Top-Rated BIPOC Therapists NYC: Healing & Support for People of Color
BIPOC Therapists
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 BIPOC therapy in New York.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) folks can face a number of specific challenges of race based stress when seeking therapy, which can create barriers to accessing mental health care.
These challenges can all contribute to a lower likelihood of BIPOC individuals seeking support, despite the fact that they may experience mental health conditions at similar or even higher rates than the general population.
Some of these barriers might include:
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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 within their unique racial identity.
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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?
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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. Working with a BIPOC therapist who understands your culture is important in feeling a strong therapeutic alliance.
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Past experiences of racial trauma, systemic oppression, and discrimination within the healthcare system can lead you to distrust therapy or mental health professionals.
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The lack of BIPOC representation in medical research could make you feel less welcome in therapy.
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...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 does deep trauma work with interpersonal and domestic violence survivors? 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 patriarchal society? Yeah, we’ve got that.
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No matter what your specific identity is, there is someone here who inherently understands what your lived experience feels like, and can combine that knowledge with their clinical expertise to design the perfect individualized treatment plan for you.
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...which is why we prioritize the perfect fit above everything else. By working with our therapists, you can 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.
Why choose the New York City Psychotherapy Collective for BIPOC Therapy
As featured in:Meet our Top-Rated NYC BIPOC Therapist
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Johanna specializes in anxiety related to major life changes—from immigration stress to post-college transitions. As a bilingual therapist, she understands cultural anxiety and helps young adults develop practical tools to manage overwhelming emotions during times of uncertainty.
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Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Education: Columbia University (MSW); University of Central Florida (BA)
Specialties: Cultural stress, life transitions, immigration anxiety, young adult concerns
Modalities Used: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, grounding techniques, trauma-informed therapy
Johanna Bellorin, LMSW
Your therapist can work with you to:
Explore ways to reduce anxiety symptoms effectively by identifying the signs of anxiety and creating 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 by gaining a better understanding of your emotions, your body, your struggles, and how to deal with them effectively.
Become comfortable discussing your emotional concerns, knowing your therapist can relate to your unique perspective.
Improve your communication skills, navigate these complex feelings, and set healthy boundaries with others.
Develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging, become 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, reducing that "on edge" feeling throughout the day.
Build stronger relationships by first understanding yourself better, and then improving your communication with those around you as a result.
You can start to feel calmer and more in control, develop tools to manage anxiety and depression, and navigate life's challenges with ease.
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' of life transitions 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 and my environment."
"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 BIPOC individual who understands the challenges faced by people who look like me in this country when it comes to accessing mental health resources."
"I'm hoping to find someone who can help me deal with my anxiety and depression, but also understands the context of my diverse range of life experiences and intersectional identities."
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Our practice offers virtual therapy to help people across New York City and throughout New York state. We believe in matching the right therapist with the right client, which is why we prioritize the perfect fit above everything else. If you have a consultation with a BIPOC therapist at our practice and it isn't the right match, we have plenty more therapists who identify with various cultures, identities, and origins to match you with. 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. Our therapists are highly skilled at listening to a bunch of jumbled thoughts and pulling out the common threads, important insights, and areas to focus on first. You don’t have to come in with anything more concrete than a desire to feel better. We’ll work with you on the rest.
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¡Claro que sí! Contamos con varios terapeutas de diferentes géneros que pueden realizar sesiones en español. Incluso si prefiere continuar la terapia en inglés, su terapeuta comprenderá de manera innata algunas de las referencias culturales que haga y las expectativas subconscientes que su familia y comunidad le hayan inculcado.
Yes we do! We have multiple therapists, of different genders, who can conduct sessions in Spanish. Even if you still want to conduct therapy in English, your therapist will innately understand some of the cultural references you make and subconscious expectations placed on you by your family and community.
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Your therapist is highly skilled at listening to a bunch of jumbled thoughts and pulling out the common threads, important insights, and areas to focus on first. You don’t have to come in with anything more concrete than a desire to feel better. We’ll work with you on the rest, through a culturally responsive lens that recognizes intergenerational expectations or the messaging that you should place the community’s greater good over your own individual needs.
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Being anti-racist means that your therapist is adept at recognizing their own biases, stigmas, or assumptions. While they are highly trained, they are also humans, and recognize that no one could ever be free of all subconscious judgments. Your therapist values your honesty as a tool for their own professional growth, so if there’s ever anything your therapist does or says that rubs you the wrong way, their job is to recognize that, hear it, and fix it going forward. Know better, do better, be better.
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Each session is 45-55 minutes long, depending on frequency and other factors you will discuss with your therapist during your intake. Many people find that their insurance companies cover part of their out of pocket fees, sometimes up to 100% depending on the benefits. Therapy costs are an investment in your physical, mental, and emotional health, and investing in this now will help you reap benefits that last long beyond your sessions!
We are in network with all New York State Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Empire, Optum, Oscar, and United Health plans, and approved out of network providers for all other commercial healthcare plans. We are also in network with Aetna EAP and Spring Health EAP plans.
FAQs about BIPOC Counseling
Here’s What’s Next:
1. Fill out our contact form.
Share some information about you in the contact form below so that we can match you with the right therapist for your needs.
2. Book a free consultation.
After you fill out our form, have a low-pressure, 20-minute call with your therapist to make sure they are the right fit.
3. Get the care you deserve.
Schedule your first appointment today and start on your journey to feeling better right away.
