What to Know About Therapy for BIPOC and Minority Clients
Finding the right therapist can be hard for anyone, especially people who have minority identities or backgrounds. Many people from minority groups, including those identifying as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), or as LGBTQ+, prefer therapists who also possess those identities. There are some good reasons to seek a therapist who shares your important identities, though it’s important to acknowledge the drawbacks. Ultimately, if you’re concerned about not being fully understood by a therapist, prioritizing someone who is proficient in cultural competence is highly recommended. This article will delve into these concepts and offer insights from Dyad Psychology’s Contessa Brown, MHC-A, who integrates cultural competence into her work and serves many BIPOC clients.
Benefits of A Shared Identity With Your Therapist
Whether it’s a matter of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, immigration status, socioeconomic background, or other facets of identity, there are some advantages to finding a therapist who shares your background.
1. Trust
As Contessa Brown, MHC-A, observes, most people naturally gravitate toward others who sound or look like them. This common human tendency can make it easier for clients to build an initial rapport with a therapist who shares their background. Foundational trust then sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the client’s experiences. Furthermore, clients may find it easier to discuss how their identities impact their experiences if they have a therapist who has those identities.
2. Understanding
Shared identities with a therapist can foster valuable understanding of a client’s lived experiences. For example, for BIPOC people, experiences of racism, prejudice, and microaggressions can harm mental health. A therapist who has these identities may be more likely to have an informed perspective on these issues. Contessa frequently works with BIPOC women, and notes the benefits of affirming and sharing experiences like facing microaggressions in the workplace. As Contessa says, when they work with her, “People come in without having to explain their Blackness and their lived experiences.”
Additionally, different cultures often have unique norms for interpersonal relationships and family dynamics. If your therapist has a strong understanding of your culture, it might be easier for them to guide you through situations that are heavily influenced by these dynamics.
Similarly, for non-Native English speakers, some people feel more comfortable speaking about emotional or difficult topics in their native language. Consequently, a Spanish-speaking client might be able to communicate more openly and deeply with a Spanish-speaking therapist.
Therapists who have navigated similar experiences as a client can also help direct the client to useful resources. For example, Contessa points out that for clients who have experienced poverty, a therapist who shares that background can help direct the client to resources that are not widely known.
3. Safety
Unfortunately, some BIPOC people report experiencing microaggressions from their therapists. Similarly harmful biases or misunderstanding could impact clients from a variety of different backgrounds.
It’s important to realize having a therapist who shares your identity does not entirely prevent such incidents. Moreover, skilled therapists of any identity should be adept at recognizing and navigating their biases. Still, some people may feel safer with a therapist who shares their identity.
Downsides of a shared identity with your Therapist
1. Limited options
While finding a therapist who shares your identity may be beneficial, the reality can be complicated. Unfortunately, racial and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented among therapists. For example, only 3% of psychologists identify as Black, even though almost 15% of Americans are Black. This reality might make it difficult to find a therapist with a minority background like yours. In addition, if you have multiple identities that are important to you, finding someone who understands all these identities might be difficult.
2. No guarantees
Even if someone has an identity in common with you, there’s no guarantee that they’ll understand your life experiences. In addition, individuals with multiple intersecting identities (such as an LQBTQ+ Black woman) might find that different parts of their identity are salient at different times. You want a therapist who can skillfully guide you when it comes to all aspects of your identity.
SOLUTIONS
All in all, there are both pros and cons to seeking a therapist with similar lived experiences to you. In fact, the scientific research is mixed on whether it consistently benefits treatment to have a therapist of the same race, ethnicity, sexuality, or gender identity as the client. Given these considerations, your individual preferences should shape the therapist you choose. And, regardless of the therapist you choose, it’s important to find someone trained in cultural competency.
CULTUral Competency
Cultural competency encompasses several key components. First, a provider must be aware of their own values and how these values influence their perceptions of a client and their relationship. Next, they should have (or actively seek to gain!) some knowledge of the client’s culture and worldview. Lastly, their communication style and intervention strategies should be appropriate to the client’s culture.
As Contessa Brown, MHC-A, puts it, to her, cultural competency means being willing to learn and be open. It means being aware of her biases so she can avoid their detrimental influence. A skilled therapist trained in cultural competency should be able to bring clients’ backgrounds and experiences into therapy. However, they also know that every individual is unique, so they won’t pin a specific narrative on their clients. Instead, they’ll understand what relevant identities mean to each client, as an individual.
For example, Contessa sometimes works with clients for whom religion is important. With those clients, she may incorporate prayer or other useful practices into therapy sessions. If religion is a useful tool for a client, she is committed to meeting them where they are.
Such a therapist should also recognize when it’s best to refer you elsewhere. For instance, Contessa might refer a client with first-generation immigrant experiences to another provider if she feels she’s not versed enough in understanding their particular challenges.
Group Therapy
Beyond individual therapy with a culturally competent professional, another option for people with identities or backgrounds they want their therapist to possess is group therapy. Group therapy often offers benefits individual therapy does not. These benefits include the fact that other people in a therapy group can have many backgrounds and perspectives. Here at Dyad Psychology in Providence, Rhode Island, Contessa brings her skills to the therapy group HER Circle, which helps people process emotions, release trauma, and reclaim their voice through expressive arts, writing, and somatic movement. In this group and other therapy groups, you may find people who can directly relate to your experiences, fostering a sense of shared understanding and community.
Conclusion
If you have a minority identity, seeking a therapist who shares that identity may be beneficial for your trust, understanding, and safety. However, there’s no guarantee that this therapist will actually understand you better, and this person can be hard to find. The most crucial factor in therapy may really be the therapist’s commitment to cultural competency, which includes a willingness to understand how your background influences you, without relying on stereotypes. A therapist who is skilled in cultural competency should be able to work with you effectively, regardless of whether they share every aspect of your identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why might someone prefer a therapist who shares their identity?
Many people from minority groups, such as BIPOC individuals or LGBTQ+ people, prefer therapists who share their identities because similar backgrounds can foster initial trust, making it easier to open up. Shared experiences can also promote deeper understanding, especially regarding topics like racism, microaggressions, or cultural norms, without clients needing to explain themselves.
2. Does a shared identity guarantee a better experience?
While a shared identity can offer significant benefits, there's no guarantee that a therapist who shares your identity will fully understand your unique life experiences. If you’re concerned that not all therapists will be able to navigate your identities, looking for a provider trained in cultural competency is a good option.
3. What is cultural competency in therapy?
Cultural competency requires a clinician to be open and willing to learn. They should be able to recognize and challenge their own biases while bringing a client’s unique background into therapy.