My favorite part of therapy is it is a place I can focus on me
Depression is my repressed emotions
As a clinician I know that it is a combination of biological vulnerabilities, personality, intergenerational trauma, grief, anger, anxiety
Unpacking all of it
is meaningful to me
Therapy started because I was sinking
Because someone had to sit me down and say:
“GO”
I am grateful for her accountability
That she saw me struggling
That she felt enough love and wanted to me to succeed
Don’t you see I want you all to succeed?
My second time in therapy
I was shocked and confused
What is group?
What is understanding myself and others?
Why am I here?
Was that a compliment?
A microaggresion?
Why am I crying?
Why can’t I speak?
Then I began to think
How my race / face/ hijab impacts their perception of me
Then I began to think
How their race / face / my assumptions impact my experience of them
Everyone, say a prayer
for the women who have supported me
the advisor who made me call
the black clinician in training
who was the first to “hear” me
Now, I see a white lady
who holds my pain with me
who is angry alongside me
who gives me tools and affirmations
who helps me become better
a more whole version of me
Call me crazy, Or
Come, say a prayer with me
Today I honor the work of:
therapists
social workers
psychiatrists
case managers
Who tell my friends
you are seen
you are heard
you are valuable
you are worthy
you can make change
you are doing your best
you are powerful and able to make it better for others
Therapy is my way to explore and understand
Therapy is a spiritual responsibility
As well as an ethical, clinical responsibility
Therapy gives language to my life
Therapy empowers me to value my voice
To stand up to bigotry
To stand up for people different than me
To encourage others
To affirm others
To support others
Therapy is not the only way to do it
nor is it perfect
but, it works for me :)
Ameen ❤
