People from different cultural, sexual, or gender identities can experience difficulties that lead them to seek therapy. A multicultural approach in therapy means that the challenges you experience are explored from the unique perspective of your culture and community. Our backgrounds and identities shape the way we view our struggles, progress, life goals, relationships, and so on.
Like so many areas of society, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) folx are underrepresented in the field of mental health. But being able to find a therapist who honors your lived experience is core to quality therapy and meaningful growth. It can be transformative to have a safe space where you have the freedom to express and explore all aspects of yourself – even when it’s hard to put into words.
Being able to find a therapist who honors your lived experience is core to quality therapy and meaningful growth. It can be transformative to have a safe space where you have the freedom to express and explore all aspects of yourself.
Do you often experience these or ask yourself these questions?
Difficulty Acculturating
Transitioning to a community with different racial-ethnic identities, socioeconomic statuses, immigration histories, sexual identities, gender identities
You automatically codeswitch in certain scenarios and this distresses you
Feeling inferior because of aspects of one’s culture
Difficulties trying to balance cultural identity with the predominant culture
Feeling like you don’t fully belong to any group
Manifesting in feelings of loneliness, fear, anger, depression, and anxiety
Cultural Identity
Hiding your fullest expression of your identities from the world
Fear, shame, or inadequacy
Discrepancy, confusion, or conflict between the culture you grew up in and the larger corporate world
Questioning one’s identity
Stigma about mental health
Wondering how to balance your personal values with those of your racial or cultural background
We – therapists and clients alike- are all socialized beings whose values, beliefs, and worldviews influence the therapeutic relationship. Even if you are unable to find a therapist who looks like you, it’s essential that you feel safe expressing all aspects of your identity.
Our therapists strive to hold space for open and human conversations about identity, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome all of you, even the parts that may not have been welcome in other spaces.
With this essential foundation, we can begin to:
Multicultural therapy is a type of psychotherapy that takes into account the cultural background and experiences of clients to help them address their mental health concerns. This approach recognizes that individuals from different cultural backgrounds have unique experiences, beliefs, and values that shape their perspective on life and influence their mental health.
Multicultural therapy aims to help clients identify and understand the impact of their cultural identity on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It also helps clients recognize how their cultural background may influence their relationships and interactions with others. The therapist provides a safe and non-judgmental environment for clients to explore their cultural identity and how it may contribute to their mental health concerns.
Multicultural therapy can be used to address a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. It can also be used to help individuals cope with experiences of discrimination, prejudice, and oppression based on their cultural identity. Overall, multicultural therapy aims to promote cultural competence and sensitivity in both therapists and clients, and to support individuals in achieving greater self-awareness and empowerment.
If you belong to a cultural, gender, or sexuality group that has experienced discrimination, oppression, or marginalization, or if you have struggled with mental health concerns related to your cultural, gender, or sexuality identity or experiences, you may benefit from multicultural therapy. Additionally, if you feel that your cultural background and experiences have not been adequately understood or addressed in previous therapy sessions, you may want to consider seeking out a multicultural therapist who can offer a more culturally responsive approach.
Every individual is unique. We want to get to know You and hear Your story! In our practice, we have supported clients through different kinds of struggles. Here are some examples:
Based on our experience and training, here are some thoughts to keep in mind when looking for a culturally responsive therapist.
A culturally responsive therapist:
We strive to be culturally responsive providers who are always open to feedback. If you have any additional thoughts on this, please do not hesitate to share!
If you have out-of-network benefits, your insurance may be able to reimburse you for approximately 50%-80% of each session after the out-of-network deductible is met.
Out-of-network psychotherapy coverage varies by carrier and policy. It can be confusing, but we’re here to help! If you aren’t sure whether or not you have out-of-network benefits, we can check for you. Just email your insurance card and date of birth to info@imagineemotionalwellness.com
Meeting consistently and stably on a weekly basis will help build safety and trust, which is essential for the work to progress on a deeper level. Biweekly sessions impact the effectiveness of therapy.
Often, meeting less frequently results in a ‘catch up’ type of session and does not allow for the time, space, and emotional capacity needed to address what goes on beneath the surface.
Depending on the level of our work, there are also times when meeting two or more times a week is appropriate, and that will always come from us talking and making that decision together.
Therapy can last any time between a year to many more, as long as you are still progressing from our work. The length of therapy depends on what you want and need, and what you want/need can be fluid and dynamic.
Healing and personal growth is not strict or predictable. You can start off by wanting to address something very specific (e.g. “I want to feel less anxious”), but through our work together could realize a deeper meaning to these anxious symptoms (e.g. “I feel anxious because I am terrified of intimacy” to “I’ve had very familiar experiences of being emotionally suffocated when I was close to people”). Realizing these deeper long-standing issues may then shape the focus and length of treatment.
Regardless of why you are seeking therapy and how long you hope to be in treatment, it is important to remember that your thoughts and input are invaluable to me, and the pace and length of treatment will always be a collaborative discussion.
Anyone who wants a space to explore and discover more about themselves can benefit from therapy. If you’re unsure, try asking yourself these questions:
You may not need to know the full answer to these questions to try a few sessions. Sometimes, mulling this over aloud with a therapist can help you sort out your thoughts and answers. That’s also part of the therapy process!
Here are 3 simple steps.
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