For minority millennials, seeking out therapy to address mental health concerns can be a difficult challenge. Racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to seek out therapy than the rest of the population. Common barriers include the stigma surrounding mental health in minority communities, the fear of being seen as “weak”, and not being able to manage problems yourself or with the resources you already have.
Even after a person overcomes these obstacles and finally decides to seek the route of professional mental health services—the misconceptions about therapy can be validated with a therapist who’s not a good fit. For this reason, finding a therapist who is culturally-sensitive or has cultural humility, is an integral part of the mental health journey for minority millennials.
According to the American Psychological Association, cultural humility is the ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other-oriented (or open to the other) in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the person. For a person of color, having a culturally-sensitive therapist is especially important. Many minority millennials find themselves with dual identities, in unique circumstances, and with a certain perspective of the world around them.
It is important to note that the first therapist you see, may not be the one that’s the best fit for you. It’s ok to meet with multiple therapists before you find the right fit—not unlike a job-interviewing process. To make the therapist search a little easier for you, there are certain things to look for.
Taking these following considerations when looking for the right candidate will help your overall outcomes:
- You feel a sense of connection with your therapist.
You should feel a sense of connection and understanding with your therapist. If there is anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you should be comfortable enough to bring it up to your therapist. Just like in any relationship—honesty and communication are key.
- Your therapist seeks to understand your culture, race, religion, gender, and sexual identity in the first session.
These are important factors that can highly affect the therapeutic relationship and course of therapy. A therapist that practices cultural humility will find importance in seeking to understand how these factors make up your identity. Your therapist should ask questions and make such topics a priority when they are brought up by you. Your therapist should be open to learning about your beliefs and overall perspective of the world. This is a vital part of understanding you and your decision-making process.
- Your therapist considers your cultural values and beliefs in treatment planning.
When exploring interventions, you should feel that your therapist takes into account your cultural values and beliefs. A “cookie-cutter” approach to therapeutic interventions does not work for all individuals. A therapist that practices cultural humility will always consider your cultural values and beliefs when creating goals and suggesting any treatment plans.
- Your therapist considers your cultural background, views, and challenges when forming a diagnosis.
Along with interventions, a therapist who practices cultural humility will seek to understand your life experiences, past traumas, and identity concerns when forming a diagnosis. There are many symptoms that present themselves differently in different cultures. Your own symptoms may not show in the same way the diagnosis is traditionally presented. The emphasis of the therapy should be on understanding and exploring the entirety of the diagnosis versus solely treating the symptoms of your diagnosis. This is the difference between a long-term healing process and a short-term solution to your problems.
- Your therapist encourages you to explore your identity.
Your therapist should find it important to explore your identity—whether it’s bi-cultural identity, sexual and gender identity, or understanding the cultural values and beliefs that make up who you are. All these factors affect your confidence, self-esteem, and behavioral patterns.
Looking for these important qualities in a therapist will help you find someone who is culturally-sensitive to you. That being said, you do not need to have a therapist that has the same cultural backgrounds and beliefs as you to have a good therapeutic relationship. Open-mindedness, a willingness to learn, and a collaborative relationship are all necessary components to achieve the best outcomes in your mental health journey.
Feel free to contact us to learn more about how therapy for women of color can help.
