BookLife Talks with André Goodman

Former professional athlete and current mental health counselor Goodman took his experiences in both of these areas to pen Maybe I’m Ill, the story of a pro athlete forced into early retirement due to numerous disorders affecting his ability to live a normal life and his struggle to heal.  

 

 

My pursuit of that degree reflects my desire to serve individuals with shared concerns regarding their mental health and wellness. In my desperate attempt to comprehend my own mental state, I became passionate about the subject matter and the idea of helping others unlock stalled potential.   

 

 

Writing has forever been one of my favorite hobbies. I’ve dealt with social anxiety since I can remember. Writing became my method of communicating and releasing thoughts. Although I never viewed it as a talent, I always found it to be therapeutic. At the conclusion of my eighth grade year, I was recognized for a story I’d written in English class. I remember being more excited by that honor than the awards I won for my athletic achievements. 

 

 

My athletic background and mental health counseling educational experience actually prompted the book. My curiosity spiked regarding the NFL’s discussions of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). I have been diagnosed with multiple concussions, and I needed to understand the mental health complications associated with the brain disorder likely caused by repeated head injuries. I began researching suicidal stories of former NFL players with CTE and the common symptoms. I empathized. So, I decided to partake in the Brain & Body Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

 

Intrigued by what I was learning, I continued to educate myself on the subject of neuroscience while simultaneously being introduced to the term “adverse childhood experiences” (ACEs) and the correlated trauma. Along with United Way of the Midlands and Children’s Trust of South Carolina, I coordinated an event to help reduce ACEs in one of Columbia’s most underserved communities. I was mentally triggered by an eight-year-old kid’s murder threat. Motivated to better serve, I chose mental health counseling as the route that made sense and potentially filled a need regarding the lack of Black men in the field. 

 

I gained clarity about using my athletic background as an icebreaker with a population reluctant to engage in psychotherapy. Performance psychology was my focus as the director of player development at the University of South Carolina. This was an opportunity to merge the two philosophies. I thrived on one-on-one discussions with players, and it ignited a passion to counsel. Maybe I’m Ill is a story regarding my therapeutic experience as my first patient. 

 

 

I think Maybe I’m Ill is a relevant story now because mental health is becoming an everyday topic that our society is getting more comfortable discussing. This story has the potential to alter individual viewpoints and change the manner in which we converse about mental disability. Rather than a detriment to our overall health and wellness, distorted thinking can be managed as a tool for self-actualization. 

 

 

To eliminate my fear of the spotlight and chase my vision of who I know myself to be. There is a greatness within my spirit that has been begging for my attention for a while. I’m finally comfortable with unlocking the cage and releasing the beast. I’m confident my skills and commitment to the mental wellness of others make me an excellent candidate for advocacy.