Impactful Coach

     One of the biggest stigmas in the black community is therapy. It’s a word that gives people anxiety however, in 2024 mental health has been one of the most goggled searches of the year. People worldwide are in search of healing to become a better version of themselves in order to prosper. In today’s climate the importance of therapy cannot be overstated. With an election just weeks away people across the country are feeling the sting of the ongoing impacts of systemic racism, and learning how to navigate the waters of stressors is what going to therapy is all about.

“It’s so important that the community understands that therapy is not a bad thing. If you embrace it and go through the process, you will come out better. But it all starts with the basic understanding that it’s ok to go to therapy. It’s ok to talk to a stranger who is trained to help you get to the root of the problem. I think a lot of the time people are afraid to face the problem and get through it. Facing your issues can often be what stops people from going to therapy but once you decide to face it, you will be just fine. In the black community, going to therapy is equivalent to saying that you aren’t going to church on a Sunday morning. It isn’t something that our people have adjusted to but are quickly learning that it’s something that can be more of a help than a hindrance.”

St. Louis native LaWayna Berry, is changing the world of mental health and healing. The founder of All Berry Coaching represents a strong foundation of education and experience with a culmination of decades of expertise helping people to overcome trauma and even help herself overcome one of the biggest trauma situations of her own life, she says,

“I came into this industry wanting to be what I needed for myself at a young age. I need someone caring and willing to just listen to me. I don’t think that people often understand what the power of listening can do for a young person. It’s more than just sitting and hearing someone but listening means that you are paying attention to what’s being said and the emotions that are pouring out. It’s powerful and I wanted to become what I needed. As a therapist, I have my own therapist because I understand the power that it has on people. I believe every therapist should have a therapist.”

Despite open discussions about mental health on public platforms it still remains stigmatized in the black community. Conversations around mental health gained momentum during the pandemic, as rising cases of suicide and burnout underscored its urgency. Berry wants to change the way people see therapy experience therapy by helping people overcome a word that steals joy and robs people of happiness, and that’s forgiveness. She has learned firsthand what trauma can do in her own life, and she was able to overcome it one day at a time, she says,

“Sometimes life can put you in a few strange situations that can lead you down some dark roads. Learning the art of forgiveness will help you through those times. While you may think that you can get through it on your own, it’s important to seek help from the start so that your concerns and issues don’t escalate into something worse. I faced the unthinkable in my marriage and in my motherhood journey. Trust, faith, and forgiveness were all tested at once. My husband and I shared one child. A beautiful little boy who was full of life and smiles. He would light up a room as soon as he entered and even in his short amount of time, he gave us nothing but joy. And when we lost him, like any mother, I lost a part of me. Learning how to navigate life without my son and learning how to rebuild trust within my marriage was not easy. In fact, I had family members question me and even through their questioning the healing had to be done within me. When people say that forgiveness is hard, they have no idea how hard it is until you are tested in the fire. I made it my business to celebrate my son, this gave me peace of mind.”

Berry welcomed the gift of celebration even though the loss of her child. Instead of having a traditional service of memory, they held a full-blown celebration for him in honor of the joy that he brought to his family. As a therapist, Berry is living what she preaches to her own clients and making sure that she is healthy mentally and able to serve her clients appropriately. By prioritizing her own mental she shows her own clients how important it is to take care of you,

“I don’t pretend with my clients. I give them honesty from start to finish. I let them know that I’m human and I let them know that I’m here to help them. I think when you aren’t honest it will be hard for them to open up and release. If I hold back it will show in my own work and that will be harmful for my clients.”

Now more than ever, it is essential for mental health experts who are making strides in the mental health field, providing critical support and addressing the pervasive effects of mental health challenges on individuals and society to be at the forefront of the black community. For more information, All Berry Coaching visit her website http://www.allberrycoaching.com