Courtesy of Dace Brown

By Dace Brown

The topic of counseling is a sensitive subject. Many elders, though hurting, overwhelmed, and/or confused, forgo counseling because they feel guilt, shame, or embarrassment.

In the African American community, underuse of counseling is particularly common. Some African Americans may develop a phobia about counseling because of the fear of being identified as unable to handle their affairs. Seeing a counselor is often viewed as “taboo,” a personal deficiency that other African Americans regard with suspicion and disapproval.

Negative perceptions associated with counseling, and those who deliver counseling services, are not new. In the past, the mind was not viewed scientifically, so much as spiritually. African Americans who chose to seek assistance through psychological means were viewed as “stepping on dangerous ground” because they were risking their spiritual safety. Someone in need of counseling would first be encouraged to seek the assistance of a pastor or preacher.

Unfortunately, a lack of counselors with both aptitude for the field and experience of the psychological, emotional, or somatic dysfunctions facing African Americans has meant that fewer elders seek professional counseling. Many members of the clergy have recognized the need for such services and are now professionally trained to counsel individuals in their congregations.

Elders often see themselves as counselors for one another. Visit a beauty salon, barbershop, church group, or social activity, and listen to the conversations and advice being given by this experienced cohort. They laugh and cry with each other, facing situations as a community.

Suspicion and mistrust, often due to previous negative experiences with social workers and mental health providers, are common. In its most basic form, professional counseling provides an alternate opportunity for an individual to talk through problems and experiences with the expectation of confidentiality. Professionals who specialize in working with African Americans elders can help dispel the belief that counselors cannot identify with and understand their issues, and they must help elders understand that mental health services are not an unaffordable luxury.