Therapy isn’t for everyone : A Harlem Awakening
Author: Dr. Leona Rae
Section: Mental Health
Growing up, therapy wasn’t even a whisper in my family.
“Talk to God,” we were told.
“Be strong.”
But strength without support breaks bones. And we are breaking — silently.
Here in Harlem, I see it every day:
The mom pushing past trauma while raising three kids.
The elder grieving alone.
The teen numbing with weed, not because they’re careless — but because they’re carrying too much.
Therapy isn’t a luxury. It’s oxygen.
And it’s time we gave ourselves permission to breathe.
We need to decolonize our healing. Therapy isn’t a betrayal of God — it can be a bridge to hearing God more clearly. It doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re brave.
I work with clients who look like us. Sound like us. Carry the same generational weight. Our stories deserve a safe place to land.
And if you’re not ready for therapy, start with one of these:
- Write a truth you’ve never said out loud.
- Take one full day to rest without guilt.
- Talk with someone safe who listens to understand.
We’ve survived without support for too long.
Now, we get to heal on purpose.
— Dr. Leona Rae, Mental Health & Healing Contributor
