Finding a therapist isn’t just about booking a session. It’s about building a relationship rooted in trust, safety, and understanding especially for Black and Brown women navigating trauma, burnout, or just feeling unseen.

Here’s a streamlined path to getting the care you deserve:

Step 1: Clarify what you need.

You don’t need a diagnosis just a desire to feel better. Whether it’s grief, stress, or something you can’t name yet, that’s enough.

Step 2: Name your must-haves.

Therapy is personal. Want a Black woman therapist? Someone who gets your spirituality or doesn’t flinch at the word “oppression”? That’s valid. Write it down.

Step 3: Understand the system.

Only 4% of psychologists are Black. That’s real. But directories like Therapy for Black Girls or Inclusive Therapists are good places to start. And sliding-scale options exist.

Step 4: Research like it’s a first date.

Read bios, watch videos, and check their social media. Do they work with folks like you? Do they talk about trauma, race, or cultural identity? If not, keep scrolling.

Step 5: Ask good questions.

In the consultation, ask if they’ve worked with people like you, and how they talk about race and identity. You deserve to know.

Step 6: Give it 3–5 sessions.

You should start to feel safe, seen, and respected. If not, it’s okay to keep looking. Not every fit is forever.

Step 7: Ask your people.

Referrals from friends, coworkers, or church aunties still matter. If someone felt held, that’s worth exploring.

Finding someone who gets you takes time but you are worth that effort. You don’t have to settle for surviving. You can choose healing.

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