So after 6 months I wrapped up my last therapy session and I am so proud of how far I’ve come. I didn’t think that therapy was something that could really be accessible to me, but I am happy that I took out the time to prioritize me.

I think we talk a lot about prioritizing ourselves and taking care of your mental health is (in my opinion) the most important aspect of prioritizing yourself. Whether it’s therapy sessions, journaling, hiking, reading, etc. there is always something that you can do to show yourself some much needed care and attention.

Here are some of my takeaways after my time in therapy:

• You should bask in the glory of your accomplishments. Be proud of yourself.
• Breathe freely and live so that confidence oozes out of you.
• Don’t minimize your accomplishments.
• Confidence and courage are muscles you have to build.
• Be mindful of your strengths and don’t put too much focus on your weaknesses.

We all have our struggles and we should feel comfortable talking about mental health struggles with people that we trust. One of the best benefits of therapy for me was having someone with a completely objective viewpoint in my corner. I didn’t have to worry about mincing words or being too careful with the things I shared. I could open myself up fully and learn more about myself as a person in that process. Therapy is a necessity, but unfortunately it is also a luxury for some. There’s always the issue of cost for mental health services and we aren’t all privileged enough to have insurance that will pay for it or an income that can support it long term.

The following resources can be used to help you find mental health treatment services, including affordable treatment for those without insurance, in your community: https://www.mhanational.org/finding-therapy 

Check out this article for affordable resources: https://greatist.com/health/best-online-therapy

Other resources for therapy:

• Cerebral
• Talk Space
• Therapy for Black Girls
• Black Female Therapists
• Inclusive Therapists
• Therapy in Color
• Open Counseling
• BetterHelp