Jarrett Hill and the Quest for the Therapist Who Knows What You’re Talking About

Before he was a podcast host, radio personality, or a journalist
breaking major political news, Jarrett Hill was a kid growing up
gay in a religiously conservative environment. So when it was
time to come out, it meant defying the homophobic words of his
pastor who had urged parents to not let their kids grow up to be
“sissies”. He had first started seeing therapists as a result of
his parents’ protracted divorce and went intermittently over the
years. Finally, with the help of a particularly observant
therapist, he put it together that a pattern of thinking and
behavior he had experienced was, in fact, major depressive
disorder.


Jarrett Hill has found that the most helpful therapist for him is
a woman of color. He was used to opening up to women in his life
more than men and having a person of color meant that his
therapist would know what he’d been through and believe him. Dr.
Ksera Dyette, who is a therapist and sought help herself, talks
about how safety itself is at stake in a search for people who
share your cultural experiences. She offers advice on how she
screens potential therapists and the difference it makes.


Listen to Jarrett's podcast with Tre'vell Anderson, FANTI, here
or wherever podcasts are found. Follow FANTI on Twitter
@fantipodcast, follow Jarrett Hill on Twitter @JarrettHill and on
Instagram @jarretthill, and visit Jarett's website here.


Visit Dr. Ksera Dyette's website here as well as her COVID-19
Resources page here. Follow her on Instagram @cteacounselling and
on TikTok @drdyette. Visit Dr. Dyette's linktree here.


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Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear
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Help is available right away.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255,
1-800-273-TALK


Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.


International suicide hotline numbers available
here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines


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issues. https://johnmoe.substack.com/


John's acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is
available
here. https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-hilarious-world-of-depression/


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John is on Twitter @johnmoe.