What They Didn’t Teach You in Therapy School
Six successful therapists, all women of color, weave together common themes of workplace burnout, personal trauma, and cultural challenges into a tapestry of practical advice, support, and sisterhood for those just entering the field of therapy and social work.
Dear Therapist, You Deserve More is the result of LaQueshia Clemons’ determination to redefine the meaning of success in the field of social work—a calling typically known for grueling hours and low pay. These heartfelt reflections offer guidance from BIPOC women who have conquered cultural, financial, and personal hurdles to thrive both personally and in their careers. It encourages fellow therapists to release limiting and stereotypical messages they have received from society and to carve out their own niche.
Practical advice on licensing, creating a private practice, and networking is combined with personal testimonies on boundary setting, healing generational patterns, and breaking cultural taboos to make their mark on the mental health field. Dear Therapist, You Deserve More offers unique insights into how to thrive as an entrepreneurial woman of color in a field where overextension is encouraged and often required.
“What no one tells you is that this level of overextension isn’t just unsustainable—it’s dangerous. It breeds burnout, anxiety, and an identity that becomes so intertwined with the business that you forget where you end and it begins,” writes Brittany Cooper. If left unchecked, these pressures, combined with the cultural challenges of scarcity mentality and feelings of isolation from managing impressions based on skin color, will eventually take a toll.
“I believe that personal stories of resilience can serve as powerful testimonies that remind others of the courage it takes to heal and the impact we can have on the lives of our clients,” writes Shontelle Brewster, LMFTA. “By being open about my struggles and triumphs, I aim to encourage future therapists to continue their journeys with empathy, authenticity, and resolve, ultimately fostering stronger connections with themselves and their future clients.”
Dear Therapist, You Deserve More features reflections from Danielle W. Turner, LCSW; Pastor Briggitte P. Brown, LCSW; Brittany Cooper, LCSW; Shontelle Brewster, LMFTA; Geena Lovallo Chiaravalloti, MBA, LMFT; and LaQueshia Clemons, LCSW, TOM®, AFC®.
“As therapists, we are always pouring into others, and if we are not self-aware, we can begin to pour from an empty cup. We are more than just therapists. We are family members, we are friends, we are human, and we have lives outside of what we do for work. If we are not taking care of our mental, emotional, and physical health while helping others, we are no good to our clients or our families, friends, and our life outside of work.” - Danielle Turner, LCSW
