“Broadly speaking, both psychoanalytic theorists and clinicians have been slow to examine how histories of race and colonial modernity implicitly frame their field’s evolution—its dominant paradigms and theoretical assumptions…”
—David L. Eng, PhD and Shinhee Han, PhD, Racial Melancolia, Racial Dissociation
Psychotherapy as a tradition and set of practices indeed has been shaped by individualism, Western European philosophies and educational systems. Such theories and lenses left unexamined as a result contribute to many descendants of collectivist cultures—including many immigrants and refugees—feeling misunderstood. Worse, unfortunately, over-pathologized.
However, the mental health field is slowly learning from mistakes. With educational institutions trying to interrogate systemic biases and blind spots, it will take time, commitment and much effort. For now, this is a work-in-progress, and needless to say shall remain so.
Largely, transgenerational stigmas and familial beliefs often restrict people of collectivist cultural backgrounds from seeking professional support. At times, economic factors, not understanding how to navigate the healthcare system and frustrations with insurance are also common obstacles. Minimizing and dismissing the need for help also are habits sometimes repeated across generations.
Quite often somatic symptoms in the form of shortness of breath, digestive issues, headaches, joint pain, and more, are only addressed through seeing a doctor. But, if symptoms do not meet medical criteria to warrant a diagnosis, unfortunately, symptoms get ignored, disregarded and often remain untreated.
What’s more, the word psychosomatic has a bad rap.
Generally speaking, in many collectivist cultures somatic descriptions are often a way to express feelings. Understandably, sometimes unresolved trauma—or simply not feeling heard or understood in prior treatment—also contributes to distrust and avoidance of help-seeking for both medical and mental health.
Find a therapist who you connect with…
Therapists are trained to work with people overall from many walks of life, backgrounds and life experiences. Some clients understandably seek a match by race or ethnicity. Meanwhile, other folks purposefully don’t, preferring a therapist of a different racial/cultural background than their own. Each may have distinct reasons and rationales. Either way, there can be both benefits and drawbacks. What’s most important is to feel enough of a common world view, or shared values.
Common ground between you and your therapist can be a solid starting point. However, how you feel responded to by your therapist is crucial. What gives you the sense that you are both heard and understood? Or not? Are you honest with your therapist about such feelings?
Is your therapist willing to not know?
Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD speaks to finding a therapist who uses an anti-racist stance
Find Your Therapist
Therapists are trained in many different ways, and psychotherapy approaches are wide ranging. With so many options, how do you find a therapist who is right for you?
Sometimes you might hear that a friend really likes their therapist. Would your friend mind sharing their contact information? Of course, a word of mouth recommendation is strong. However, you’ll also want to feel comfortable enough to speak candidly with your therapist about any issue. Asking your friend for referrals to a trusted colleague of their therapist eliminates any potential conflicts of interest.
You may be considering factors like cost, location, schedules etc… all important practical considerations. Because you will likely entrust your therapist with thoughts and issues that you may, or may not, discuss with anyone else in your life…
Do you have
a sense
of the style
you’d like
your therapist
to have?
With so many considerations, it may take talking with a few potential therapists before you select one to establish a relationship with. Rather than putting a lot of pressure on a first meeting, I like to recommend at least 3-5 sessions to get a feel for one another. This way, both client and practitioner have a chance to see how the relationship is developing.
As the relationship with your therapist evolves, you may find that you address your initial goals. In time, you may feel greater trust, from feeling seen and understood more fully. The process will likely reveal new areas that need your attention. This is to be expected with engaging a process of growth and change. Therapy can be a potent, entirely life-altering experience where you have a witness and supportive ally through different seasons and stages of your life.
- BIPOC Resources
- Asian Mental Health Collective
- Asians For Mental Health
- Black Therapists Rock
- Bridges Mental Health Asian Pacific Islander & Desi Directory
- Clinicians of Color
- Inclusive Therapists
- Latinx Therapy Resources
- The Loveland Therapy Fund
- Manhattan Alternative
- MCM Collaborative
- Melanin and Mental Health
- NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy
- QPOC Therapist Directory
- Therapists of Color Directory
- Trauma-informed Resources
- Attachment Focused EMDR Therapist Directory
- Co-regulating Touch Directory
- DBT PE Therapist Directory
- EMDRIA Therapist Directory
- Generative Somatics Directory
- Institute for Creative Mindfulness EMDR Graduates
- Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy Trauma Studies Center
- National Institute for the Psychotherapies Trauma Treatment Center
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Directory
- Somatic Experiencing Directory
- Sliding Scale / Low-fee Clinics
- Ackerman Institute
- Blanton-Peale Counseling
- The LGBT Community Center
- The Fifth Ave Counseling Center
- Gestalt Associates For Psychotherapy
- Gestalt Center For Psychotherapy and Training
- Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy
- Institute for Human Identity Therapy Center
- IPTAR Clinical Center
- National Institute for the Psychotherapies
- Training Institute For Mental Health
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. These resources are provided only for informational purposes and as a courtesy to further support your particular search.
“We need to call out our power inequality and oppression wherever it’s hiding to create sustainable change in society… compassion is rooted in the motivation to alleviate the suffering caused by all injustice… Fierce self-compassion will enable us to take responsibility and commit to doing things differently.”
—Kristen Neff, PhD, author of Fierce Self-Compassion
