples/marriage therapy, family therapy, child therapy plus much more. They offer their therapy service in Peachtree City, GA but don't worry they have online services as well which is convenient in today's world. If you decided to check them out tell them I sent you.
No comments