Q&A
Manika Joseph
With
By Tamaika Joseph
Manika Joseph is a first-generation Haitian American living in New York. She works as a Psychotherapist and Community School Director. Joseph has human services, mental health, and counseling degrees from Hunter College and Alfred University. She became a therapist after noticing a need for people of color in this medical field and has worked to guide at-risk youth to better futures.
Mental health and people of color are reoccurring topics sparking many conversations, especially with the recent death by suicide of Stephen “tWitch” Boss. Stephen “tWitch” Boss was most known for his work as a DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. California Department of Public Health reported that the suicide rate among black youth, which for years was similar to that of their racial counterparts (Asian and White students), has doubled since 2014. The suicide rate has increased to twice the statewide average, far exceeding all other ethnic groups. Social Issues like gun violence, gang violence, police brutality, and poverty have been attributed to significantly impacting black youth.
Joseph and I discussed her journey to becoming a psychotherapist, what drives her process and her decisions to work with primarily adolescents, and the importance of finding the right therapist for you. Answers were edited for clarity.
Q: Did you find it difficult to find a job after graduation?
A: Not at all. Internships are a pivotal part of the education process, and through some amazing internships, I was able to network and meet professionals who assisted in my growth and development as a clinician.
Q: What moment helped you decide to take this career path?
A: I always say that I entered this career path for the wrong reasons. I entered the mental health industry in order to find healing. It wasn’t until after I graduated with my undergrad degree that I was able to reflect that the program did not heal me. After much soul-searching and a few breakdowns, I decided to stay. I stayed because I have always had a passion for helping people navigate through their trauma and falling in love with the process. There is no greater satisfaction than watching the people you encounter grow, transition, and work on their goals.
Q: Why did you focus on helping adolescents?
A: I call it the gift of gab. Adolescents are at a pivotal point in their lives where they are solidifying who they are as people. My focus on that population speaks to the overall impact of providing assistance. That point in someone’s life can shape who they end up in their adulthood. Developing working relationships with adolescents has always been easy for me. The youth are often attracted to my genuine nature and sense of humor.
Q: How does someone find a therapist of their ethnicity?
A: Finding a therapist that fits your needs is always a process. In my work, everyone is looking for something different. Everyone is looking for someone they can connect to. Utilizing platforms like Psychology Today is a key way for you to not only get a look at who your therapist is but read a bio to learn about possible commonalities, their experience, and their area of focus. This is what makes the consultation process so important.
Q: Why do you think there is a lack of black therapists?
A: I don’t feel like mental health therapy is only lacking black therapists. I feel that biases around mental health, industry, and communities of color are something the field has been working towards changing and shaping so that attending therapy is no longer taboo. So often and in communities of color, we are taught what happens in the house stays in the house. With that mindset, it doesn’t bode well for therapy, a process where you have to come and bring your trauma and your passions and lay them at the table so someone can assist you in processing your own emotions around the things that have happened.