By William Schroeder, LPC, NCC and clinically reviewed by Teri Schroeder, LCSW
When you look for a therapist, especially one trained in multicultural therapy, you may find yourself scanning bios for someone who shares an important part of your identity. Maybe you prefer talking to someone of the same race, who speaks your first language or who understands your religion or sexuality firsthand.
It makes sense. Shared identity can create an immediate point of connection and reduce the feeling that you need to explain every part of your experience. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that two people will understand the world in the same way.
“Just because we share one identity does not mean that we are going to connect on every aspect,” said Just Mind psychologist Myya Singletary, PhD. “Just because I’m a Black woman does not mean that I grew up in the same environment as another Black woman or had the same family.”
So, does your therapist need to share your identity? Not necessarily. But our therapists in Austin do know they need to understand that your identity and experiences belong in the therapy room.
Multicultural Therapy Looks at the Whole Person
Multicultural counseling isn’t a separate technique like cognitive behavioral therapy or EMDR. Instead, it’s a framework that informs every part of therapy and considers the whole person.
Culture includes race and ethnicity, but also gender, religion, sexuality, disability, economic circumstances, geography and family roles. Meanwhile, it does not ignore identities such as student, caregiver, immigrant, parent or sibling.
A culturally responsive therapist stays curious about those differences rather than deciding in advance what an experience means.
“A client is absolutely an expert in their own experience,” said Myya, who approaches therapy from a social justice, multicultural perspective. “I know some things. You know some things, and I am happy to learn about whatever it is you want to share with me.”
On the other hand, Myya said people shouldn’t feel responsible for educating their therapist on the ins and outs of their community. Therapists must do their own research while remembering that no book or training can tell them exactly what a client needs.
A Shared Identity Can Help, but It Isn’t Everything
Research on matching clients and therapists by race or ethnicity presents a mixed picture. Studies show that many clients prefer a therapist who shares their background and may initially view that therapist more positively. The effect on treatment outcomes is less consistent.
Myya noted that therapy style can matter as much as visible identity. Some clients want a therapist who provides a clear direction and acts as an expert. Others prefer an egalitarian relationship where the therapist and client share power.
Myya favors a collaborative approach. She asks clients what wellness would look like for them and what they hope will feel different at the end of therapy. That way the therapist brings clinical knowledge, but the client helps determine where they are going.
Naming the Elephant in the Therapy Room
Just Mind therapist Alvaro Herrera, an LPC Associate, said one practical tool therapists can use when they do not share a client’s identity is called broaching.
“Broaching is when the therapist brings up the differences that may exist in backgrounds and cultural identities between the therapist and the client,” Alvaro said.
Instead of silently hoping a difference won’t matter, the therapist might acknowledge it and ask whether the client has concerns. The therapist can also ask what would help them to feel better supported.
Alvaro said his own immigration journey helps him understand the internal conflicts that can arise when someone belongs to more than one culture. But he is also careful not to treat his experience as universal.
Four Signs of Culturally Responsive Therapy
How can you tell whether a therapist will make room for your identity?
- They ask rather than assume. They want to know what your experiences mean to you instead of relying on generalizations about a group.
- They look at what’s happening around you. They recognize the context of how family expectations, discrimination, finances, community and social conditions may contribute to what you are experiencing.
- You have a say in your therapy. They include you in defining what feeling better looks like, setting goals and deciding whether an approach feels useful.
- They can acknowledge mistakes. Even thoughtful therapists have blind spots. What matters is whether they can hear feedback, take responsibility and repair the relationship.
If you’re looking for a therapist who will make room for your whole identity, reach out to Just Mind to find the right fit.
Clinical references about multicultural therapy
- American Psychological Association. Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality.
- American Counseling Association. Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies.
- Smith, T. B., & Trimble, J. E. (2016). Matching clients with therapists on the basis of race or ethnicity: A meta-analysis of clients’ level of participation in treatment.
- Cabral, R. R., & Smith, T. B. (2011). Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes.
- Karlsson, R. (2005). Ethnic matching between therapist and patient in psychotherapy: An overview of findings, together with methodological and conceptual issues.
