BUFFALO, N.Y. — A new mental health program has been created to help neighbors cope with the trauma of the May 14 Topps shooting in Buffalo. It's called “Capacity Building for Clinicians of Color.”
This program recognizes the need for mental health clinicians of color to serve their communities.
Aleese Flunder is part of this first group through the “Healing Hub of New York.” She is the owner of Vines Talk Healing, a mental health service she founded to meet the needs of Black clinicians in Buffalo.
She says this new program will create new opportunities for people who need services and people like her who can provide them.
“Programs like this are the kind of guidance that prepares Black clinicians for private practice, encourages them to step up to become certified, and prepares them for full licensure. It makes it so much easier. Many clinicians end up engaging in community work because they don't have the knowledge of why or how to do it. It's already done, so it takes a lot of pressure off.” It makes you go through it. It alleviates a lot of that fear. And fear every day keeps people from moving forward with the things they need to do,” Flanders said.
The new program will allow 15 clinicians of color to provide psychological services to people who look like them and share similar cultural perspectives.
The ultimate goal is to develop these clinicians of color by opening private practices, obtaining full clinical licensure, and mentoring them to obtain full clinical licensure. .
In return, they will be able to serve people in our community. Flanders said the community needs more clinicians of color and said the community is still dealing with a lot of collective trauma.
“In response to your question, I've noticed that especially in the Black community, they are recognizing how their trauma impacts their daily lives. They are different and happier. “They have to live with this trauma. They don't have to be traumatized. They just have to live with this trauma. They don't have to fight. So I think they're becoming more and more aware of their community, which is great,” Flanders said.
She said the best thing you can do is listen to your body and trust your body. If something doesn't feel right and it can't be explained by an illness or a doctor, it could be a sign that something is going on internally.
If you or someone you know is seeking mental health help, many health insurance companies now cover the cost of mental health services. Please contact the provider directly for more information.
Other resources:
Aleese Flunder's Podcast: Is It Deep: Exposing the Elephant While Talking about Healing.
Aries Flounder's books: Journey to my healing:Ann Interactive guided journal for black woman
