What can a multicultural therapist help with?

Multicultural therapists can help clients cope with discrimination and marginalization; reconcile different facets of their identity that may be leading to internal conflict; or identify and overcome cultural norms that may be interfering with well-being, including those related to gender roles, sexuality, and beliefs about mental health. Like other therapists, multicultural counselors can also help with diagnosable psychiatric conditions, like anxiety and depression, as well as other life challenges like low self-esteem or unhealthy relationship patterns.

Who is qualified to be a multicultural therapist?

Licensed mental health professionals—including social workers, psychologists, counselors, and psychiatrists—are able to practice multicultural therapy. Most who do so have sought post-graduate training in multicultural competency and sensitivity, and many professionals take additional steps—such as joining discussion groups with other therapists or working with a culturally competent mentor—to continuously develop their skills and fine-tune their approach depending on their clients’ needs.

Who can benefit from seeing a multicultural therapist?

People of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, immigrants and refugees, religious and ethnic minorities, and anyone else who falls outside dominant social groups can benefit from multicultural therapy, an approach that aims to create an environment where clients from any socially marginalized group will feel respected, heard, and understood.

How can I recognize a good multicultural therapist?

Interested clients are advised to seek out a clinician who has been trained in multicultural therapy, demonstrates an ongoing commitment to cultural competency and sensitivity, and is familiar with the client’s particular culture and how it might influence their lived experience. As with many types of therapy, it’s important that the client feel comfortable with the therapist and is able to speak openly about complex, sensitive matters related to race, gender, or other aspects of their identity.