Being Black or Brown in America comes with a set of grueling battles.

Systemic oppression, discrimination, and racism, along with violence, immigration, mass incarceration, and other stressors, may deeply affect your well-being. The emotional distress and racial trauma associated with navigating white spaces and ongoing disparities can be excruciating.

Yet, within this sea of challenges, therapy offers an opportunity to find healing and hope.

At Centering Wholeness Counseling, we provide online therapy for Black and Brown adults living in New York and Ohio, delivered by Black and Brown therapists. Our mission is to offer culturally affirming, convenient, and holistic counseling to disrupt the cycle of intergenerational trauma and foster mental wellness as a human right.

If you are looking for support that centers on your journey and intersections as a Black or Brown individual, you are in the right place.

Call 614-896-3599 or contact us to schedule a free consultation and begin your path to wholeness.

What Is Therapy for Black and Brown People?

Therapy for Black and Brown people is counseling centered on the experiences of Black and Brown communities.

It consists of meeting with a culturally competent therapist to address the distinct issues you face as a Black and Brown individual in all your intersections (heritage, gender identity, sexual orientation, spiritual values, socioeconomic background, and more). You will have brave, honest, and transformative conversations where you can fully show up without reservations.

The goal is to give you a nurturing and compassionate environment to explore yourself, overcome challenges, and heal from trauma. Your counselor will understand your situation and how history, social and cultural context, and systemic barriers play a part in your world.

What Can Therapy for Black and Brown People Help With?

Therapy can help you manage a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, such as:

• Anger

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Depression

• Emotional and social withdrawal

• Insomnia or trouble sleeping

• Lack of confidence and low self-esteem

• Relationship and family problems

• Stress

• Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Therapy for Black and Brown people can support you with these issues as well as the unique hardship you might encounter as a Black or Brown individual, which includes:

• Discrimination, racism, and oppression

• Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse

• Fear and shame

• Immigration problems (e.g., isolation, language barriers, disconnection, xenophobia)

• Mass incarceration (e.g., being detained or arrested, caregiver incarceration, living in an overpoliced community)

• Microaggressions 

• Racial and intergenerational trauma

• Racial battle fatigue

• The stigma of mental health (e.g., ignoring or underestimating mental health issues or seeing them as shortcomings)

• Systemic inequities (e.g., reduced access to education, healthcare, housing, and other resources)

• Violent physical or verbal attacks

If you are struggling with any of the above challenges or are looking for a sensitive and open space to explore and learn about yourself, we are here for you.

How Can Culturally Affirming Therapy Support Black and Brown People?

Culturally affirming therapy can help you feel seen, heard, and accepted for who you are—no code-switch or need to hide or downplay your identity. You will gain insight into yourself, your ancestry wisdom, and how your experiences as a Black or Brown individual might have shaped your path.

Your counselor will be well-versed in your reality, so instead of spending valuable time painting a picture of the cultural and racial nuances around your issues, you can focus on being present and speaking your truth.

Throughout this healing journey, you will develop a stronger connection with yourself based on compassion, love, and self-worth. You will get a better understanding of your trauma and other difficulties, dive into their lineage and roots, and allow space to process them.

Therapy can also support you to challenge any thoughts, beliefs, and behavior patterns that may not serve you. Your therapist will offer strategies and community resources to reduce distress, create positive change, and build meaningful relationships.

Black Mental Health at Centering Wholeness Counseling | Therapists of Color in New York and Ohio

We recognize that Black and Brown communities are not only less likely to seek mental health support, but they also face added barriers to quality treatment (e.g., shortage of non-white therapists, lack of health insurance, mistrust in the healthcare system). But we also know they are strong, resilient, and capable of liberation.

Centering Wholeness Counseling is a Black-owned practice offering mental health services to honor and uplift Black and Brown adults in New York and Ohio. Our services are delivered online and in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Twi.

Our therapists of color understand firsthand what it’s like to navigate the world as Black or Brown individuals. Yet, we also acknowledge every human is unique and precious in its own way, so we center our care on your individual story.

We approach counseling from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and relational lens. This means we value the power of relationships, particularly the therapeutic relationship, and understand the complexity of trauma and its implications. We also rely on multicultural theories and evidence-based interventions to help you thrive.

Your therapy journey will start with a 1:1 consultation—15 minutes to chat about what you hope to gain from therapy, ask questions, and decide if we are a good match. If we both agree on moving forward, we’ll send you our intake paperwork and schedule your first session. We will create a treatment plan according to your needs, meeting regularly to work on your issues and accomplish your goals.

This quest can be as long or as short as you deem necessary. We are here to meet you where you are and will continue to support you as long as you need us. For more information about what to expect, visit our FAQ page.

Let’s Collaborate.

We know the road to wellness is not easy, especially when the world puts you down and makes you feel “less than.”

But you are not less than. You are exceptional. 

And you deserve love, joy, and community, just like every other human being. 

Let’s work together to stand tall in your truth and regain your wholeness.

Call 614-896-3599 or click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.