Therapy Isn’t Taboo: How the Younger Black Generation is Prioritizing their Mental Health
Image Credit:RF._.studio _(Pexels)
Sherell Bienaime never imagined she’d be sitting across from a therapist, tearfully unpacking wounds she was taught to bury.
For many in the black community, therapy was seen as something “White people did,” not something needed to make them stronger than they already are. Raised in a household where strength was expected and silence was survival, therapy was seen as a weakness.
According to Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry, Black emerging adults experience higher rates of mental health problems and lower rates of mental health service utilization compared to White emerging adults. (See more here: Addressing Mental Health in the Black Community).
Sherell’s story reflects a growing shift among young Black Americans who are breaking generational cycles and prioritizing their mental health in ways their parents and grandparents couldn’t. For decades, therapy has been taboo in many black households. The lack of trust in the medical system, fueled by historical abuses against Black people in the name of healthcare, continues to affect mental health treatment today.
“My mom, she doesn’t believe in therapy. She doesn’t believe in people knowing your business, and she feels that it’s not really effective,” said Bienaime.
Some people seek therapy to confront the deep-rooted trauma they experienced during childhood. Wounds that often go unhealed can manifest in adulthood as bad habits, emotional walls and unhealthy coping mechanisms. These early experiences can shape how individuals navigate relationships, respond to stress and view themselves.
“I began to want to seek therapy because of my attitude,” Sherell said. “ I was told I had a lot of trauma showing through my actions.”
Through consistent sessions, she started unpacking the patterns she’d carried for years and slowly began to soften the edges of her emotional armor.
“I believe therapy helped me be more considerate of other people and understand their feelings,” she said. “I feel more emotionally in tune with myself.”
Therapy became more than just a space to vent. For Sherell, it allowed her to reconnect with parts of herself she didn’t know were buried under layers of defense. It became a space where she can learn her emotions and healthily display them.
Despite progress, challenges persist. Black communities still face disparities in mental healthcare access, and some insurance plans limit the number of covered therapy sessions. Others may still battle internalized stigma or feel judged by older family members.
However, as conversations around mental health become more open and inclusive, a growing number of resources are emerging to meet the unique needs of the Black community. Platforms like Therapy for Black Girls, a space specifically created to connect Black women with culturally competent therapists, have played a pivotal role in normalizing therapy and making it feel more accessible.
Websites like BetterHelp.com offer virtual therapy options that eliminate common barriers such as transportation, scheduling and geographic limitations, making mental health support more convenient and private for those who may feel hesitant to seek help in traditional settings.
“The fact that it’s being spread through social media a lot, I think it’s a big awareness for our community. Growing up, our parents didn’t know or they didn’t believe in it,” Beinaime said. “They didn’t have the help. They didn’t see that their children might need assistance and some type of psychological support. I think it’s very beautiful that it’s being brought out.”
Those who begin therapy early often see long-term benefits from improved relationships to better career performance and emotional regulation (See more: aft.org).
As more young Black adults reclaim mental health as a form of self-care and resistance, they’re proving that therapy isn’t taboo, it’s transformative.
