Therapy Is Cool!

For the longest time, I internally cheered on the people around me who made the courageous choice to go to therapy. Whenever I saw a tweet or post about going, I'd give them a high five in my head. However, it never really crossed my mind to go to therapy myself. Last fall, Clay suggested that therapy could be good for me, and my immediate reaction was NO. I was adamant that I didn't want to go because it seemed way too scary. 

At the beginning of this year, my sisters and I started talking about prioritizing our own mental health. My older sister Carmen brought up the idea of therapy, and together we decided that 2020 was the year that we both took the leap and started therapy. Alone, therapy was intimidating, but with both of us on board, I felt ready to try it. It seemed like a great place to better understand myself and improve my relationships with my friends and loved ones. I also wanted help managing my anxiety and occasional panic attacks.

A picture of me in my therapist’s bathroom that I posted on my Instagram story as part of my mission to end the stigma around mental health

After making the decision to go, I was really excited to begin! However, I immediately ran into the roadblock of actually finding a therapist. This was such a hassle!!! I really wanted to find a female and Asian therapist who could understand my background, but there were zero in Chicago that took my insurance. I then decided to expand my search and look for female and women of color therapists. I sent over 15 emails to potential therapists explaining what I was looking for and asking if I could do a 15 minute phone consultation with them. I got back a bunch of responses saying they were unavailable or didn't take my insurance, and it was so frustrating! I finally found one woman who was available, and I set up a phone consultation. Unfortunately, I did not connect with her at all, so I resumed my therapist hunt. I set up another phone consultation with another lady, and I LOVED her. I immediately scheduled a session with her, and now I'm going into my fourth month of therapy!

I currently pay $120 per therapy session (mine is high due to the insurance I chose) using my Health Savings Account (HSA), and I am thankful that I have a job that allows me to prioritize my mental health. If you're concerned about the price, look for therapists that have a sliding scale. This means the fee is based on your income. If you're in school, look for free resources! I've heard mixed reactions about free therapy, but it could be a good place to start.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I’m sharing this with you all because I want to create conversation around mental health and help end the stigma around therapy! I know in many places, especially communities of color, people don’t talk about this. I think therapy is awesome, and I have truly loved going! Opening up is HARD, and I've cried in a bunch of sessions, but it also makes me feel incredibly empowered and liberated. After four months of therapy, I have already learned so much about myself, and I feel much more equipped to have healthy and happy relationships.

We all deserve to be happy and healthy, and I hope this post encourages you to prioritize your own mental health! I am so proud of everyone who goes to therapy and makes an effort to prioritize their own mental health, work through trauma, and become a better human. I am also proud of everyone who is considering going to therapy!

My journey with therapy has taught me so much, and I am putting everything I’ve learned into a guide on how to find a therapist. This post will be launching soon! In the meantime, if you have any questions about my mental health journey, please ask! I want to be open and helpful, and my DMs are always open.

Much love,

Simone