Since this blog is called “The Muslim Therapist,” I thought it’d be only right to talk about what exactly “THERAPY” is. This word is for many, scary. I am a therapist. It is what you may image, being in a private room that may include a couch, neutral decorations and lots of tissue. Psychotherapy is a form of assistance from a trained professional that involves talking to client/patients regarding issues or concerns that cause or create emotional or mental distress in one’s life. Psychotherapy from a social worker, does not include prescribing medication, as we are not doctors. Therapy, not only involves talking to clients in session (for the sake of this article, the term client will be used as opposed to patient) but also giving assignments and other activities outside of the therapy session. The length of time for therapy can vary from person to person. For many, therapy is a safe space where clients can express themselves without judgment, like the “judgment-free zone” Planet Fitness minus the bagels, pizza, and treadmills, lol. But how does all the wonderful assets of therapy tie into Black people not “doing” therapy?
You Can’t Heal That Which You Refuse To Confront~Unknown
I am not implying that all Black people do not participate in therapy. There are more and more people in general who are engaging in therapy. In fact, with persons like Jay Z, who has spoke openly in his music and in interviews about going to therapy after his marital indiscretion, therapy has gained more mainstream recognition. There's an overarching belief in some, that those who go to therapy are “crazy.” Years ago, I thought this until I started studying more about therapy and realized that, I needed the opportunity to share my thoughts without feeling judged in a setting such as therapy. There’s a negative stigma attached to therapy and mental illness in general, especially in the Black community. As a community for Black people, therapy has not participated in a very large scale versus Caucasians. Sometimes we have thoughts that we cannot make sense of and we need to bounce those thoughts and feelings off someone, that can be someone like me (smile :-)
From a faith tradition, we have historically been taught to “pray the crazy away.” I am most certainly not calling anyone crazy, however, a lot of times, if we can’t quite call what it is we are seeing, then “crazy” is the all encompassing description. What is “crazy”, is allowing yourself to be in torment because you think that whatever ails you will magically be cured as a result of prayer. “Faith Without Works Is Dead.” Prayer goes a long way, but the road to success in anything does not stop at prayer. Prayer, in fact, is the beginning of tackling your problems or attaining your goal, that's the easy part, asking for what you want; the hard part is the work that is needed to address the problem or reach that goal. Therapy is not a quick fix and your therapist will not “cure” you. If there is any “curing” going on, it is all within YOU. Think of when Dorothy finally made it to Oz and the Wizard told Diana Ross (you KNOW we are referencing The Wiz), the power wasn’t in The Wiz, but it was the power in Dorothy and her new found friends. What I love most about therapy, is helping clients see the changes they are making in themselves. For many of my clients, they initially, look to me as if I am going to solve their issues or problems. They soon learn that the journey and key to their healing is all in them. I think fondly on the Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray movie from 1991 “What About Bob?” In this movie, Murray played a loveable, yet “annoying and overbearing” client who became highly attached to his therapist. In Murray’s fervor to engage in therapy, I remember Dreyfuss' character who was the therapist, coining the phrase “Baby Steps.” This little phrase covers in many aspect the therapeutic process and journey in which Murray's character Bob would constantly remind himself as he would face a challenging situation. Change essentially comes in small, yet measurable steps in most cases. These “baby steps’ are the building blocks to working towards success in therapy. My job as a therapist is to direct and coach the client onto a path that promotes healing. As a therapist, I see clients with milder issues such as adjustment disorder, anxiety and mild depression for example and I see individuals and couples. Most of my clients do not need medication or are opting for psychotherapy (talk therapy), solely. There are some clients who need medication, in addition, to talk therapy to help in their adjustment. Please note, this article, is an overview of what I do, but by no means encourages or even suggests that someone should not take medication if it is needed. What I do brings me immense joy because I can use my natural people skills as well as the well procured professional skills (that I paid a whole lot for in graduate school) to help persons work towards improvement in their daily function. If you are facing an issue in your life that is causing you stress and anxiety, take some time and consider therapy.
~The Muslim Therapist
