IN OUR OWN WORDS: Notes from an African-Centered Psychotherapist By: Vashonna Etienne, DSW, LCSW
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When White America gets a cold, Black America gets the flu.
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s a licensed clinical social worker, my primary focus is on providing AfricanCentered psychotherapy to a community that has suffered historical traumas for centuries and who continue to reflect emotional injuries and wounds stemming from intergenerational trauma. In unprecedented times such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent uprisings in protest of police brutality and violence, America is feeling the effects of systemic racism, systematic oppression, discrimination, and social inequalities. As the founder and clinical director at the Center for Counseling and Holistic Services, I have noticed an increase in trauma related symptoms among my client population which consists of African Americans and other people of color. Symptoms include shock, anger, disbelief, irritability, anxiety, fear, and hopelessness all of which have led to an increase in depression and somatic responses to stress. There is a saying that goes, “When White America gets a cold, Black America gets the flu.” This term usually applies to the economic and wealth disparities that exist between Whites and Blacks, but I can also apply this term to the racial and ethnic disparities in mental healthcare services. Being able to access quality providers who are Black, African American, or persons of color has proven to be a challenge for my client population, and because of this many Blacks and African Americans go untreated for their mental health challenges. In our current crisis, this can prove devastating for a population who may have untreated traumas, both
14 July 2020 | www.naswnj.org
