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Showing posts from July, 2016

What I have learned about race from being a therapist

image:gratisography.com One of the privileges I have as a psychotherapist is that I get to know people in a uniquely personal way. In the therapy room, people often pour out their hearts as they seek change and relief from their pain. We all have misconceptions When I came into this work, I came to it with all of the preconceptions and notions about race that my particular background lent to me. Some of those notions were examined through my coursework in graduate school. But, I could never have learned to truly appreciate the complexities of what it means to grow up Black in America without all of the hours I have spent listening to my client's experiences. As a therapist, I am called to bring empathy to a client's experience. I am a naturally empathetic person so it was not hard to listen, to care, to feel the pain. Empathy creates a safe place for my clients to be able to explore, process and to discharge their pain. image:gratisography.com It is impos