Best Life Therapy Blogs - Grief, Anxiety, Stress & More
- posted: Jun. 21, 2025
Breaking Down Cultural Barriers - Mental Health Matters
Blog Post written by Vicky Alvarez, CEO of Best Life Therapy
Did you know that only one in three Black adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)? At Best Life Therapy, we recognize that race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality, and lived experience all shape how someone experiences mental health, trauma, healing, and trust. We honor a person's cultural identity and understand that we need culturally competent therapists to end the stigma associated with mental health care in the Black Community. We realize that people need therapists who understand them. We provide culturally affirming mental health care. Living or working in a predominantly white community that has historically lacked African American therapists has left many feeling like therapy just isn’t for them. Some view it as a luxury, an area of practice where the overwhelming majority of therapists are Caucasian. Fears about cost, stigma, and worry about being judged and misunderstood create real obstacles to care.
In some communities, there’s a deeply rooted belief that mental health struggles should stay private—that mindset of “what happens in this house stays in this house.” Many of us were taught to mask our emotions and present strength, even when things are falling apart. The result? We’ve learned to say “I’m okay” when we’re anything but. Men are taught not to cry or discuss feelings. We equate silence with strength, but the real strength comes from knowing when it is time to seek help and asking for it. Suffering in silence may have been a generational survival mechanism, but times have changed. Your zip code should not determine the type of care or the quality of care you receive. Mental Health support is available, and it has become increasingly accessible for everyone. That gap in the number of African American's who need mental health care and the number who actually reach out isn’t about a lack of strength. It’s about stigma. It’s about distrust of the system. It’s about not being able to find care that truly fits. Best Life Therapy provides culturally affirming care. We strive to break down barriers and address the mental health needs in all communities regardless of culture, religion, gender, sexuality or identify.
For Black folks living or working in predominantly white areas, therapy isn’t just about stress or sadness—it can be about survival. It’s about creating space where you don’t have to shrink, code-switch, or explain the parts of you that others may not understand. Imagine sitting across from someone who understands that grief, exhaustion, and joy can all wear the same face—and who holds space for it without judgment. The therapeutic relationship can be an incredibly powerful factor in successful treatment outcomes. Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is a primary factor in approximately 30% of successful treatment outcomes in psychotherapy. That means the connection between client and therapist—the trust, safety, and mutual understanding—is often just as important (if not more so) than the specific techniques used. Some studies even suggest that up to 38% of therapy’s effectiveness can be attributed to the quality of the therapeutic relationship. In other words, people don’t just need a therapist—they need the right therapist.
Sometimes family and faith leaders can help. But when those supports aren’t enough, therapy offers something transformative. It allows us to explore patterns, unpack trauma, and reconnect with who we were before the world told us to dim our light. Representation matters. When your therapist looks like you—or at least understands your cultural context—you’re more likely to trust the process. Even in communities where Black people are the majority, mental health stigma persists. Talking to a therapist can still feel like exposing family secrets or admitting defeat. Stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new strategies when we are struggling is hard. It takes strength. Therapy isn’t about being broken. It’s about breaking free, gaining insight and learning tools that can help you for the rest of your life.
Do you feel like therapy is a luxury or a waste of money? It's impossible to know that unless you have tried it and researched the cost. Best Life Therapy accepts most major insurances. For some people, they may have a co-pay of $15 to $30. Sometimes deductibles apply and for some insurances, the deductible doesn't apply to mental health services. Some insurances cover the entire cost of therapy. All of our therapists accept: Medicaid, MiChild, BCBS, Priority Health, Cigna, Aetna, McLaren Health Plan and private pay clients. Check out our website to see if the therapist you would like to see accepts your insurance. Consider how much failing to get mental health care is costing you and how much it could cost you in the future. Sometimes that cost shows up in work absences, poor coping strategies such as substance use or an increased risk of health issues associated with weak immune systems or high cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
There are some resources that may help with the cost of care. Black women and nonbinary folks who privately pay with cash or with credit card for sessions can apply to the Loveland Foundation to be considered for possible reimbursement for up to 12 sessions. This foundation created a therapy fund to provide financial assistance as a way of improving access to care for diverse ethnic racial groups. When a client sends invoices to the foundation within 30 days of a completed sessions, they could be reimbursed for up to 12 therapy sessions. After paying out of pocket for your session and the appointment is complete, just print the paid invoice from your secure client portal. We will help you set that up the portal in Sessions Health which is our electronic medical record system. To apply for the Loveland funds, simply click on the “Sign up for Support" button that you'll see after clicking here: Therapy Fund – The Loveland Foundation.
At Best Life Therapy, we’re committed to changing the narrative. Located in Davison and now in Flint Township, Michigan, our practice offers culturally-affirming and LGBTQ+ affirming care, with online/remote therapy appointments for accessibility across the state of Michigan. Our mission is to create safe, welcoming spaces—where your history, your identity, and your healing ALL belong. Visit our website and request your initial appointment today. New clients can use the request an appointment button to select their therapist, view our calendars and reserve your appointment, https://bestlifetherapy.net. Together, let’s redefine what therapy is and what it is not. We work with clients between the ages 6 to 100. Schedule with us today!
- posted: Jun. 21, 2025
Breaking Down Cultural Barriers - Mental Health Matters
Blog Post written by Vicky Alvarez, CEO of Best Life Therapy
Did you know that only one in three Black adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)? At Best Life Therapy, we recognize that race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality, and lived experience all shape how someone experiences mental health, trauma, healing, and trust. We honor a person's cultural identity and understand that we need culturally competent therapists to end the stigma associated with mental health care in the Black Community. We realize that people need therapists who understand them. We provide culturally affirming mental health care. Living or working in a predominantly white community that has historically lacked African American therapists has left many feeling like therapy just isn’t for them. Some view it as a luxury, an area of practice where the overwhelming majority of therapists are Caucasian. Fears about cost, stigma, and worry about being judged and misunderstood create real obstacles to care.
In some communities, there’s a deeply rooted belief that mental health struggles should stay private—that mindset of “what happens in this house stays in this house.” Many of us were taught to mask our emotions and present strength, even when things are falling apart. The result? We’ve learned to say “I’m okay” when we’re anything but. Men are taught not to cry or discuss feelings. We equate silence with strength, but the real strength comes from knowing when it is time to seek help and asking for it. Suffering in silence may have been a generational survival mechanism, but times have changed. Your zip code should not determine the type of care or the quality of care you receive. Mental Health support is available, and it has become increasingly accessible for everyone. That gap in the number of African American's who need mental health care and the number who actually reach out isn’t about a lack of strength. It’s about stigma. It’s about distrust of the system. It’s about not being able to find care that truly fits. Best Life Therapy provides culturally affirming care. We strive to break down barriers and address the mental health needs in all communities regardless of culture, religion, gender, sexuality or identify.
For Black folks living or working in predominantly white areas, therapy isn’t just about stress or sadness—it can be about survival. It’s about creating space where you don’t have to shrink, code-switch, or explain the parts of you that others may not understand. Imagine sitting across from someone who understands that grief, exhaustion, and joy can all wear the same face—and who holds space for it without judgment. The therapeutic relationship can be an incredibly powerful factor in successful treatment outcomes. Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is a primary factor in approximately 30% of successful treatment outcomes in psychotherapy. That means the connection between client and therapist—the trust, safety, and mutual understanding—is often just as important (if not more so) than the specific techniques used. Some studies even suggest that up to 38% of therapy’s effectiveness can be attributed to the quality of the therapeutic relationship. In other words, people don’t just need a therapist—they need the right therapist.
Sometimes family and faith leaders can help. But when those supports aren’t enough, therapy offers something transformative. It allows us to explore patterns, unpack trauma, and reconnect with who we were before the world told us to dim our light. Representation matters. When your therapist looks like you—or at least understands your cultural context—you’re more likely to trust the process. Even in communities where Black people are the majority, mental health stigma persists. Talking to a therapist can still feel like exposing family secrets or admitting defeat. Stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new strategies when we are struggling is hard. It takes strength. Therapy isn’t about being broken. It’s about breaking free, gaining insight and learning tools that can help you for the rest of your life.
Do you feel like therapy is a luxury or a waste of money? It's impossible to know that unless you have tried it and researched the cost. Best Life Therapy accepts most major insurances. For some people, they may have a co-pay of $15 to $30. Sometimes deductibles apply and for some insurances, the deductible doesn't apply to mental health services. Some insurances cover the entire cost of therapy. All of our therapists accept: Medicaid, MiChild, BCBS, Priority Health, Cigna, Aetna, McLaren Health Plan and private pay clients. Check out our website to see if the therapist you would like to see accepts your insurance. Consider how much failing to get mental health care is costing you and how much it could cost you in the future. Sometimes that cost shows up in work absences, poor coping strategies such as substance use or an increased risk of health issues associated with weak immune systems or high cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
There are some resources that may help with the cost of care. Black women and nonbinary folks who privately pay with cash or with credit card for sessions can apply to the Loveland Foundation to be considered for possible reimbursement for up to 12 sessions. This foundation created a therapy fund to provide financial assistance as a way of improving access to care for diverse ethnic racial groups. When a client sends invoices to the foundation within 30 days of a completed sessions, they could be reimbursed for up to 12 therapy sessions. After paying out of pocket for your session and the appointment is complete, just print the paid invoice from your secure client portal. We will help you set that up the portal in Sessions Health which is our electronic medical record system. To apply for the Loveland funds, simply click on the “Sign up for Support" button that you'll see after clicking here: Therapy Fund – The Loveland Foundation.
At Best Life Therapy, we’re committed to changing the narrative. Located in Davison and now in Flint Township, Michigan, our practice offers culturally-affirming and LGBTQ+ affirming care, with online/remote therapy appointments for accessibility across the state of Michigan. Our mission is to create safe, welcoming spaces—where your history, your identity, and your healing ALL belong. Visit our website and request your initial appointment today. New clients can use the request an appointment button to select their therapist, view our calendars and reserve your appointment, https://bestlifetherapy.net. Together, let’s redefine what therapy is and what it is not. We work with clients between the ages 6 to 100. Schedule with us today!
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- Photo taken at Flushing County Park, Michigan