Cary African-American Counseling

Mental Health Care for African Americans in Cary, NC—Therapists and Counselors

A number of barriers can hold people back from seeking mental health care, and unfortunately, some people have more roadblocks than others when they reach out for help. Psychiatrist, Dr. William Lawson gave an example of just two of the many barriers that African Americans often face when they seek out mental health care: access and quality of care. In a NPR interview, Dr. Lawson explained, “Dr. Satcher in his surgeon general’s report noted that there was less accessibility of mental health services for people of color for a variety of reasons. Part of it is that many of the systems simply aren’t located in proximity to where people of color are.”

Dr. Lawson went on to tell a story from medical school when he was taught that African Americans cannot develop depression—a gross falsehood. “Part of it is that many professionals simply don’t know how to diagnose properly African-Americans,” Dr. Lawson said. These barriers have had terrible consequences as a 2010 study showed that Caucasians receive mental health care at twice the rate as African Americans even though they suffer from mental illness at the same rate. Many African Americans and mental health professionals are working to remove the barriers that keep people from receiving the therapy they deserve. More and more, African Americans have access to quality mental health care.

The therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in Cary offer quality mental health care that accounts for the unique needs of our African American clients. Our professionals do not want anything to keep anyone from receiving the care they deserve.

Therapy and Trust

In high school, Jinneh’s mother passed away, and she sunk into a depression. A therapist prescribed her medication for the illness, but her family and friends did not trust that the therapist was giving Jinneh the best care. Jinneh did not fill the prescription, and she stopped therapy. Several years later, Jinneh was still fighting depression when her roommate suggested she try treatment again. Jinneh’s depression healed with therapy and medication, and now, Jinneh works full time, educating others about mental illness and mental health care. Jinneh’s story is told in The Washington Post’s article, “Therapists say African Americans are increasingly seeking help for mental illness.” Many others are experiencing what Jinneh went through—feeling distrust toward mental health professionals but also needing care. Trust is an important part of the therapeutic relationship.

Therapists must work to build trust with their clients. Trust is the foundation of a therapeutic relationship, and at our office, we hope to build up trust before a client even steps into their therapist’s offices. We believe in being transparent about the therapy we offer and in equipping our clients with accurate information about what they can anticipate from seeking mental health care at our office.

Our mental health professionals give each client individualized care. Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses, experiences and stories, hopes and dreams, traumas and triumphs. Our mental health professionals do not see a diagnosis but a person. Each client is unique and deserves unique care. Mental health care is a very personal experience, and clients often set the pace of care. Therapists are guide, but they are not dictators. Clients need to feel safe, and as their trust in their therapist grows, they can delve deeper and deeper into emotional and psychological wounds. They can thus delve deeper and deeper into emotional and psychological healing.

Our mental health professionals also give each client holistic care. People are whole beings and their whole lives matter—including their race, culture, and ethnicity. Some mental health care professionals advocate for a “colorblind” approach that minimizes a client’s race. At Thriveworks Cary Counseling, we advocate for an approach that emphasizes understanding and empathy. As African American clients feel comfortable in therapy, they often work through issues such as …

  • Discrimination
  • Racial trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Career advancement
  • Grief counseling
  • Divorce
  • Sexual identity issues
  • Child therapy
  • Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
  • Depression
  • Anger management
  • Executive coaching
  • Substance use
  • Eating disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Suspected abuse of a child
  • Infidelity
  • Addiction
  • Job loss
  • Psychiatric testing
  • Couples and marriage counseling

Our mental health professionals value a client’s community support. Therapists have not always worked well with their client’s communities, but at Thriveworks Counseling in Cary, we understand that a client’s family can play a role that a counselor cannot. Similarly, a faith leader can support a client in a way that friends and family member cannot. Therapists can give care that faith leaders cannot. Each piece of a client’s life is important for their mental health, and each plays an important role.

Scheduling an Appointment for Counseling at Thriveworks Cary, NC

If you are considering mental health care, consider reaching out to our office. Our therapists have appointments available. We offer quality mental health care that is culturally sensitive to our clients’ context. When you contact our office, know that…

  1. A scheduling specialist will answer your call and help you make an appointment. We do not have voicemail or an automated response system, but we do have real people who help our clients.
  2. New clients often have their first appointment the day following their first call. If you are ready to start therapy, we are ready to start too.
  3. Life is busy, so we offer evening and weekend sessions.
  4. You will never be put on a waitlist because we do not have one.
  5. We accept a variety of insurance plans.

Call us today.

Thriveworks Counseling Cary

People Love Our Providers!

Overall Rating: 5★★★★★ based on 9 5 1 9 reviews. See all reviews
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

BCBSNC CSP

★★★★★
Nicole Kilpatrick is a veryy warm straight fowarded person who has a heart to help others. She is very passionate about the services she provides. She is warm, friendly, private and loyalty is outstanding. She is a giver in many ways and it comes from her heart.
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Grief Counseling

★★★★★
Nicole Kilpatrick is amazing! She actually listens to what you say and helps YOU figure out what steps need to be taken. A good counselor does not judge or makes you feel less than....this is Nicole
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Awesome Service

★★★★★
Nicole Kilpatrick is a phenomenal therapist that is all about making sure her clients needs are met. She is very personable, professional and just a great listener. She wants to know you as a "whole" person and challenges you to be your best person. She is all about staying motivated while moving through the healing process. Anyone can benefit from her expertise and her stellar tips and strategies!!! She is so intuitive and knowledgeable. I give her the highest rating!!
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Great Therapist

★★★★★
My family has had the pleasure of working with Nicole at this company. She is a great therapist and easy to talk to to. She was attentive to our needs and helped us to work through our issues during a very difficult time. Nicole is friendly and experienced in her treatment modalities. We would definitely continue to see her and recommend her to families that are experiencing hardships and need someone to provide support and assurance.
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Highly Recommend

★★★★★
I highly recommend V. Nicole. She is so compassionate, easy to talk to, and has very practical information to provide about how to manage the stress of life. I highly recommend!
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Review for Shahin Sabouri

★★★★★
I recommend Ms. Sabouri, she is empathetic, caring and knowledgeable about human psyche, she offers many useful skills which you can take away with you, into your daily life.
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Review for Shahin Sabouri

★★★★★
In my experience with Shahin, I found her to be a caring, dedicated and thoughtful toward her clients and her clients’ wellbeing has top priority for her.
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Trusting and compassionate

★★★★★
I have known Dr. Bell for 8 years and from her work with Soldiers and families at Fort Bragg. She is compassionate, nonjudgmental, and extremely skilled as a therapist. She is super friendly and always made me happy when I was around her.
Thriveworks Counseling Cary

Managing Principal/Consultant

★★★★★
I've had the pleasure of working with Dr. Debi Bell both in group and one on one settings for the past three years. I've found her to be an ardent and compassionate listener, one who is genuinely concerned about the growth and development of individuals. Dr. Bell's warm and inviting spirit is easily noticeable and carries throughout the counseling experience. The competencies she espouses allows her to effectively work with constituents across various backgrounds and experiences, including military backgrounds. Most noticeable in my interactions with Dr. Bell is that she is an indefatigable persister in helping clients achieve maximum results in the counseling experience.
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Thriveworks Counseling

Schedule your first appointment with a Thriveworks Counselor or Life Coach!

  • 119 SW Maynard Rd Suite 200,
    Cary, NC 27511

  • Mon-Fri:7AM-9:30PM
    Saturday:7AM-6PM
    Sunday:8AM-5PM

It’s Time to Start a Relationship with a Thriveworks Counselor

It’s not easy, but we’re extremely selective about the counselors, psychologists, and coaches that join our practice. Experience a provider with skill and passion for helping clients make meaningful advances in their lives, relationships, careers, and happiness.


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