Fall in love with the Black founders providing free therapy for WOC
It’s 2021 and if you’re feeling depressed and overwhelmed with anxiety, finding a therapist can seem unattainable with all the different waves of emotions. We get it, no judgment at all. Though it may seem like the energy of a new year requires you to be “the best version of yourself,” we’re here to help you reframe that mindset. I’ve taken time to connect with Black and Brown women over the past months and I’ve learned, we are taught to handle trauma and feelings with either avoidance, strength, or and survival. Our cultural pride can sometimes hold us back from being truly vulnerable with others. According to a study conducted by CLASP (The Center for Law and Social Policy) statistics showed that 19.1% of young Black women and 16.1% of young Hispanic women reported that they did not seek mental health treatment because of confidentiality concerns. It’s no secret that within the Latinx community there’s a huge stigma around mental health. For some, the fear of being exposed seems heavier than working through whatever they’re enduring. It’s proven, therapeutic methods can serve as parallels to recovering one’s mental health. Hence why we’re encouraging you to heal and honor yourself through free resources from DRK Beauty Healing. In response to the global pandemic and radical injustices deeply impacting women of color, the brand is providing 10,000 hours of free therapy to women of color across the country who have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
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Founders Wilma Mae Basta and Danielle Jackson debuted the community platform in hopes that their mental health initiative would spark conversations and change within multicultural communities. “We knew the effects of COVID-19 were going to wreak havoc on our community from a mental, financial and communal standpoint and so immediately found a way and make sure that we could be of service by providing free therapy,” both tell Latina Watch. “In 2021 we look to continue to forge forward with DRK Beauty Healing and continue to provide free therapy for womxn of color,” affirm Basta and Jackson.
The two Black beauty entrepreneurs believe DRK Beauty Healings’ mission to blend the powerful mix of community, psychological, spiritual, and physical needs will empower anyone’s wellness journey. “The younger Latinx and Black generations albeit very receptive and forward-thinking, still have to contend with the older generations that still stigmatize therapy,” explain the cutting-edge leaders. Basta and Jackson continue with “Culturally, we are taught to hold back from expressing our emotions and work harder than our non-Black or POC peers. Publicly we are made to believe that in order to survive we have to conform to what society decides we should be. The aforementioned compounded on the fact that shame can easily transcend generations it, unfortunately, leaves the younger generations with that nagging feeling where seeing a clinician or therapist is wrong.”
The thought of seeking help can be seen as a weakness, yet the businesswomen want us to be gentle with ourselves and find their people. For those who struggle with duality within identity, Basta and Jackson aid us to look for someone who is culturally competent. Whether you identify as Black-Latina, Latinx, Indengious, or non-gender conforming, it’s important to find your community during these trying times. “Healing, in general, is particularly important for anyone who finds themselves within the minority. One’s identity often isn’t the trigger, it’s more often those around them,” explain the Black founders. They both continue to further the conversation by illustration, “Healing and support are ideal in providing not only having a safe space but more importantly providing the emotional tools needed to combat the actions of naïve family, friends, employers, and even strangers.”
Reflecting on their personal experiences, Jackson recalls learning about the importance of mental health from her mother. For Basta, the topic of mental health was never discussed in her household growing up. “As a child my mother always made sure to enforce the importance of having open and honest conversations – no topic was off the table even if that meant her finding a therapist for me,” Jackson tells Latina Watch. As Basta remembers a time 10 years ago, where she never gave up on her mental health, she reveals a time when she hit a breaking point. “As a Black woman, it was an unspoken rule that I had to be strong in all situations and persevere. It wasn’t until I had my own ‘breakdown’ ten years ago and spent 6 weeks in a psychiatric hospital, that I was forced to come face to face with my own mental health. In my reduced capacity, I made a decision not to carry shame about what I was going through. It was this experience that inspired me to create our DRK Beauty Healing free therapy initiative,” she shares with us. Basta shares her experience, strength, and hope in light to inspire others to participate in their personal recovery back to self.
In closing, both Jackson and Basta want women of color to remember, they can move on from medical professionals who no longer serve them. “Shop around, interview, and look at reviews — Don’t settle just because.”They continue with, “Your mental health is of utmost importance and to settle with someone who doesn’t serve you does you a disservice more than anything.”
For more information on FREE therapy visit the following below:
1.Visit www.thisisdrkbeauty.com/drk-healing
2. Find prefer state
3. Reach out directly to a therapist via email to set up your first appointment.