Therapy Specifically for BIPOC Adults in New York City

Your lived experiences are unique, and your therapist should be, too. Work with diverse, culturally responsive, anti-racist therapists who understand everything that doesn’t always get said.

Beyond "Toughen Up:” Anxiety, Isolation, and the Need for Culturally Competent Therapy

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) folks face a number of specific challenges when seeking therapy, which can create barriers to accessing mental health care. Some of these barriers might include:

• Stigma and cultural attitudes: Mental health issues may be more stigmatized in some BIPOC communities, leading to feelings of shame, fear of judgment, and a reluctance to seek help. Everyone wants to feel understood for who they are.

• Lack of access to culturally competent therapists: Finding a therapist who understands the specific experiences and cultural background of BIPOC individuals can be difficult. How can you be sure that a therapist who can’t demonstrate their cultural competence will be able to relate to the unique challenges you face?

• Language barriers: Whether or not English is your first language, limited access to therapists who speak the same language as you and your family can feel like a significant barrier.

• Historical mistrust of the medical system: Past experiences of racism and discrimination within the healthcare system can lead you to distrust therapy or mental health professionals.

• Limited representation in therapy materials: The lack of BIPOC representation in medical research could make you feel less welcome in therapy.

These challenges can all contribute to a lower rate of help-seeking among BIPOC individuals, despite the fact that they may experience mental health conditions at similar or even higher rates than the general population.

These are some of the things we’ve heard from our clients:

• "I feel anxious a lot, but sometimes it's hard to tell if it's just 'normal stress' or something more because mental health isn't really talked about in my community."

• "I feel down a lot, but I don't know if it's depression or if it's just the pressure of dealing with racism, discrimination, and microaggressions on top of everything else."

• "I feel like my friends and family wouldn't understand what I'm going through. They’ll probably just tell me to 'toughen up.'"

• "I've considered therapy before, but I'm worried about finding a therapist who understands my background."

• "I feel like I'm always carrying this weight on my shoulders, like I can’t complain because I’ve been given these opportunities that no one else in my family has."

• "Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck between two worlds, not fitting in perfectly anywhere, and that makes me feel even more isolated."

• "I wish I could talk to a therapist who understands the challenges faced by people who look like me in this country."

• "I'm hoping to find someone who can help me deal with my anxiety and depression, but also understands the context of my life experiences."

Your therapist will work with you to:

• Develop tools to manage anxiety effectively. You'll be able to identify the signs of anxiety and have coping mechanisms to calm yourself down. It won't eliminate all stress, but you'll be better equipped to handle it.

• Learn to differentiate between sadness and depression, and develop tools to manage depression if present. You'll gain a better understanding of your emotions and how to deal with them effectively.

• Foster a safe space to express your feelings openly and honestly. You'll learn communication skills to potentially build a stronger support system or find new ways to connect with others who understand.

• Become comfortable discussing your concerns, knowing the therapist can relate to your unique perspective.

• Learn to manage guilt and set healthy boundaries. You'll be able to acknowledge your struggles without feeling like you're ungrateful. Therapy can help you navigate these complex feelings.

• Develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging. You'll feel more comfortable in your own skin and find ways to connect with people who understand you.

• Regain motivation and energy for the things you love. You'll learn ways to manage fatigue and rediscover the joy in activities you used to enjoy. You'll learn healthy habits and techniques to relax, reducing that "on edge" feeling throughout the day.

Overall, getting better means feeling more in control of your emotions, your thoughts, and your well-being. You'll have tools to manage stress, build healthy relationships, and live a more fulfilling life.

We pride ourselves on diversity within our staff in every area, from gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, and languages spoken to therapeutic styles, approaches, and modalities. Looking for a Spanish speaking male therapist who focuses on trauma? We’ve got you. Want a therapist who only works with adults over 40 with substance use challenges? We’ve got that, too. How about a female therapist who understands what it’s like being a highly educated woman of color in a man’s world? Yeah, we’ve got that.

Our therapists speak multiple languages, come from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, and are members of different generations. No matter what your specific identity is, there is someone here who understands inherently what your lived experience feels like, and can combine that knowledge with their clinical expertise to design the perfect individualized treatment plan for you.

We believe in matching the right therapist with the right client, which is why we prioritize the perfect fit above everything else. When you work with us, you will begin to feel more understood, learn to communicate your needs more clearly, and create happier, healthier connections with the people you care about. You'll gain tools to manage conflict, express yourself openly, and build stronger bonds, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. We approach our work through a culturally competent, culturally responsive, and anti-racist lens. We are an intersectional and feminist practice.

Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American law professor who coined the term in 1989, defines intersectionality as “a prism for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other.” In other words, our gender, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, able-bodiedness, and various other factors interplay within the systems in which we operate, and we must address all of them as they interact. We must consider all factors that impact the systems in which we operate.

We Are Always Striving to Learn and Provide the Best Affirming Care Possible

We are always learning as both practitioners and supervisors, and we encourage our clients to pursue frank and open discussions with their therapist about how race, culture, gender, sexuality, and any other identity markers will show up in the room during your work together.

Therapy with someone who understands the unique experience of living in your body will empower you to live a more fulfilling life with renewed energy and a stronger sense of belonging. You will feel calmer and more in control, with tools to manage anxiety and depression, and navigate life's challenges. You'll build stronger relationships by first understanding yourself better, and then improving your communication with those around you as a result.

• You'll learn ways to manage those worried feelings and anxieties when they come up.

• You'll be able to tell the difference between a bad day and feeling down for a longer period. Therapy can help you develop tools to feel more hopeful and motivated, even when things are tough.

• You'll have a place to talk about what's bothering you without judgment. Therapy can also help you communicate with friends and family in a way that makes them understand you better.

• We will match you with a therapist who 'gets it,' someone who understands the challenges you face and can connect with you on a deeper level.

• It's okay to feel stressed even if you have good things going on. Therapy can help you manage those feelings and give yourself a break sometimes.

• You'll feel more comfortable being yourself, no matter where you are. Therapy can help you find ways to connect with others who share similar experiences.

• Imagine feeling less on edge all the time and being able to say goodbye to sleepless nights. Therapy can help you get a good night's rest and feel more relaxed overall.

• Feeling tired and unmotivated can be a real drag. Therapy can help you get your energy back and find things you enjoy again.

With the barriers affecting access to treatment by members of diverse ethnic and racial groups, the Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally. If you identify as such and you do not have Aetna or Optum health insurance, you can apply to the Loveland Therapy Fund and we will accept your vouchers!