‘Men are not taking me seriously’: How a Warren social worker overcomes race, gender bias
Like many Black women entrepreneurs, Heal House Mental Health and Wellness owner and independent clinical social worker Christina Anderson swims in a sea of “-isms” while navigating her career and business.
From a lack of representation to overcoming a lack of respect because of her age — her experience is an exploration of what happens when biases meet at a unique tipping point.
‘Misogynoir’ at a glance
When both racial discrimination and gender biases occur, it can be described as “misogynoir,” which identifies the uniqueness of Black women’s experiences. The term was coined by scholar Moya Bailey, who qualifies and calls out this phenomenon.
Despite the growing need for Black mental health workers and therapists in the country as reported by The Washington Post, and although women accounted for nearly 76% of all mental health counselors nationwide in 2021, according to federal data, African-American women still lack representation. Only 3% of the nation’s psychology workforce is Black, according to American Psychological Association.
Within the sphere of counseling, this disparity leaves Black patients at a disadvantage when seeking a mental health expert who understands their cultural background. This gap is one of the reasons Anderson created her company, which specializes in individual, family and group counseling.
“When I decided to become a social worker, I did it to create positive change in my community. Being on the ground with my community allowed me to identify their needs and figure out how to develop solutions,” she said.
Anderson created a personalized and applicable process offering Warren natives an opportunity to gain the emotional, mental and social tools they need to create a more fulfilling life.
“I’m an everyday person and I’m easy to relate to. I give my clients simple and practical solutions to managing whatever they are dealing with, from mental health to housing and community issues, and how to set goals for themselves,” she said. “I help people create simple solutions to their everyday problems.”
Self-determination and expansion
Anderson’s talents and comprehension and have allowed her to see the world of business from a bird’s eye view. She is the owner of two additional businesses: Phylum LLC Property Management and Lawn Care and Anderson Land Development. Like her counseling venture, she noted her other brands are driven by personal development and instilling positive change in her community.
Despite her aptitude and internal drive to succeed across ventures, she says she still faces challenges from her male peers.
“Men are not taking me seriously,” she said.
Regardless of any road blocks, she remains steadfast in her pursuit to make a difference. The successful business owner said the setbacks teach her to learn every step of the way. She holds on to her desire to be an example to the younger generation and Black women at-large, and she keeps on moving with a positive, customer-centered attitude and approachable nature.
“No matter the hurdles or barriers that I face, I smile because 9 times out of 10, those same people are teaching me something to make me and the business successful,” said Anderson.
Anderson understands that being a Black woman in her industry comes with its hurdles, but more than that, she believes in her ability to make a difference.
What’s next?
Anderson is on a mission to solve problems and she continues to expand her professional brand, provide mental health solutions and create a space for Black women to be represented in the industry. In doing so, she aspires to continue to give hope, empower women and affect positive change in her community and city at-large.
“I want to leave a legacy of hope, empowerment, education, and life,” she said.
To learn more and keep in touch with Anderson, connect with her on LinkedIn.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
