Getting H.Y.P.E.: Stone Mountain Counselor Incorporates Hip-Hop Into Teen Therapy

By Jim Burress/Chandra Thomas

Atlanta, GA – “I smoke a blunt to take the pain out and if I wasn't high, I'd probably try to blow my brains out.” The lyric from a Tupac Shakur song may seem racy for young ears, but one local therapist encourages some teens to listen closely. She says rappers like Jay-z, Notorious B.I.G. and even Atlanta's own T.I. and Ludacris are teachers whose life stories can help young people learn from their own mistakes and heal.