I was 5 years old when I realized my great aunt, who I adored, was suffering. Of course, as a five-year-old, I didn’t understand what schizophrenia was or the real-life implications of the diagnosis. All I knew was that she was often upset and unaware that the things she saw and believed were not true. I remember loving her so deeply and at the same time being scared and confused about what she was going through. And I think that about sums up what most people who are living with a severely mentally ill family member must feel. While the love is still there it is often overshadowed with hopelessness. My experience with my great aunt and my own later battle with depression and anxiety have inspired me to become a therapist working primarily with underserved communities. I would like to help normalize seeking out mental health services because I know that in my own family and community, there is a stigma. And once I broke the mold and decided to go to therapy for my depression and anxiety in my late teens I realized how beneficial it could have been for my aunt to receive similar services. Therapy helped me realize it is okay to not be okay and that I am not a burden on my family, friends, and society. Talking to someone who genuinely cared and wanted the best for me helped me realize that I didn’t have to be so alone. It removed the overwhelming hopelessness from my life. I often wonder how long my aunt could have lived, and how much joy she could have experienced if my family knew to listen and get her help. Affordable mental health care and increased access to therapists and psychiatrists could have made a profound difference in her life. Unfortunately, high costs and limited availability often prevent families like mine from accessing the care they desperately need. Mental illness impacts not just the individual but their entire family and community. Watching my aunt struggle showed me how important it is to provide holistic support to both those suffering and their loved ones. Mental health challenges don’t occur in isolation—they ripple outward. I want to build a practice that addresses not only individual therapy but also community education and outreach to reduce stigma and increase awareness. I know the challenges my aunt faced were not unique. Many families experience similar situations, feeling helpless due to financial barriers or a lack of resources. My goal is to be an advocate for affordable and accessible care while providing a safe and welcoming space for healing. I believe everyone deserves the chance to reclaim their lives and find joy again, and I am committed to making that a reality through my work as a therapist. And that is why I hope to become the therapist that my community needs, one that could have helped my aunt. And one that will be compassionate and loving while bridging the gap for folks who may not know the benefits of getting help.