How to find an inclusive therapist

TOOLS FOR FINDING CULTURALLY-AFFIRMING CARE

Opening up to a new therapist is hard enough in general, especially if it’s your first time seeking counseling. It’s a really vulnerable position to be in, and it takes a whole lot of courage. If you’re a person with a historically marginalized identity, it becomes that much more daunting. Will they understand your cultural background? Will they be sensitive to the specific kinds of trauma and discrimination you face? Will you have to take time away from your healing to explain basic cultural concepts to them?

Everyone deserves mental health care that makes you feel fully seen and understood. Rest assured, there are therapists out there who share your identity and experiences — ones who became providers in the first place to transform mental healthcare for the better. Even without shared experience, there are also folks who put in the work to provide empathetic and culturally competent care. You’ve just got to find them.

Easier said than done, right? Don’t sweat it. Here’s your guide to finding a therapist that understands your identity, from that first search to your consultation.

Finding a therapist

Thanks to the internet (and the work of organizers and healthcare professionals around the country) it’s a whole lot easier to find a therapist that meets your needs. There are directories that can connect you to therapists of all sorts of backgrounds, identities, and areas of expertise. We’ve gone ahead and rounded up some of the most popular identity-based therapist directories below.

Before you start, it’s good to look over the different types of therapists out there, and find the one that’s right for you. It’ll help you narrow down your search that much more. Just make sure they’re licensed to practice in your area (even if you’re doing telehealth visits!) and that they accept your insurance. There should be filters on most directories for this kind of information, or you can find it on individual provider pages and websites. Here’s a more detailed roadmap for finding a therapist in case you run into any challenges.

Psychology Today (filter by ethnicity, sexuality, faith, and more)

Therapy in Color

Find Latinx Providers

Latinx Therapy

Latinx Therapists Action Network Therapy for Latinx

Find LGBTQ+ Providers

LGBTQ Psychotherapists of Color

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network

Therapy for Queer People of Color

During your consultation

Before you commit to a therapist, you’ll want to set up a quick consultation to introduce yourself, iron out any billing or scheduling issues, and figure out if they’re a good fit for you. (We’ll point you back to that roadmap for more details on consultations.)

This is the time to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to broach the topic of identity. You want to gauge the provider’s knowledge and response to your cultural experiences. If you’re not what to ask, here are some example questions. You don’t have to ask all of them — just pick a few to get the conversation going.

QUESTIONS TO ASK A POTENTIAL THERAPIST:

What is your experience treating clients who share my [insert your racial/ethnic/cultural identity] identity?
What is your experience incorporating a racial equity/anti-racist lens in your treatment?
How would you describe your knowledge of safety risks and considerations related to my [insert your racial/ethnic/cultural identity] identity?
Can you share with me your/your practice’s training/evidence-based treatment for issues that may arise from trauma related to [insert your racial/ethnic/cultural identity] oppression, racism and/or racial violence?
What kind of resources/training do you/your practice have available to remain up-to-date with [insert your racial/ethnic/cultural identity] issues both locally and nationally so that I can avoid having to educate my provider as much as possible?
What is your/your practice’s position on the mental health impact of navigating oppression, racism and racial violence?
What is your/your practice’s position on the impact of generational trauma as it relates to racism/racial violence?

For more questions and a printable worksheet, visit this tool developed by Mental Health America in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign.

IF YOU’RE FEELING NERVOUS ABOUT IT…

It’s totally normal to feel anxious about asking these questions. Sometimes, as folks who identify with a historically marginalized group, we get nervous about taking up too much space. We worry that by centering ourselves and our experiences, we may make other people uncomfortable. But here’s the thing: therapists are here to help you. It’s literally their job.

If a therapist is truly inclusive, they’ll be eager to have these kinds of conversations with you. Or they might let you know that they’re not actually equipped to be your therapist, and that’s okay, too — there will always be more providers to try. You deserve to find the right care for you, and that means asking the “tough” questions. Whatever the outcome, it gets you closer to finding the treatment you need.

“I’d like people to remember that you have the power to interview your therapist, and you have the power to decide if you allow them to work for you. You’re the expert. You’re the boss here. A question I always like to ask is what personal racial identity work the therapist has done. It’s important so that they can hold space for me because it is not just about me. It’s where are you starting here as my therapist?
”

— Melody Li, found of Inclusive Therapists

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So you found a therapist, the consultation went well, and now you’re ready to start your session. Congrats! Of course, we recognize that a good consultation doesn’t always guarantee a good therapy experience, and you might still encounter signs that racism is showing up in your therapy sessions. But if you got this far, it’s still worth celebrating.

Not only are you taking steps to care for your mental health, but you’re also advocating for yourself and your needs along the way. Remember that culturally-affirming care is out there, and you don’t have to settle for less.