Part Four of Family Eldercare’s Series on Navigating Racial Trauma
If you decide to seek support through counseling, it’s critical to find a provider who honors your values and beliefs, as well as discusses what is important to you. You may also feel more comfortable speaking with a therapist who is the same race or ethnicity as yourself. Therapy is for you; if you don’t feel confident right away, don’t give up. You always have choices, and are deserving of knowledgeable, empathetic, and effective mental health services.
It can be incredibly difficult for Black older adults to locate in-network and racially aligned counseling services. Medicare beneficiaries seeking same race/ethnic providers have less accessibility due to the limitation of Medicare coverage that only covers treatment from Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW’s) and not Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s). If you or a loved one are looking to connect with a Black therapist, the following resources may help you find someone who shares similar identities or life experiences:
In-Person Options in the Greater Austin Area:
- Black Men’s Health Clinic
- Colors of Austin Counseling
- Crave Counseling
- Austin Area African American Behavioral Health Network
Online Options: Expanding your search to online or virtual (teletherapy) sessions will increase your possibility of finding the right match for you.
This post is part of the “Navigating Racial Trauma” blog series brought to you by Family Eldercare. Each Thursday in August, look for a new post exploring cultural issues affecting Black mental health and how these issues impact Aging while Black. For additional information about Family Eldercare counseling services, please visit the In-Home Counseling webpage.
