7 Signs It’s Time to Find Inclusive Therapists for Your BIPOC Mental Health Journey
When it comes to BIPOC mental health, finding the right therapeutic support can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Many people of colour have experienced therapy that felt disconnected, dismissive, or culturally tone-deaf. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s time to seek out inclusive therapists who truly understand your lived experience, these seven signs can help guide your decision.
1. You’re Constantly Playing Cultural Translator
If you find yourself spending significant portions of your therapy sessions explaining cultural norms, family dynamics, or community contexts, it may be time to consider inclusive counselling. While some cultural education is normal in any therapeutic relationship, you shouldn’t feel like you’re giving a sociology lesson every week.
Fictional composite example: Maria, a Latina professional, found herself explaining to her therapist why she couldn’t simply “set boundaries” with her extended family without considering the cultural implications and potential family conflict. Instead of exploring solutions that honoured her cultural values, she spent session after session explaining why individualistic approaches felt disconnected from her reality.
Inclusive therapists understand that cultural context isn’t optional information—it’s integral to understanding your mental health experiences.
2. Your Experiences of Discrimination Get Minimized or Pathologized
When you share experiences of racism, microaggressions, or systemic oppression, does it feel like your therapist believes they understand your experience, but you know that they don’t know what it is really like? While we don’t always need to have a therapist who matches your life experiences, sometimes we can really benefit from a therapist with the same lived experience as you to support you in processing them. This is a clear indicator that you need BIPOC mental health support from someone who recognizes the real impact of discrimination.
Your anger about injustice isn’t a symptom to be managed; it’s a reasonable response to unreasonable circumstances. Inclusive therapists validate these experiences and help you process them without gaslighting or minimization.
3. You Feel Like You Can’t Bring Your “Whole Self” to Sessions
Many people from marginalized communities have learned to compartmentalize different aspects of their identity. If you find yourself editing your language, downplaying cultural practices, or avoiding topics related to your identity, you’re not getting the full benefit of therapy.
Fictional composite example: James, a Black graduate student, noticed he spoke differently in therapy than he did with friends and family. He avoided discussing his experiences in predominantly white academic spaces or his fears about police interactions, sensing his therapist’s discomfort with these topics.
Inclusive counselling creates space where all aspects of your identity are welcomed and seen as strengths, not complications.
4. Your Mental Health Struggles Feel Connected to Identity and Systemic Issues
Traditional therapy often focuses on individual symptoms without acknowledging how systemic oppression affects mental health. If your anxiety, depression, or trauma feels connected to experiences of racism, cultural conflicts, or navigating multiple worlds, you need inclusive therapists who understand these connections.
This is where anti-oppressive therapy approaches become particularly valuable, as they recognize how systems of power and oppression impact individual mental health.
5. You’re Tired of Being the “Teacher” in the Relationship
Therapy should be about your healing, not educating your therapist about basic concepts related to your culture or identity. While some education is natural in any relationship, if you consistently feel responsible for your therapist’s cultural competence, it’s time to find someone else.
Inclusive therapists come prepared with cultural humility and ongoing education. They don’t expect you to carry the burden of their learning.
6. When You Find the Right Fit: What Culturally Competent Care Actually Looks Like
When you connect with truly inclusive therapists, the difference is immediately noticeable. Your cultural background becomes a source of strength rather than something to explain or defend. Working with a BIPOC Counsellor such as Malar, you can explore the intersection of issues that may be affecting you such as childhood trauma, neurodiversity or LGBTQS2+ experiences with your cultural background. Your therapist demonstrates understanding of how systemic issues affect individual experiences.
Fictional composite example: After switching therapists, Priya found she could discuss her experiences as a first-generation immigrant without having to provide extensive background. Her new therapist understood the pressure of family expectations, the complexity of bicultural identity, and how racism at work contributed to her anxiety.
In culturally competent BIPOC mental health support, you’ll notice:
- Your experiences are validated, not questioned
- Cultural factors are integrated naturally into treatment
- Systemic issues are acknowledged as real influences on your mental health
- Your strengths and resilience are recognized and built upon
7. You Feel Truly Understood and Supported
The ultimate sign that inclusive counselling is working is when you feel genuinely seen and supported. This doesn’t mean your therapist shares your exact background, but they demonstrate deep respect for your experiences and work actively to understand your perspective.
For families navigating cultural dynamics, therapists like Sandy Zhang explore how traditional family structures impact mental health while honouring cultural values and helping families find healthy balances.
Questions to Ask Potential Inclusive Therapists
When searching for BIPOC mental health support, consider asking these questions during initial consultations:
- How do you stay informed about issues affecting BIPOC communities?
- Can you describe your experience working with clients from my cultural background?
- How do you address the impact of systemic oppression in therapy?
- What does cultural competence mean to you in practice?
- How do you handle situations where you don’t understand a cultural reference or experience?
Red Flags vs. Green Flags in Therapeutic Relationships
Red Flags:
- Dismissing or minimizing experiences of discrimination
- Making assumptions based on stereotypes
- Seeming uncomfortable discussing race, culture, or systemic issues
- Focusing solely on individual factors without acknowledging systemic influences
- Expecting you to represent or speak for your entire cultural group
Green Flags:
- Demonstrating cultural humility and ongoing learning
- Validating your experiences of discrimination and oppression
- Integrating cultural factors naturally into treatment planning
- Showing comfort discussing sensitive topics related to identity and systems
- Recognizing your expertise on your own cultural experiences
Expanding Your Options with Online Therapy
If you’re struggling to find inclusive therapists in your immediate area, online therapy can significantly expand your options. Many BIPOC mental health professionals now offer virtual services, making culturally competent care accessible regardless of your location.
BIPOC counsellors who offer online services can provide the same quality of culturally responsive care through secure virtual platforms, often making it easier to find the right therapeutic match.
Taking the Next Step with Inclusive Counselling
Recognizing these signs is the first step toward finding inclusive counselling that truly supports your BIPOC mental health journey. You deserve therapy that honours your full identity, validates your experiences, and empowers your healing.
Remember that finding the right therapeutic fit might take time, and that’s okay. The investment in finding inclusive therapists who truly understand your experiences will pay dividends in your mental health and overall well-being.
If you’re ready to experience therapy that sees and supports all of who you are, don’t settle for less. Your mental health deserves culturally competent care that recognizes both your challenges and your incredible strength.
Ready to find inclusive therapy that gets it? Book a consultation with therapists who understand the intersection of culture, identity, and mental health, and begin your healing journey in a space that truly honours your experiences.
