People of color are less likely to receive therapy or seek it, leading to greater disparities and stigma around the idea of therapy. Atlas recognizes this stigma and attempts to break it through their unique approach to therapy.
Atlas is one of many programs within Rising Ground. It is directed at improving community safety through the implementation of therapy, namely Functional Family Therapy (FFT).
Last Friday Atlas hosted a community event at Devoe Park in the Bronx. The yearly event is hosted in one of the five boroughs and aims to promote the incorporation of therapy into the lives of community members.
“I provide free therapy as they’re interested [and] make therapy like a part of their everyday lives,” said Diamond Jones, a therapist in the program.
The community event featured multiple mental health organizations as well as other nonprofits aimed at aiding members of the community. There was also free food, entertainment and giveaways for those that attended.
“Us coming out in community, dancing with folks, eating with folks, we really want to show them that we’re a part of your community. We have a service that we want to extend to you, but you can trust us,” said Atlas Program Director Nijah Afflic.
“We make a very intentional effort from the first time we call someone to just be human, to just be relatable,” said Angela Simmons, a therapist for Atlas.
“I’ve met [people] by Domino Bridge and we’re eating Chipotle and we’re really talking about really hard, vulnerable subjects, but doing it in a way that’s close to the community and they feel welcomed and they don’t necessarily have the hierarchy of the office,” said Jones.
Many Bronx residents were in attendance, eating, dancing and taking flyers from the different organizations around them. One attendee sat alongside her longtime therapist Emmanuelle Jean-Louis.
“I actually was introduced by a friend and then from there, I got the contact information. I filled out what I had to fill out and next thing you know, I got paired up with a therapist,” said Coumba Sylla, Jean-Louis’ patient.
“I was a person who was like ‘I don’t believe in therapy,’” said Sylla.
Sylla, like others, was hesitant to get started until she realized there were people that not only looked like her, but could relate to her as therapists.
“When I see that I can talk to a Black therapist, I start to open up my doors for them because I feel like it’s important for them to understand that there is a community behind them that needs them. So for them to be there for us is a wonderful thing.”
Sylla, with the help of Jean-Louis, has formed a healthy relationship with therapy and gotten rid of the stigma surrounding the word therapy.
The emphasis of meeting people where they are is a driving point for many of the therapists who note the importance of not only making sure that patients are seen at an equal level, but are more open to therapy overall.
“It’s important for us to bring that information back to the community and let them know that therapy can be culturally appropriate, culturally confident. It can be real,” said Afflic.
Afflic points to the basketball court where people play.
“You may see folks on the basketball court, playing a one-on-one, and they’re having a therapy session. And you wouldn’t know. You would think they’re two homeboys playing ball.”
Community members read their ticket numbers as a raffle for a children’s bicycle is called out, mental health flyers tucked away in purses and pockets. Some dance along to the music playing while others sign up for therapy consultations.