Why Working with a BIPOC Therapist May Be Right For You
When getting ready to start therapy, it’s important to think about the things that are important to you in working with a counselor. That includes: the type of counselor you are looking for, the kind of therapy you want to receive, and the kind of perspective you might gain from your therapist. There are many elements to consider when finding a therapist that best fits you. Here are some reasons why working with a BIPOC therapist may be suitable for you.
1) You want to work with someone who has a similar background.
In therapy sessions, we talk about ourselves, our problems, and our lives, and actively work with our therapist to find solutions, coping skills, or even create a place of vulnerability. Sometimes, working with a therapist who has a similar background as ourselves can create a place of familiarity, connection, and understanding. Your therapist might understand your content, story, and culture. This can help you process your thoughts, feelings, and emotions without feeling left out or misunderstood.
2) You want someone who speaks your own language or dialect.
There’s an old saying, “When you speak with someone in your mother language, it’s like speaking from your heart; whereas, when you are speaking with someone in your second language, it’s like speaking from your brain.” In therapy sessions, we do a lot of talking to better describe our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. If we speak in our own language, it can be easier to express the words and phases that we want to naturally.
3) You are looking for a therapist who offers a different perspective.
Having a therapeutic relationship with your therapist can mean a variety of things: gaining insight, sharing thoughts and feelings, and getting different perspectives. Your therapist can give you a non-judgemental feedback from an outside perspective. If you know that you are looking for a diverse perspectives, you may want to consider working with a mental health therapist who is of a different background than you.
4) You can process racial trauma and racial discrimination.
When working with a BIPOC therapist, you may share the racial trauma and/or discrimination you may have experienced and, perhaps, that will make you feel less alone or put on the spot. Your therapist may have dealt with similar experiences of racial trauma and racial discrimination that allow you both to relate. Therefore, you may feel more open to sharing your experience with your therapist and able to better express your emotions.
5) You don’t have to spend time educating your therapist about your background.
We want to spend time in therapy talking about topics that you want to work on and get to the bottom of. When working with a therapist that has a similar background as you, you don’t need to spend time educating your therapist about that. It can take a lot of energy, time, and money if you have to educate your therapist on your culture or identity. In therapy, you want your therapist to get you, to resonate with you, and understand you.
If you have been thinking about starting therapy, these are some things for you to think about. Other elements may factor in when choosing a therapist as well. It can be their availability, specialties, age, gender, and years of experience. Be sure to take a moment to consider the qualifications you are looking for in your next therapist. From there, you need to take action by reaching out. It’s important to know that it’s OK to interview your therapist by asking them your questions to determine if it will be a good fit!
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The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students and international students.
Written By: Alice Zhao, LCPC
Photo credit: Alex Green, Andres Ayrton, and Alexander Suhorucov on Pexels
Date of Download: 6/14/2021
