By Marlena Brown
What are college students struggling with most? Is a therapist going to understand me because I am a person of color (POC)? Where does one look for access to mental health treatment? Are there different treatment options just in case one doesn’t work? These kinds of questions and reservations surrounding mental health therapy are common. The thought of starting psychotherapy can be intimidating, but more insight into the profession may help ease students’ worries.
Inside the Minds of College Students
If you’ve ever felt like you’re having a hard time in college, rest assured you are not the only one. According to the American Psychological Association, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem between 2020 and 2021. Students are swamped with assignments, some even working full time and navigating socioeconomic challenges, so they go without access to mental health interventions. In some unfortunate instances, students may not find help until it is too late. “College students are worried about balancing their social life, newfound freedom, drinking, and more in particular, sex and relationships. They have anxiety about dealing with everything all at once,” says Raven Walker, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who attended the University of Hartford, Connecticut, and received her license in July 2024.
The Problem of Access
Luckily, mental health professionals are working to improve access to students. Walker works for an organization that assigns psychotherapists to schools as needed. She has worked in one of the worst schools in Massachusetts, witnessing firsthand how socioeconomic status plays an extensive role in mental health. There, students face traumas like gun violence, the death of parents, and physical and sexual abuse while being shifted between foster homes. The schools are worse, and the students have less opportunity. Underfunded schools are more likely to have a higher percentage of black students. Students who live in these areas are less likely to attend therapy outside of school because their families can’t afford it. As Raven Walker says, “If you are not given access, then how do you hope to make a change.”
Racial Bias in the Mental Health Field
One question POC often ask is, will my therapist and I relate to each other because I am a person of color? This is a valid question, as the health service psychology workforce as of 2018 was 88 percent white, while only 12 percent made up racial and ethnic minorities, according to the American Psychological Association. In addition, ethnic minorities have reported higher rates of perceived discrimination than whites. Cultivating a safe space is imperative to the client’s success and relating to your therapist can be an important facet of treatment.
A millennial woman of African American descent, Walker began studying clinical social work as she felt she could provide guidance to those who identify similarly. Early on, she was labeled the ‘therapist’ of her friend group, as her peers felt they could talk to her without judgment. Walker’s family called her the emotional child, the crier, but she says, “I wasn’t the emotional child, we just weren’t communicating effectively, which I realize now.”
A culturally based approach, where the practitioner relies on intergenerational knowledge for those within her same ethnic group, and culturally informed therapy, in which the psychotherapist emphasizes understanding the client’s background as it relates to their race, is key for supporting patients who are POC, in Walker’s experience. Instead of worrying about whether their therapist has hidden racial bias, the client can fully submit to the healing process, which allows for a preferable experience for both parties.
Regardless of race, ethnic background, or political views, Walker respects the clients’ opinions so they feel comfortable. Some of her clients have differing political and religious views. In that case, Walker is slightly more aware of her language to accommodate the client.
The Best Treatment Methods
With more opportunities becoming readily available, practitioners can focus on the most effective treatment methods. Walker finds that some of the most effective for her clientele are:
- Motivational interviewing
- strength-based approach
- culturally based approach
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- recreational therapy
Many of Walker’s younger clients benefit from hitting a punching bag to release anger and stress. Students 14 to 18 years old tend to have low self-esteem, and she insists on building confidence in their capabilities and showing them their worth. For students 16 to 18 years old, she urges teaching them emotion regulation skills before they get older. There are several forms of therapy, so don’t worry about not Similarly, some of the most popular types of psychotherapy among all therapists are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Exposure therapy
- Interpersonal therapy
- Therapy pets
Feelings Towards the Job
Some may fear that therapists may not care or like their job, so they just won’t bother to start therapy. This is the complete opposite for Walker, who feels that she would have wound up in the same field no matter what. Walker was originally on track to become a physical therapist but was required to take a psychology class as a part of her degree and decided to take sports psychology. While enrolled in that class, she realized how much she enjoyed it and so decided to change her major.
She prides herself on being able to balance being playful but serious when necessary. Walker loves working with younger clients as well. Her high school students “Put her onto so much game, plus they are extremely fun.” She says there are days when her energy is lacking, but once she sees her students, they lift her energy immediately.
Nobody is perfect, so there must be something a therapist doesn’t like about the job.
Walker’s answer is “Paperwork! I hate having to complete all the paperwork. If someone could complete all my paperwork for me, then the job would be absolutely perfect.” Her only other complaint is the pay. The average mental health therapist makes $44,914 with one year of experience. Many mental health practitioners feel they should be compensated better. Practitioners have heavy caseloads but have yet to see a wage increase. However, Walker is here to stay. She says that she loves helping others, and one of her favorite parts is getting to tag along on the incredible journey with her clients.
Resources
Recognizing you need help from a professional is undoubtedly a brave first step. Accepting help, and access to it should be available for all. No matter your ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, values, or identity, there is a therapist out there who will understand you. If they are anything like Raven Walker, you’ll be sure to be in good hands.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 24/7
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 24/7
