{"id":70237,"date":"2021-03-03T23:05:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T23:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww1.soothe.com\/?p=70237"},"modified":"2024-07-15T15:48:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T15:48:14","slug":"making-therapy-accessible-a-conversation-with-dr-ebony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww1.soothe.com\/articles\/making-therapy-accessible-a-conversation-with-dr-ebony\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Therapy Accessible: A Conversation with Dr. Ebony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s be honest: therapy is kind of scary. Mental health<\/a> is becoming a bigger topic of conversation, especially on social media. So, we wanted to talk to an expert about what it\u2019s like to go to therapy, and ways you can work on your mental health in a safe and effective way. Soothe\u2019s Kristin Malia sat down with licensed psychologist, food relationship strategist, consultant, author, and creator of My Therapy Cards, Dr. Ebony, to talk about mental health, making therapy more accessible, and how social media impacts our well being.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why are we so intimidated by therapy? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it’s hard to get the help we need, especially when it comes to mental health. In creating My Therapy Cards, Dr. Ebony wanted to address the main reasons that people forgo seeing a therapist or talking to a psychologist. According to Dr. Ebony, the three main barriers that stop people from getting the mental health help they need are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Cost<\/li>
  2. Accessibility<\/li>
  3. Stigma <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The simple fact is that therapy can be expensive. Often, people choose to forego seeing a therapist or psychologist simply because they cannot afford it. When someone can afford regular therapy, there’s the added problem of finding and actually seeing a psychologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to Dr. Ebony, only 4% of psychologists are black. This makes it harder for black people especially to find a therapist they connect with on a more fundamental level. In addition, limited access to mental health facilities, especially in lower-income areas, often prevents people from finding a therapist they can see on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Even with all the ongoing work to normalize conversations around mental health, there’s still a negative stigma associated with going to therapy. This stigma is especially prevalent among women of color, says Dr. Ebony, where historical stereotypes of strong, independent, and nurturing women still influence a negative view of therapy as a sign of weakness or being “crazy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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