Culturally Safe Mental Health Care, Code-Switching & Confidentiality | A Conversation with Heather

Описание: In this episode of Black Mentality, we dive into culturally safe mental health care, why therapy is not just for people in crisis, and what it truly means for Black and African communities to feel safe in therapeutic spaces.

Heather (founder of Sokotherapy) unpacks the impact of code-switching in therapy, why clients shouldn’t have to teach their therapists about their culture, and how emotional safety is foundational to healing. We explore common myths about therapy, confidentiality concerns, migration trauma, and the importance of culturally informed care for Black and African Australians.

This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply reflective—highlighting why mental health support must be accessible, culturally responsive, and grounded in dignity, safety, and understanding.

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More from Tabvuma Mental Health:
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Subscribe to our getting started self-help package:
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Book your therapy session:
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CHAPTERS

00:00 — Intro & Welcome to Black Mentality
00:45 — Acknowledgement of Country
01:30 — Who is Heather? Background & journey into counseling
03:45 — From social work to psychotherapy & starting Sokotherapy
07:30 — Naming, culture, and the meaning behind Sokotherapy
10:30 — Mental health grounding practices & recommended resources
14:15 — “How are you really?” and meaningful connection
17:15 — What culturally safe mental health care really means
20:15 — Why emotional safety is essential in healing
21:45 — Cultural education gaps in mainstream therapy
26:15 — Therapy myths: “Therapy is for broken people”
29:15 — Finding the right therapist & advocating for yourself
31:30 — Confidentiality, privacy, and legal protections
36:00 — Why you shouldn’t handle everything alone
39:00 — Why therapy doesn’t “fix” you in 3 sessions
43:30 — Food for Thought: Giving yourself permission to just be
46:30 — Betting on Black: Community shoutouts & Black excellence
51:45 — Research on African youth mental health & social determinants
53:15 — Migration, identity, and intergenerational trauma
57:45 — Cultural adjustment, schools, and identity struggles

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Betting on Black (Mentions)

• Hawa Barnes (Healing / Counseling & Fashion)
• Amplify Black Women (Annette)
• Amari Gala (Melbourne)
• Sokotherapy