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Notes from the Field
IN OUR OWN WORDS: Notes from an African-Centered Psychotherapist
By: Vashonna Etienne, DSW, LCSW
As 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
historical and intergenerational.
Black America is suffering physically and emotionally, and our pain is being observed by the entire world. Whether it is pain resulting from vicarious trauma after witnessing the killings of unarmed Black men displayed across mass media and social media sites, or the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities, that pain and treatment is my main concern. My job as an African-Centered psychotherapist is to treat a community of people, of which I belong, who are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, but do not always trust the therapeutic process for many reasons, including the history of the mental health system in America, which for so long pathologized and mistreated Black men, women, and children.
Armed with this knowledge, I am mindful of the way I engage each client seeking treatment. If I can be a face that brings comfort, understanding, and freedom to be oneself without feeling judged or misunderstood, then I am happy and pleased to know my community is getting the care and treatment they need to heal for generations to come.
Vashonna Etienne, DSW, LCSW, is the Founding Executive Director at the Center for Counseling and Holistic Services. Specializing in work with couples, she practices Afrocentric Psychotherapy in the State of New Jersey. Learn more at www. savingblackmarriages.com.
