Black Men Seeking Mental Health

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Black Men

Seeking Mental Health

Tami V. Allen, MS, LPC Contributing Writer

As July was Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this is the perfect opportunity to continue to educate the public and our community, highlighting health and wellness topics of concern to minorities. This month I want to focus on Black men and counseling, addressing the stigmas attached and how to find the right counselor.

Black men suffer in silence with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and a host of other mental health challenges. This is primarily due to the fear of being vulnerable, which is counter to the projected roles of societal norms. Men are expected to conform to gender norms, such as fearlessness, toughness, and avoidance of pain. Men don’t want to be told “man-up,” “stop tripping,” or “just pray.” You do not want to be made to feel that counseling is only for people who are crazy, but instead you need a therapist who demonstrates positive and unbiased support and guidance and understanding of your feelings and cultural experiences.

It is also very helpful to work with a therapist who has first-hand knowledge of past and present social injustices. Therapists with a lack of understanding, empathy, and even experience of the issues impacting the lives of minorities may impair the therapeutic relationship. Distrust in the healthcare system that stems from biased and unequal access to mental health care is also of major concern. I also want to explain to you how the health insurance process works. In order for insurance to reimburse a provider (mental health or medical) on your behalf, there has to be an assigned diagnosis(es). This means that the provider has to report the diagnosis(es) in accordance with the DSM-V, which lists all mental health categories. When the clinician reports the diagnosis(es) to the insurance company for reimbursement, the information becomes a part of your permanent medical records.

The insurance company owns your records and has the ability to report any requested information to any entity that you authorize access to, especially if required for a job or when changing insurance companies. The only way around this is through self-pay, where you pay out of pocket, which allows your mental health records to remain your property

So, how should men go about finding a therapist? The theoretical approach is very important when looking for a therapist. The first approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves changing negative, counter-productive messages playing in your mind to alternative, positive thoughts which will then affect the outcome of your behavior. The second approach is person-centered therapy, which allows you, the client, to control the direction of your therapy while the therapist helps to facilitate your journey to self-discovery. And if you should choose a male or female therapist, that is a personal preference. (as requested) and your therapist’s. My goal as a therapist is to work with individuals and couples to help bridge the gaps in your interpersonal development that subsequently affects your relationships. If you need support in this area or know someone who does, please visit www.AllenCounselingGroup.com. Feel free to reach out to me at Tami@ AllenCounselingGroup.com or (713) 597-4499.

Source: https://www.mhanational.org/issues/ black-and-african-americancommunities-and-mental-health