Therapy for Women of Color in Chicago
Stop. With all due respect, you’re probably doing too much.
Chances are you’re working full-time, going to school and launching your own business on the side—all while being the primary caretaker for your child or other family member. No one can get the number of things done as quickly or as well as you. You are a constant professional. You have goals you want to achieve and have decided to make the necessary sacrifice of time and energy now to reap the benefits later. But you’ve recently begun wondering how much all of this is costing you. You are over “the hustle.”
Simply said . . . you are beyond tired. You feel overscheduled and underfunded.
You know you’re running at an unsustainable pace with implications you’re already feeling for your overall health and well-being. You feel continually stressed. You have little to no time to devote to your own self-care. Operating on 3 to 5 hours of sleep is the norm for you. Fun has become a distant memory. You’ve been “making it work” and living life like this for so long, you’re not sure what the alternative might be for you. You’ve bet on future success at the expense of your current physical and mental health.
We know something has got to give and at your pace, you’re afraid it might be you.
But unfortunately, your feelings and actions do not exist in a vacuum. It is common for you to be the only woman of color in your meetings and professional environments in general. Code switching may be a way of life for you. Or you worry your intelligence might be questioned because of your accent. And you have learned the hard way you can’t show up at work as your authentic self because of how you will be viewed and judged.
Microaggressions are daily experiences for you.
You’ve felt implicitly or been told explicitly that you have to work harder to equal the success of others. Though unfair, you recognize you are viewed by most through their own filters of race and ethnicity. This experience has created a split in how you are often perceived compared with how you view yourself—affecting how you show up and move through the world and providing added fuel for the “hustle.” We provide therapy for women of color in Chicago. And this does not have to be your life. You CAN have the life you deserve. Learn how.
~Octavia Raheem
Therapy for Women of Color in Chicago
Stop. With all due respect, you’re probably doing too much.
Chances are you’re working full-time, going to school and launching your own business on the side—all while being the primary caretaker for your child or other family member. No one can get the number of things done as quickly or as well as you. You are a constant professional. You have goals you want to achieve and have decided to make the necessary sacrifice of time and energy now to reap the benefits later. But you’ve recently begun wondering how much all of this is costing you. You are over “the hustle.”
Simply said . . . you are beyond tired. You feel overscheduled and underfunded.
You know you’re running at an unsustainable pace with implications you’re already feeling for your overall health and well-being. You feel continually stressed. You have little to no time to devote to your own self-care. Operating on 3 to 5 hours of sleep is the norm for you. Fun has become a distant memory. You’ve been “making it work” and living life like this for so long, you’re not sure what the alternative might be for you. You’ve bet on future success at the expense of your current physical and mental health.We pr
We know something has got to give and at your pace, you’re afraid it might be you.
But unfortunately, your feelings and actions do not exist in a vacuum. It is common for you to be the only woman of color in your meetings and professional environments in general. Code switching may be a way of life for you. Or you worry your intelligence might be questioned because of your accent. And you have learned the hard way you can’t show up at work as your authentic self because of how you will be viewed and judged.
Microaggressions are daily experiences for you.
You’ve felt implicitly or been told explicitly that you have to work harder to equal the success of others. Though unfair, you recognize you are viewed by most through their own filters of race and ethnicity. This experience has created a split in how you are often perceived compared with how you view yourself—affecting how you show up and move through the world and providing added fuel for the “hustle.” We provide therapy for women of color in Chicago. And his does not have to be your life. You CAN have the life you deserve. Learn how.
~Octavia Raheem
Hi, I’m Tiffany Green & I’m a Therapist for Women of Color in Chicago
If you’re a woman of color feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, I’m here to support you. At Charism Counseling Center in Chicago, I offer a safe and affirming space for women of color to explore the complexities of their racial and ethnic identities and their role in perpetuating “hustle” culture.
As a culturally informed therapist, I understand that therapy requires sharing your most vulnerable thoughts and feelings—a process that can feel more accessible when there’s a connection rooted in shared experiences.
Together, we’ll uncover and challenge societal, familial and personal messages that have shaped your identity and self-worth. Our work will focus on cultivating self-love and authenticity, while addressing internalized feelings of inadequacy and scarcity. We’ll also explore the ways racism and sexism—on both macro and micro levels—have impacted your life.
Through this process, we’ll unpack traumas, foster understanding, and build the foundation for a more sustainable and fulfilling path forward.
Therapy for Women of Color in Chicago FAQs
What is “hustle culture?”
Hustle culture centers around the idea that working long hours and sacrificing self-care are a requirement for becoming professionally and financially successful. The concept is rooted in the ideology of the “American dream” and the belief that if you work hard enough, you can achieve your goals. This idea is common among both entrepreneurs, who are urged by motivational gurus to “hustle harder,” and full-time employees, who are encouraged to sacrifice themselves now for the promise of a better life as they move up the corporate ladder. Source: BetterUp
What is the negative impact of hustle culture?
In recent years, hustle culture has become synonymous with burnout culture—for failing to address our collective need for rest and self-care. Some of the negative impacts of hustle culture are less time allotted for self-care and life-giving activities like hobbies and spending time with family and friends, as well as poorer health outcomes indicated by increased risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety and alcohol use. Source: Leaders
Can mental health symptoms appear differently in women of color?
In a recent study, Black women with depressive symptoms were more likely to report somatic symptoms (e.g. exhaustion and insomnia) and self-criticisms (e.g. self-hate, self-blame) rather than stereotypical symptoms like depressed mood or hopelessness. The women in the study also reported irritability and a decreased ability to experience pleasure. Although this was an initial study, the findings could have implications for other women of color by making mental health practitioners more aware of a variety of potential depression symptoms and encouraging the medical field to develop more accurate screening tools. Sources: Every Level Leads; Nursing Research; New York University
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