Where mental health, culture, and faith meet

7 Self-care tips for the African immigrant

You have probably heard the term self-care before. Doing things that will replenish you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It basically means caring for yourself.Back home in Africa, a lot of self-care happens almost naturally. Random visits from friends and family just because they hadn’t seen you in a while, sometimes they even bring food. These were times of heated discussions, belly laughter, and may even lead…

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October 26, 2019

African-related / Relationships

Cultural clashes between African parents and their American kids

Yesterday, a client told me that she attempted committing suicide when she was 16 years old. One of the reasons why was because of the cultural clashes between herself and her immigrant parents. She felt a lot of pressure from them and didn’t feel understood by them. Today, another client cried as she told me that she just wished her parents would also care about aspects…

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October 19, 2019

Stories of mental distress and how to identify yours

You know when you go to your doctor and they ask for your family’s health history? Many Africans don’t have much to write, not because there are no health issues in the family, but because they are not aware of them. Maybe some health issues weren’t diagnosed. The responses to mental health history are even more scarce. The questions go something like this… Do you have…

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October 11, 2019

Mental help / Psychotherapy

Ways to find affordable mental help in the U.S.

As I stated in my last post, a major reason why African immigrants don’t seek counseling is because they believe they can’t afford it. Before you nod in agreement, keep reading and you'll see that there are a lot more inexpensive resources available to you. (Here are some answers to other questions people have about psychotherapy)1. If you are a student (undergraduate or graduate) at a…

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September 28, 2019

What prevents African immigrants from seeking mental help?

Seeking mental help is not an easy thing to do. Not only do I know from personal experience (yes therapists need therapists, we’re human), but I've met many people, Africans included, who have thought about psychotherapy and have given up without trying. After all, you are first acknowledging that you have struggles. Second, you are recognizing that your issues are beyond your capacity to handle. Third,…

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September 7, 2019

African-related

Why Africans struggle adjusting to the U.S. larger culture: Collectivism vs. Individualism

Many of the challenges African immigrants face in the U.S. are because they leave a collectivistic culture to one that is individualistic. In many ways their worlds are thrown upside down and their confusion may not be so obvious. It can be difficult for the individual to understand what’s going on, not to talk of trying to explain it to others. It can also be aggravating…

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September 7, 2019