BIPOC therapy in NYC

Our team of therapists with doctoral-level training bring a multiculturally sensitive approach to therapy and are committed to safe and supportive conversations about your racial identity and mental health.

As a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color, you deserve therapy that affirms your racial identity and can focus on the unique experiences and stressors that come with it. Your racial identity may be something you’re proud of or processing- and we know it can also be complex and even painful.

For us, supporting BIPOC mental health means taking the time to understand the ways race has played a role in who you are and what you’ve experienced. While there’s greater attention on multicultural psychology and inclusionary mental health these days, there’s still a lot that needs to evolve. Part of the way we support that change as anti-racist therapists is by centering the psychological needs of those who are a part of the BIPOC community. If you’re interested in learning more about therapy as a BIPOC person, book a free, 15-minute consultation with us today.

 

Unique stressors that BIPOC therapy can address

  • Facing new environments as the only or one of few [fill in the blank]

  • Experiencing (or fearing) racism, discrimination, and microaggressions

  • Racist experiences not being taken seriously when reported

  • Feeling pressure to “represent” your racial group favorably

  • Racial identity ambivalence or confusion

  • Multiracial identity challenges

  • Feeling not [fill in the blank] enough

  • Code switching, being a chameleon in social spaces

  • Loneliness and isolation

  • Interracial relationship stress or conflict

  • Xenophobia, visa stress, immigration adjustment

 

Therapy for racial trauma

Racial trauma is a unique type of trauma that’s often unaddressed but carries real and lasting impact. Experiencing verbal and physical threats based on the color of your skin or implicit forms of discrimination usually leads to increased anxiety to stay safe. Experiencing hypervigilance, avoidance, sleeplessness, and negative views of yourself are also symptoms corresponding with traumatic stress and PTSD.

Examples of race-based stress

There are many types of race based stress, ranging from racial microaggressions to being the target of a hate crime. There may also be situations that you’ve become used to, but familiarity doesn’t take away the stress - like being in a space where you’re in the minority and monitoring other people’s perceptions.

Vicarious racial trauma such as reading news stories about racism or seeing videos of racist behaviors can also create similar stress symptoms. Therapy for race-based stress or racial trauma can help you process the cognitive, emotional, and physical effects of racism on your mental health with validation and compassion.

 

Why therapy for BIPOC mental health matters

But isn’t anxiety or depression the same regardless of your race? Wouldn’t you make the same mental health recommendations? Yes and no. Mood symptoms may manifest similarly regardless of racial identity, but sometimes that’s not the case or…it’s complicated. Sometimes a universal human experience (e.g., rejection) is intensified because of racial dynamics, or stereotype threat can keep BIPOCs from drawing attention to mental health struggles.

Our therapists never use a one-size-fits all approach in therapy. The solutions we collaborate on will keep your context in mind and even explore how your racial identity intersects with other identities (e.g., gender, sexuality).

Prioritizing BIPOC mental health means taking a closer look at how your race may have shaped your sense of self (positively and negatively) and how you relate to others. BIPOC therapy also acknowledges that oppression and injustice exists and that it’s important to have a space to process that. We think having honest conversations about your racial experiences and feeling understood makes a big difference to your overall mental health - and we’re here to support that.

 

How BIPOC therapy can help

  • Talk about your racial identity with support

  • Process experiences of racism (discrimination, vicarious racial trauma, microaggressions)

  • Challenge internalized racism

  • Explore how your racial identity has affected your relationships

  • Talk about intersectionality

  • Discuss complicated interracial dynamics

  • Cultivate self-acceptance of your racial identity/ies

  • Have a trusting relationship with your therapist who shares your identities or is a safe ally

  • Discover pathways for activism

  • Set boundaries or recover from anti-racist burnout

  • Discuss interracial romantic relationship dynamics

Types of therapy for BIPOC mental health

There are many types of therapy that effectively explore and address BIPOC mental health stressors. Here are some of the many approaches that our therapists are well-versed in and use.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on the connections between your thoughts, emotions, and actions - and can help you observe what comes up for you about race. Understanding how core beliefs about your worth or value may have been shaped by racism or racial pride can help you depersonalize what’s actually systemic oppression or gain a better understanding of yourself.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy focuses on teaching a number of emotional and behavioral strategies to manage and tolerate strong feelings. DBT also helps people manage challenging relationship dynamics more successfully, which can certainly be the case in painful interracial dynamics.

Multicultural Therapy

Multicultural therapy acknowledges the importance of celebrating individual differences and all identities as equal and valuable. Multicultural Therapy highlights what your racial identity means to you, and how it intersects with other identities (gender, sexuality) to shape your life experiences and sense of self.

 

BIPOC therapists & anti-racist therapists in Manhattan NYC

At Manhattan Therapy Collective, our therapists are trained in an anti-racist and social justice orientation to therapy. Some of us identify as BIPOC, some of us are allies, and we are all dedicated to ongoing self-reflection and multicultural training so we can thoughtfully address the mental health needs of our BIPOC patients.

Our goal is to provide a safe and inclusive space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and racial identity - and work towards healing and growth. We know that being BIPOC isn’t the only important part of who you are - but we know it should have a welcome space in your sessions just like any key aspect of your identity. If you are looking for multiculturally responsive and affirming therapy, we are here to help. Book a free 15-minute consultation today or reach out with questions.

 

FAQs about BIPOC therapy

 

  • Really good question, it’s up to you. First of all, we’ll always do our best to honor your therapist preferences - finding a therapist you feel safe and can connect with is our first priority. And it's completely okay if part of the way that happens is by knowing you share a racial identity. We think it can be really wonderful to share a racial identity with your therapist, especially if you never have before.

    However, a shared identity isn’t a shortcut to understanding or being understood - we’ll always focus on listening well and getting to know you as you. As you know, not all BIPOCs think, feel, or experience the world the same way. Even if you don't share a racial identity with your therapist (or only partly), we think experiencing your therapist's allyship can be healing too.

  • We’re really sorry. Having a negative experience with a past therapist can be incredibly hurtful, even devastating. If you’re open to it, we encourage you to share with your therapist what happened, so they have the opportunity to support and listen. We will always check in with you to make sure you feel understood and that we're on the same page.

  • We love questions and encourage you to ask them. While all of our therapists have extensive experience working with a diverse range of people and continue to receive multicultural training, we suggest asking what's on your mind. For example, if you're interested in your therapist's racial identity or wanting to make a therapy goal navigating racism at work, ask!

    Or consider asking “What’s the best way to check in about therapy feedback or ask questions as we work together?”