For so many intersectional communities including Latinx, Black, and those who are marginalized there are so many barriers to finding a mental health professional the most common are financial, lack of insurance coverage, language, transportation, and of course we have a huge lack of representation which can often lead to further trauma, dealing with racial micro aggressions, discrimination, and xenophonia.
We believe that access to mental health is a human right. We dream of a future where therapy is normalized, more accessible and includes our various cultures. We will always stand behind movements that further these values. We are so proud of you for starting this journey, you will be an ancestor one day and just like trauma can be passed down so can resilience.
In February of 2018, I lost one of my best friends to suicide. He was one of those people that could light up a room with his smile. I know everyone says that about people they love but even strangers would say that about him and any friend who I introduced him to. After he passed away I questioned myself, what could I have done differently? What resources were available that he didn’t know about? I spent the following months feeling depressed, mourning, and continue to grieve the loss of someone who I thought was always going to be there.
Through my grief and solitude, I began to think about how many more people would lose best friends, brothers, and Dads to the same combination. I began Googling and asking friends how did they manage their mental health? What resources did they know about? How did they find a therapist? Where do you even start?
I mostly received shoulder shrugs, “I don’t knows” and a deep sense of shame for Googling resources but never really doing anything about it. The story kept repeating itself, they just dealt with it. When things got really bad they would Google a topic but the shame, stigma, or financial accesibility kept them from actually seeing a therapist. The ones that actually made it to an office were split between people gushing about their therapists and people who felt frustrated at not being able to find a therapist that was Latinx or at least culturally conscious. I heard horror stories of racism, shaming, and even those who were taken advantage of. There was an even deeper level of frustration when I spoke to friends in the that are marginalized such as LGTBQ, Undocumented, Deaf, Veterans, etc.
At this point, all I could think of was the optimism of my friend. He always had a realistic perspective that I appreciated. I began thinking about what could be done to alleviate the frustration of my friends and community that I kept hearing over and over. That’s when I came across TherapyforBlackgirls.com, and I was completely inspired by the safe space that was being built by Dr. Joy.
To my surprise, I Googled and looked around but found no resources specifically for the Latinx community. That was when the idea clicked. As I began building the site, I decided to have a therapist directory, people sharing stories or experiences, and resources for people who want to become a licensed mental health practitioner. I’m excited to finally launch the site and see where this project goes. My hope is that through this site fewer people have to lose their best friend.
For inquiries, submissions or to donate please email: hola@therapyforlatinx.com
Todo lo Mejor,
Brandie Carlos
Hola! I'm Brandie Carlos and I was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. I was raised by my Grandmother Veva and spent a lot of time growing up translating paperwork and being that bridge person between my family and navigating resources. This was a big part of why I pushed to create Therapy for Latinx. I know somewhere out there, there are young kids looking for resources for their family or maybe a family member had their first manic episode. My hope is that through this website, community, and network together we can create more accessibility to mental health resources so our families can thrive.
My dream is to open the first tech start up in East Los Angeles and create opportunities and programs for more Latinx people to join the tech field.
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