1 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: Hi guys, and welcome to You Need Therapy Podcast. My 2 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: name is Kat and I am your host, and thank 3 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: you so much for showing up with us. I always 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: think that it's like a Monday that you're listening to this, 5 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: but then I realized that people listen to this randomly 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: throughout the week, So whatever day it is, happy that day. 7 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: I'm excited about this episode because I have a guess 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: that I've been trying to get on the show for 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: a while. You think it would be easier because she 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: literally works at my practice, but we've had quite a 11 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: time doing that, so we finally have her. Her name 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: is Stacy. She is a therapist who works at Three 13 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: Courts Therapy, which is my practice, and she's amazing. Today specifically, 14 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: we talked about her experience going to therapy and becoming 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: a therapist as a black woman in our culture and 16 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: in our society, and I think it's a really cool 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: conversation and really cool soode I will say, I still 18 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: have I think i'd call anxiety doing these kinds of 19 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: episodes because I know I'm going to say something wrong 20 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: or say something insensitive. I just get anxiety around that 21 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: because my goal is never to hurt or do anything 22 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: or say anything harmful. But I also know that the 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: only way for me to learn things, and the only 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: way for me to grow as a human is to 25 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,559 Speaker 1: ask and say the things that come to my mind 26 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: sometimes so then I can learn what is harmful and 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: what isn't harmful. And so you might hear me stumble 28 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: over my words in this episode, and that's probably why. 29 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: But Stacy was a great job of talking to us 30 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: about her experience and then not generalizing, but talking about 31 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: like what it was like generally for her and her 32 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: family system and community growing up when it comes to 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: mental health. And it's a really good conversation. I think 34 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: this is not just a conversation that we are putting 35 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: out there for people that are any color other than 36 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 1: white to listen to it. It's specifically also for white 37 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: people to hear so we can learn. And I say 38 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: this was like remorse and shame. But when I first 39 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: was being trained as a therapist, I didn't take this 40 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: stuff as seriously as it is. And I've learned not 41 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: just through therapy, because this isn't just something that affects 42 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: my work. This affects all my relationships and how I 43 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: go about the world and then the greater good of 44 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: the world. So this is something that I think is 45 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: important to talk about and continue to talk about. If 46 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: you have any questions or comments or stories that you 47 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: want to share with us about your experience in this topic, 48 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: send them to us. We talked about this at the 49 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: end of the show, but we would love to do 50 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: a couch talks with Stacy answering some questions from y'all, 51 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: so email them to Catherine at You Need Therapy podcast 52 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: dot com. You can follow me at at cat dot 53 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: de fata, and you can follow the podcast at at 54 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: You Need Therapy Podcast on Instagram. We would love for 55 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: you to do that. And before I keep rambling about 56 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: this conversation and all of my shame and insecurities, I'm 57 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: just gonna let the conversation do the work. So here 58 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: is my talk with Stacy. I have a very special 59 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: guest here today. Her name is Stacy and she actually 60 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 1: works for Three Chords Therapy or she works at three 61 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: Chords Therapy, and I was wanting her to be on 62 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: the podcast for a while. Now I think we've talked 63 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: about this for a while. Well, first of all, Hi, Hi, welcome, 64 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: and we are going to have her on to talk 65 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: about multiple things, one just the process of becoming a therapist, 66 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: to what she's learned about being a therapist, and three 67 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: what it was like for her becoming a therapist as 68 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: a black woman in our culture. So one, how are 69 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: you doing? I'm nervous, It's okay. Um, might have been 70 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: on a podcast. Ever been on a podcast? Well, this 71 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: is a good one to start, because it's just like 72 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: talking to your friend. The best place that can start, 73 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: the best places. You're starry. Okay. So I met Stacy 74 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: many moons ago. This was probably like six or seven 75 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: years ago, right, I think about back in our So 76 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: I met Stacy when she was well, she still as 77 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: a fitness instructor, when she was teaching classes at a 78 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: gym place near where I lived, and she was the 79 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: highlight of our Tuesday mornings at morning yes it was 80 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: cardio burn. And then later in life just staying connected 81 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: to you through like social media and the fitness world. 82 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: I saw you were becoming a therapist, and then I 83 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: saw you were graduating a therapist, and I was like, 84 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: I need you to work here, but I want you 85 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: to tell us how you even got on this because 86 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: this was your second career maybe third career. Yeah. I 87 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: became a group fitness instructor in which led into personal 88 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: training and loved it. While I was doing healthcare, I 89 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: t as my main job. I was kind of back 90 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: and forth with that and really wanting to get out 91 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: of it, but I didn't really have any direction. And 92 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: then I'd say, I had a pretty good job with 93 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: a healthcare company and I just was not fulfilled. Like 94 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: there was absolutely nothing wrong with the job. I made 95 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: great money, I was good at it, it was awesome, 96 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: and I just had a longing to be and do 97 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: something else. And I ran into a really good friend 98 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 1: at a fitness party. And fitness party it was maybe 99 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: one of Nashville fits, like yeah, and it's not funny 100 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: that this all started at a fitness party. I ran 101 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: into a friend who encouraged me to apply for Lipskin's program. 102 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: So obviously, I guess just been sharing with her what 103 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: I was feeling, kind of what vision I had for 104 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: my life and what I wanted to do, and I 105 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: pretty much was just like, Okay, therapy seems to be 106 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: exactly what I'm doing in physical fitness, but on the 107 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: mental health side, and she pushed and pushed and I 108 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: finally applied and here you are here, I am okay, 109 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: so let's talk about because you had a different experience 110 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: and I had going to school, and we're going to 111 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: talk about that and let it be a mess. But 112 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: I want you to tell us what it was like 113 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: as you're entering and you're becoming like, Okay, I'm gonna 114 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: go do this therapy thing. What were some of the 115 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: things that you learned right off the bat entering a 116 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: program where some things that kind of took you by surprise. 117 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:22,119 Speaker 1: Maybe first off, just being black. A lot of people 118 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: are just like what are you doing? Like just people 119 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: in my life, It's like, oh, you know, it sounds cool, 120 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: I guess, but also pivoting from the career I was 121 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: in and like I said, it was going well. I 122 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: didn't really have any reason to get out of it. 123 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: I felt like I was doing a lot of explaining 124 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: and I kind of I didn't know what I was doing. 125 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: I don't know I'm starting a new life and I 126 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: don't know what it'll look like or if I'll even 127 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,799 Speaker 1: like it. I think I just made a decision within 128 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: like if I do not work in this field or 129 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: this is not for me, this will be a great 130 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: self care EMBs and all. It's very expensive, very expensive 131 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: like therapeutic experience, and so I think I just landed 132 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: there and I'm like, Okay, if nothing else, I'll come 133 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: out and be like a much better person. Second thing 134 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: I learned, which was huge probably some of the first 135 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: classes I had, was that it actually made sense that 136 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: people in my environment did not understand as I learned 137 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: that psychology was pretty much based on like the average 138 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: white family, and that we expressed to you like overtly 139 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: or was it just like you being like, oh, I'm 140 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: all these things are about white people or did they 141 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: say that No. I had a wonderful professor. I think 142 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: this had to be maybe an intro to family systems 143 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: course or something. I can't remember exactly, but he highlighted 144 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:56,239 Speaker 1: this via articles. A couple of our textbooks were even 145 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: pointing out that the field is actively trying to make 146 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: a shift a because families just look so different today anyway, 147 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: and there is no like quote unquote average or normal family. 148 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: I think that was actually the first leston of the course, 149 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: which led into what general psychology is kind of based 150 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: around or general family systems? Well, because I remember so 151 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: Stacy got her degrade in marriage and family therapy. I 152 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: got my degree in human development counseling. So the emphasis 153 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: on things are you drinking hot coffee out of a straw? 154 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: I am, this protects my teeth. That's a that's actually great. Also, 155 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: that's brave. Anyway back on track, I had a different 156 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: emphasis where in my graduate experience. But what I had 157 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: my undergrad in family system. So I do have that part. 158 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: And what I remember is like the whole the nuclear 159 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: family that we were taught was in every book and 160 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: every anything. It was a white family, but it was 161 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: like a mom and a dad and the two kids. Yes, 162 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: and that is just not what That's not even that. 163 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: I wouldn't even say that's the average. Now, that's what 164 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: quote unquote is normalized. I wouldn't even say that's the 165 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: average anymore because families just look so different. And as 166 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: a therapist, that can be challenging to learn everything based 167 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: on this nuclear family when you're like, this isn't actually 168 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: how my clients relate at all, and so how do 169 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: I take that? But also for you, you're like, I 170 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: don't relate to this. Yeah, I hadn't even gotten to 171 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: the point of thinking about seeing clients as this is 172 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: first semester, So I just didn't relate in a lot 173 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: of families that I know or grew up with, Like 174 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: definitely just didn't look like that. I come from a 175 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: really blended family, and that was even kind of a 176 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: newer concept in the texts that remarriages. And when you 177 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: say blended, will you explain that because people blended families 178 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: are families that, oh man, they could look so many 179 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: different ways. One example is if someone's gotten a divorce 180 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: and moved on created a new family and children of 181 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: the new family and the old family kind of lived 182 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: together or coexist. Or even if people have not gotten 183 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: married but have had children in a relationship and then 184 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: moved on and recreated a new family, but those families 185 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: just kind of living and existing together. And the other 186 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: thing with that I will say about my experience compared 187 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: to yours is when we went because I don't know 188 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: what you guys experienced. What We had one class on 189 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: diversity and that's really the only class we talked about 190 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: it to me, like we didn't talk about it anywhere else. 191 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: But it wasn't even a class that we emphasized or 192 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: took seriously. It was like I think it was. It 193 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: was definitely required, but it felt like one of those 194 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: elective classes that was like, Oh, I don't like this 195 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: isn't really that important. And I remember reading a book 196 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: about privilege and power and being like, this isn't that important, 197 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: Like this doesn't I don't need to learn this because 198 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: this is actually like I can't believe I'm saying this 199 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: to everybody, But like in my in the beginning stages, 200 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:04,959 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm not I don't really need to 201 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: learn this because it doesn't apply to me and I 202 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: can still be a good therapist without all of this, 203 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 1: and and I can't help with that. Probably had the 204 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: thoughts I can't help with that. I'm white, so what 205 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: is this gonna do, Which now I'm like, but for you, 206 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: you would be sitting in that classroom with me, and 207 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: you would have a completely different experience. The program was 208 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: actually set up that way where there was only one 209 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: class on diversity and it was taught by a black man, 210 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: which I think that was the first year, and there 211 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 1: was so much tension produced from that class. So maybe 212 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: maybe white people did feel that way because what was 213 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: a tension um It's hard to say because I feel like, Okay, 214 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: we we were a cohort of maybe eighteen by the 215 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: time we got around to this class, and five of 216 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: the students were black, and I think there were can 217 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: continued conversations the entire semester. Also, the pandemic kind of started, 218 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: so we had to move to some asynchronous work, But 219 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,599 Speaker 1: the time that we spent in the class, like physically 220 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: was very strange. Classmates were just like very quiet, didn't 221 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: want to talk. I didn't want to talk. White people 222 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: didn't really ask questions, and of course there were some 223 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm generalizing, but it was just like a 224 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: very different experience than all of the other courses that 225 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: we all had together, a very different level of participation. 226 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: And again I can't quite say like how people were feeling, 227 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: but what are you feeling? That it felt forced and 228 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: very uncomfortable, And yeah, it felt like the information was 229 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: being forced on like our white peers, even if they 230 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: didn't say so, and it rather than us being like, 231 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: we need to learn about this because I am in 232 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: this bubble and I need to know what is going 233 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: on so I can help better serve other people bowl 234 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: and myself. The text also was kind of aggressive. We 235 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: because the class is based on this book called Microaggressions. Oh, 236 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: I bet those white people did not like that book. No, 237 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: there was so I guess too, thinking about thinking back, 238 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: why it felt forced and uncomfortable because even the material 239 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: that we talked about, it was more of just like 240 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: questioning everything, you know, you want questions and kind of 241 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: like create a conversation around but more I don't know, 242 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: I can't explain it was. It's uncomfortable. It's the best 243 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: word that I've got for it. Well, yeah, because what 244 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: you're doing is it's like you're you're learning in real time, 245 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: but you're learning different experience. I don't know how to 246 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: word either, And I think too it was so I 247 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: think it was just a lot to take in, no 248 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: matter if you were white, black, male, female. It was 249 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: sensitive and I think it was a lot as you like, 250 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: see where you fit in to this information that we're learning, 251 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: and then also whatever was happening in the world, which 252 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: was right at the beginning of so much like social 253 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: injustice uproar. So it was just a lot. Oh wait, 254 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about the class that was actually 255 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: very good, Okay, So I just so happened and this 256 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: is all because of the pandemic as well. I barely 257 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: graduated because a class was canceled that had to be 258 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: in person but wasn't going to be given before I graduated. 259 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: So I got tossed into a cross cultural negotiations course 260 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: that was a part of the conflict Management school because 261 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: I did a conflict management route of the program and 262 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: it was the exact opposite, and it was amazing. What 263 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: was different about it There were a lot of things. 264 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: The class was smaller. I think it was a class 265 00:14:54,400 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: of ten to thirteen people, and this was post George 266 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: Lloyd and so a I definitely think that that had 267 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: a lot to do with it, just the world being 268 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: able to see something so straightforward and up front. I 269 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: think this professor, she specializes in going into companies and 270 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: kind of facilitating these conversations, and so I think the 271 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: fact that the class was based around being a cultural 272 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: conversation was the difference than just like a topic of diversity, 273 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: because it wasn't just racial diversity that we talked about. 274 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: We talked about like gender inequality and sexuality, but this 275 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: was focused upon we live in this country, this is 276 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: our history. It makes sense that things are the way 277 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: they are, and it wasn't about like denying, because it 278 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: was more acknowledgement of, like, hey, this is real, this 279 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: is the life that we're living, and this is the 280 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: state of black people and their general sational traumas and 281 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: the position that they are in psychologically, emotionally, socially, economically, 282 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: et cetera. So I think it was more of like 283 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: an acknowledgement and then conversation about that than trying to 284 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: convince people yes exactly. So growing up, what was your 285 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: experience of mental health and how mental health was talked about? 286 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: And I want to know this from two kind of lenses. 287 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 1: One just your straight up experience, because mental health wasn't 288 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: really talked about in my family either. But I don't 289 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: feel like it was just a straight up cultural thing. 290 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: It was just how my family dealt with stuff. So 291 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: I want to know from your family's perspective. But also 292 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: being somebody black growing up in America or whatever, did 293 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: that have also an effect on how you guys looked 294 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: at therapy or mental health. I would say from my 295 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: personal family's perspective, my parents were open to like whatever 296 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: I was interested in, and I could pretty much have 297 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: free reign to explore. But therapy was never suggested or yeah, 298 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: it wasn't brought up as kind of like a tool 299 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: for growth or processing. And we had a lot of 300 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: family drama and it was never offered. Why do you 301 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: think it that was never something that was presented or 302 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: that wasn't the forefront of people. I think moving into 303 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: the cultural side of it is that And obviously I'm 304 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: not over generalizing for all black people, but from both 305 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: of my parents families, just like talking about your issues shortcomings, 306 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:41,719 Speaker 1: family drama with people was not like welcomed and everything 307 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: should remain in the house. That's that's the quote that 308 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: they're used, like if you go spend the night of 309 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: other people's homes, like don't tell our business, Like don't 310 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: don't be talking about what we have going on in 311 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: our house. Um, everything's kind of like a secret or 312 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: putting on a facade of like everything's cool. So we 313 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: definitely would and be taken this to therapy. I think too, 314 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: as a cultural thing, trust is a big part of it. 315 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: And like I said, if thinking about what I learned 316 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: about psychology being based on the average white family or 317 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: as the articles would put it, the dominant culture, like 318 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: why would black people show up to talk with someone 319 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:25,479 Speaker 1: who Obviously there was very little representation of black therapists too. 320 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: So if we're not willing to kind of share when 321 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: you go to your cousin's house or your friend's house, 322 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: I definitely just don't see that that would be like, yeah, 323 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: let's go to therapy and air out our secrets and 324 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: let somebody tell us ways that we could change. Or 325 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: when you talk about trust, where do you lie there? 326 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: Like I'm gonna throw this out there. I think you've 327 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: got any permission to say this, Like you've been to therapy. 328 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, clearly if she hadn't been to therapy, she 329 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: wouldn't be working at the court, because that is weird 330 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: if your therapist has never been a therapy But what 331 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: was it like for you going to therapy and being 332 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: like that whole idea of should I trust these people? 333 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: I'm not represented here? Do they even know about like 334 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: what my life might be like? Or can they even 335 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: relate or whatever? Like what are the things that went 336 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: through your head? I feel like I was in a 337 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: special situation. I although therapy wasn't directly offered or brought 338 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: up or talked about in my home, I was just 339 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: exposed to a lot of different things outside of my culture, 340 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: and then paired with that, my first experience with therapy 341 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: was grief counseling because of the passing of my mom, 342 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: So it was almost like, oh, here is a helpful resource. 343 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: I didn't even consider trust. I think I was more 344 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: so like, oh, this is cool that I have like 345 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: a helpful tool to kind of process and get through this. 346 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: The other third special factor, and that is this lady 347 00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: was black, and so I don't think i' ever even 348 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: of therapist. So you might not have gone to therapy 349 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: if you didn't need to go for grief counseling, you 350 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 1: might not have at the age that I started. And 351 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 1: then also it was different because you're like, oh, this 352 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: person looks like me. I think I didn't consider trust 353 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: because she looks I was twenty one and she was 354 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: also older like mom age, so maybe it was the opposite. 355 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: I probably actually feel comfort and I never considered like 356 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: do I tell the truth about this or what will 357 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: she think? Or I don't think I consider trust because 358 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: the situation I was in, And so that has always 359 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: stuck with me, like, oh my gosh. After the fact, 360 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: I'm like I can't imagine what I can't imagine how 361 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: other people feel. So I want to be that presence 362 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: because she was that for me. What comes up for 363 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: you when you think about that idea that because it's 364 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: still an issue, like I think there's still a misrepresentation 365 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: of black therapists and just black people in general in therapy. 366 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: So what comes up for you and what would you 367 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: want people to know about. I would like for people 368 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: to know and consider that therapy is not just like 369 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: advice giving And I'm thinking about things that I've talked 370 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: with like other black people about even as I was 371 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: in school or as I was finishing, people are like, well, what, 372 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: like what exactly do you do? Like what will you 373 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: be doing? And so it's not somebody showing up and 374 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: me telling them what to Yeah, it's not that at all. 375 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: I like to think of this is like, this is 376 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: a space provided so that someone has freedom and autonomy 377 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: and comfort is not the word that I'm looking for. Freedom, autonomy, 378 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:55,959 Speaker 1: and presence to like bring in whatever is that they 379 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: need to process or talk about or here out loud 380 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: or with feedback on And we are the space and 381 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: we use training and science and human emotions to like 382 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 1: help people put out patterns. Also it's not about always 383 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: being broken. That's another thing I want all people, especially 384 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: black people to hear that one can show up to 385 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: therapy to level up or to enhance whatever track you're on, 386 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: or just for growth reasons. It doesn't have to be 387 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:35,880 Speaker 1: some sign or signal that something's wrong. And if there 388 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 1: is something wrong, you do have a space and you 389 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: do have help, and there are resources of people who 390 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: care and have studied. And is that themselves into like 391 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: gathering information that is helpful to process? Well? Is that 392 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: what it feels like? Because I know from just as 393 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: like a human in general, I know that there's a 394 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: big stigma around going to therapy and that meaning that like, 395 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: oh my god, there's something wrong with you. It's embarrassing, 396 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: that should be a secret. But what is that just 397 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: speaking from your experience and like your culture and just 398 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: being black, is that different than just in general, because 399 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: I know there's a that's the point of this podcast 400 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: is to kind of get rid of some of that 401 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: stigma of like, there has to be something wrong with 402 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: you to go to therapy. But what I heard from 403 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: you is one thing about like you don't need to 404 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: tell your business to everybody, But the other part is like, 405 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: does that mean that like that's embarrassing there there's if 406 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: you go to therapy, that means that like you're not strong, 407 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: not at all, I think, Or is that not that 408 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: you think that, but is that something that you feel 409 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: like you grew up around or is yeah, actually it 410 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: I think in listening to other black people yet that 411 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: therapy is a sign of weakness or the conversation around 412 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: what is going on that might be going wrong or 413 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 1: that is based around some drama or some trauma or 414 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 1: hurt or yeah, that processing that with somebody else is 415 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: a point of weakness, Like you need a toughen up, 416 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,360 Speaker 1: suck it up, move on kind of thing. And honestly, 417 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: like I get it. That is the position that our 418 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 1: culture has been putting in like the entire time. It's like, yeah, 419 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: there's all these things go wrong and suck it up 420 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: and get back to it in your life. Well you know, 421 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: also just hit me and I'm going backwards. But you're 422 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 1: talking about the trust part and just talking about the 423 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: transgenerational trauma and oppression and all that. It also kind 424 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 1: of is a weird concept to think that like I'm 425 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: going to come to this thing for white people, this 426 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: thing that was created based off of a white family, 427 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: and there's a white person probably the most available because 428 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 1: there's more of them. There's white person that's going to 429 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: help me. It's kind of crazy in a sense that 430 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: makes sense to me of like why would I go 431 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: talk to this white person who probably knows nothing about 432 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: what it's like to be me? Or I'm wondering too, 433 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: like what type of help do they think that they 434 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: could give from you? Yeah, which I know that you, 435 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: as an awesome, amazing therapist could help any human being. 436 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: I'm just saying just as a generalization, like why, yeah, 437 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: when I get out of that, what is the solution 438 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: to that for you? I don't know that I have 439 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: the answer to that, but I want to be a 440 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 1: part of the solution, I guess, just starting with representation 441 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: and having conversations like this and making making therapy cool 442 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: on my Instagram, not making it kind of exposing that 443 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,199 Speaker 1: it is cool. I think my biggest thing is going 444 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: to be representation, Like just like we put effort and 445 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: money and investment into all of the outer parts. And 446 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 1: I'm going to speak as a black woman, just like 447 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: how much I invest in getting my hair doing or 448 00:25:55,480 --> 00:26:00,159 Speaker 1: clothes or Obviously I am a fitness professional, so I 449 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: really highly value just like what kind of food I eat, 450 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: moving your body, moving my body. So I'm thinking about 451 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 1: other people, like where they have to put money to 452 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 1: like keep those things up and keep that consistent. I 453 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 1: want to highlight that the inner workings are equally important 454 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: and that this all works together. I'm even thinking as 455 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: a fitness professional, and I think we talked about this 456 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: to like how even yoga in the past was seeing 457 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: as like something for white people. And think about how 458 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: beneficial that mind body connection or that quiet space or 459 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: just that individual time where you come to your mats, 460 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: set your intention, move your body, get quiet, and how 461 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 1: long black people did not participate in something like that 462 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 1: that was kind of marketed or seeing as something for 463 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: white people. So I kind of feel like that about therapy, 464 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: and just I want to highlight how important it is 465 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 1: if you need help, that you can get it without 466 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: all of that extra around it. Most importantly, therapists are 467 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: real people. So I think I forgot this important part, 468 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: the most important part that we bring that aspect to 469 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: walking with people who want to make changes, who want 470 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: some help and assistance, Like you get a real person 471 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:27,479 Speaker 1: with experiences. Yeah, well, and you know, I would like 472 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 1: to even talk about this for a second, because yes, 473 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 1: we are real people, and because of that, your therapist 474 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: is going to mess up. So I'm speaking specifically if 475 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: you're a black person with a white therapist. So I'm 476 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 1: really talking about like really me, but I'm going to 477 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: mess up. So and even in this conversation, I probably 478 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: might have said something the wrong way or that could 479 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 1: offend somebody or whatever. We're just we're going to do that. 480 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 1: But the beauty of therapy is you have this curated 481 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: experience slash experiment where you get to be with some 482 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:01,880 Speaker 1: buddy and they get to mess up and you get 483 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: to like heal and repair those relationships and you get 484 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: to I I mean, even speaking from experience, I've obviously 485 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: I've had clients that aren't the same color skin as me, 486 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: and we've had to work through that in some areas, 487 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 1: and they've had to teach me things and sometimes I'm like, 488 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: I don't understand what you're talking about, and so we 489 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 1: have to talk about that, and then I have to 490 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: go like do my own work of Okay, it looks 491 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: like that I'm saying too much in my bubble. The 492 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: cool thing about that is this gets to be an 493 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 1: experiment where you get to have relationships that are messy. 494 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: And that's perfect because I'm a human and I think 495 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: that's cool. I'm having enough had the same experience all 496 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: throughout school and internship again because a large population of 497 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: the people coming to therapy are not black, So I'm 498 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: having the exact same experience as you of getting to 499 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 1: be curious and learn, like how I can bess help 500 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: you or be with you or be a presence that 501 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: is helpful when a good therapist will admit their shortcomings. Right. So, 502 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: and one of the things that I say in the 503 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: beginning of every session part of this is I want 504 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: you guys to hear that, like, I am not a 505 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: perfect therapist. There's no such thing. But one of the 506 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,719 Speaker 1: first things I say to clients in our first session 507 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 1: is just so you know I'm going to mess up. 508 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: And if I say something that offends you, and this 509 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: is to any client I say something that offends you 510 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: or you don't agree with it, or if I make 511 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 1: a face and the face like sometimes I might roll 512 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: my eyes and I and you might take it one way, 513 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: but I meant it another way. And so I always say, 514 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: I need you to let me know when I do 515 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: something that feels harmful to you. I gotta start doing 516 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: that because my eyebrows. They talk at their own thing. 517 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,480 Speaker 1: But like, I think that's cool because when people do 518 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: end up doing that, it's usually somebody says something that 519 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: offends you or living cancel culture. So my therapist didn't 520 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: understand this, she sucks, she's this, she's that, And this 521 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 1: doesn't matter what color you are, but it can be 522 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: applied to this conversation. But we need to work more 523 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: on like learning how to understand and learn from each 524 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: other more rather than just write people off when they 525 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: do one thing that you don't like, and that that 526 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: definitely goes with the whole trust building that I'm talking about, 527 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: and I really want all cultures to hear that, Like, 528 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: therapy is a very special relationship and it is sacred 529 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: and it is you bringing yourself, your vulnerable self to 530 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: a space with another person. And I think trust is key. 531 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: And that's just not something that I have experienced that 532 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 1: my culture has had or been welcomed because of what 533 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: you're saying of cancel culture now or just the trying 534 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 1: to understand each other versus like they don't get it. 535 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 1: They won't get it. Yeah, it's unique in the way 536 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: that like we are too strangers coming together to help 537 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: you figure out your ship. And because I'm not the 538 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: expert in your life, you're gonna have You're gonna have 539 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:09,959 Speaker 1: to teach me things. I learned stuff from my clients 540 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: all of the time. I think I literally say that 541 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 1: in almost every decision, because I just said it last 542 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 1: night to my clients, like, teach me, because you're telling 543 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: me about something. I definitely learned something from my clients 544 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: every decision, and that helps me to, like I get 545 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: to show up better. Are there any other reasons other 546 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: than they're not being a representation and some of the 547 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: trust issues. That makes sense, m Is there any other 548 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: reasons that somebody who is black might not show up 549 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: to therapy? Minimizing trauma in my experience and whether this 550 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 1: has come from the experience of being black or from 551 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: the dominant culture, but black people minimize trauma, and again 552 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: it's kind of like, uh, suck it up, it's not 553 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 1: that bad. And I'm thinking too in this moment, thinking 554 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: about me telling you, like, oh, don't go tell our business. 555 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: If you're not talking about it, it does just go away. 556 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: I mean, we know it actually doesn't go away, but 557 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: it's not addressed and therefore is on the surface minimized. 558 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 1: So I think to just not being in the habit 559 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: or normalizing that I need to process these very serious 560 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: and or emotionally harmful things that have happened, or these 561 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: things are literally living with me but have been pushed 562 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: down for years and again generations throughout the family. So 563 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 1: I think it's a lot of like minimization, and I 564 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 1: just want to bring awareness to that that, Like, I mean, 565 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 1: you have the right too and call it a trauma, 566 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: that's what it is for you, and process it or 567 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: get the help they need. As I said before, well 568 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 1: and what would you offer, especially a client who it's 569 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: like I want to go to therapy? And and this 570 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: makes me think, I think I brought this up to you. 571 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: I probably talked about this way too much in general, 572 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 1: my life a million little things. The show, huh, because 573 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: that show literally covers everything and I love it. But 574 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: there is a black couple in the first episode. He 575 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 1: attempts suicide and then he ends up. I'm struggling to 576 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: say this stuff because I don't want to give away, 577 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: but he hiding it from his baby. The point is, 578 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 1: the point is nobody knows he's hiding it from his family, 579 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: and there is a huge The way his family responds 580 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 1: when they find out that he is one going to therapy, 581 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 1: but to taking medication for depression is really hard to watch. 582 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: But even before that, his why is because he knows 583 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: that they are going to respond in a way that's 584 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: not supportive or that will feel invalidating. So, I mean, 585 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: even the fact that he needs to try to hide it, 586 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: that is very representative of like what the black experience 587 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 1: is like, which makes things worse. It makes things worse. 588 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: I think that that's the point you're trying to make. 589 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: And so what would you offer to somebody who's like, 590 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 1: I know that this is actually something that affects me, 591 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 1: but I'm so afraid for what my family, or my friends, 592 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: or my just community in general will think of me 593 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: if they know that I one going to therapy or 594 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: two if I'm even taking medication for a mental health disorder. 595 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: It's a lot there. But first of all, I mean, 596 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 1: you have to prioritize your health, and I think that 597 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,320 Speaker 1: is a part of the awareness that I want to 598 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,279 Speaker 1: bring this is health. So just as you would go 599 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:42,239 Speaker 1: to the doctor for a checkup or if in that 600 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:46,080 Speaker 1: visit there were some diagnosis that you need to follow 601 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: up on. I mean I see that as similar to this, 602 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,279 Speaker 1: and that this is your health and that is a 603 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,880 Speaker 1: personal thing. I don't think that you have to be 604 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:58,920 Speaker 1: loud and proud about it. If you don't, if that's 605 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:01,279 Speaker 1: not where you're at, well, I think that's the other thing. 606 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 1: You don't have to post and tell everybody about your stuff. 607 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: You don't tell everybody about like you're going to college disappointments, 608 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 1: so like it's weird, but like we should be going 609 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 1: and getting our check ups. But you don't have to 610 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 1: post on Facebook going to the guy. Know, like just 611 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 1: like you don't have to post on Facebook. I'm going 612 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: to see my therapist. Are more than welcome this is 613 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 1: your personal health. Yeah, you are more than welcome to 614 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:29,319 Speaker 1: post whatever you want, go for it. But I think 615 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: also people don't need to know what you're doing if 616 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: you don't want them to know. Like I say that 617 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 1: with a grain of salt, because I don't think it 618 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,720 Speaker 1: needs to be a secret. But also that's all relative 619 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: to you. There's people that love to post about their 620 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: own mental health and their stories on social media and 621 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:45,840 Speaker 1: all of that, and there's some people that don't. It 622 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 1: doesn't make you right or wrong. So I think that's 623 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:50,720 Speaker 1: one part of like, this gets to be your thing too. 624 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 1: If you're struggling with what my family think, well, this 625 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 1: gets to be your thing and you get to decide 626 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 1: what you tell them and what you don't tell them. 627 00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,759 Speaker 1: And that might be a boundary for you of like 628 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 1: I'm not going to share this with people who I 629 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:04,319 Speaker 1: know are going to say hurtful things about it. Yeah, 630 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:07,959 Speaker 1: are people that you are unsure if their safety there. Yeah. 631 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 1: I would highlight that this is a part of your 632 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 1: overall health and that it's personal. If there was a 633 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:19,120 Speaker 1: person that felt that way or felt very hesitant because 634 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 1: of their family quote unquote rules or expectations or just 635 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 1: general culture, like I said, with trust or minimization or representation, 636 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:35,240 Speaker 1: like those things can be overcome because your health should 637 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:39,839 Speaker 1: be power test. So thank you guys for listening to 638 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:43,279 Speaker 1: this conversation. Stacy, thank you for having it. Yes, I 639 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:45,840 Speaker 1: enjoyed it. I think this is a conversation that obviously 640 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 1: needs to be continued to have. I would love for 641 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:53,160 Speaker 1: us to take questions and feed come back and do 642 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 1: it again. You will be on a couch Talks. Thank you, Stacy. 643 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: We'll have Stacy on Couch Talks, probably not this week 644 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: because we won't have time because it comes out in 645 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 1: two days. But if you maybe if you have questions 646 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 1: about Stacy and her experience about if you have feedback 647 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: for me, if you have just questions in general about 648 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 1: this topic or stories like I would love to hear 649 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:21,680 Speaker 1: like your experience of your white, black, brown, yellow. I 650 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: don't care, like I want to know your experience with 651 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: your own culture and therapy because I think it's interesting 652 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: to get multiple perspectives. So if you have anything like that, 653 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:34,399 Speaker 1: send it Catherine at you Need Therapy podcast dot com. 654 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:35,880 Speaker 1: I would love to do a couch talks to us 655 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 1: about that, which, yes, we need to keep this conversation going, 656 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:39,680 Speaker 1: and that's a way to do that. If you know 657 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:42,440 Speaker 1: what you're like, Stacy sounds cool. I wish she was 658 00:37:42,520 --> 00:37:45,399 Speaker 1: my therapist. Guess what she can be. But only if 659 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:47,880 Speaker 1: you live in Tennessee. So that's another thing. I'm just 660 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:49,839 Speaker 1: gonna say it again I've never said it before. I'm 661 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 1: only licensed in Tennessee. Therefore, I can only see clients 662 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:55,080 Speaker 1: who live in Tennessee. Same with Stacy. She can only 663 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:58,319 Speaker 1: see clients that live in the state that we are 664 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,839 Speaker 1: in right now. I am not taking on any more 665 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,840 Speaker 1: clients at the moment, but Stacy is. So if you're like, oh, 666 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:05,480 Speaker 1: I need to talk to her, and you can email 667 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:09,239 Speaker 1: her at Stacy at three Courts Therapy dot com, or 668 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,399 Speaker 1: you can just go to three Courts Therapy dot com 669 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,719 Speaker 1: and go to her about her page and there's a 670 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:15,520 Speaker 1: form at the bottom you can send in an email 671 00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:17,920 Speaker 1: to her and and I will talk to you on 672 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:19,720 Speaker 1: Wednesday for couch Talks. Bye, guys,