Examples of marginalized identity stressors

  • Sexism

  • Racism

  • Heterosexism

  • Transphobia

  • Colorism

  • Ableism

  • English as second language

  • Homophobia

  • Anti-Semitism

  • Sizeism

  • Housing instability

  • Ageism

  • Classism

  • Islamophobia

  • Being undocumented

  • Neurodivergence

  • Xenophobia

  • Not having formal education

  • Having vulnerable mental health

Therapy is for your whole self

We believe that how we identify (i.e., age, diagnosis, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, class, indigenous heritage, nationality, gender expression, generation, immigration/citizen status, neurodiversity, etc) directly influences our life experiences and mental health in countless ways. While our identities can be a source of pride, belonging, and kinship with others - they are also tied to larger social realities like privilege, accessibility, representation, marginalization, and oppression. Being who we are can also mean stigma, isolation, rejection, and danger.

For some, discussing your identities openly and weaving them into your weekly updates in sessions is natural and second-nature. It may be the primary reason that you are in therapy - for example, if you’re experiencing minority stress, sexism in the promotion process at work, or addressing microaggressions with xenophobic in-laws. For others, it may not have been a primary focus of therapy before or you’re now recognizing the cumulative effects of identity-based stress on your emotional wellbeing.

Most people want to know whether or not their therapist cares about their identities and if they’re capable of validating and supporting them. Unfortunately some people have worked with a therapist who misstepped or was completely silent in this area. We think your identities are relevant to all aspects of your life and mental health and we’ll always encourage you to bring your whole self to therapy. We commit to creating safe space to process whatever identity-based stressors you face.

We are a diverse team of psychologists committed to your identity growth & ours

We are a diverse team of psychologists representing a range of visible and invisible identities, cultural values, languages, and life experiences. Some of our identities are privileged, some of them are marginalized. One thing that we have in common is a core value of committing to multiculturally responsive therapy and being inclusive. That means that we listen attentively, non-judgmentally, and openly about how multicultural factors and social inequities are shaping your life and mental health - and we welcome everyone into our practice. This also means that as psychologists, we are dedicated to our own self-reflection and professional development in multicultural topics. While we each have clinical experience working with diverse populations, we won’t put you in a box and we’ll prioritize understanding what it means to be uniquely you in your world. We’ll work hard to be mindful, curious, and empowering allies so you feel seen and heard.

“We think your identities are relevant to all aspects of your life and mental health and we’ll always encourage you to bring your whole self to therapy. ”

How can therapy for marginalized identity stress help me?

Therapy for marginalized identity stress can look like many different things because there is a true diversity of experience. It may be helpful to experience support and share about what it’s like being the only (fill in the blank) in your class, team, or organization. You may be experiencing microaggressions or multiple “-isms” at work or navigating cross cultural misunderstanding or conflict with family. In therapy, discussing how to cope with experiences of oppression, safeguarding your emotional energy, and restoring personal agency may be skills you’ve never had the opportunity to grow but can with support. Processing multicultural dynamics with peers, romantic partners, or coworkers is often useful and validating, as well as an opportunity to figure out if and how you’d like to respond. Who we are and how our identities are treated in the world has a huge impact on sense of self, and it may be clarifying to notice and challenge internalized biases that are getting in your way. In contrast, defining and embodying your identities can be a transformational and empowering experience. Your therapist can help you grapple with areas of privilege and how to respond in growth oriented ways instead of avoidance or shame. These are a only a few of the many ways that therapy for marginalized identity stress can help. We never want you to feel reduced to a single aspect of who you are, nor do we want to miss how nourishing a part of your identity may strengthen your emotional wellbeing.

Finding a multiculturally responsive therapist in NYC - we’d love to connect

Our team of psychologists at Manhattan Therapy Collective are trained in a number of therapy approaches that address the effects of marginalized identity stress, such as Relational Cultural Therapy, Feminist Therapy, CBT, and Systems Therapy. Our therapists are committed to getting to know you and understanding who you are as a wonderfully complex, multidimensional person. We know larger injustices and inequalities around us have real bearing on our ability to be accepted for all of who we are and flourish. Ultimately, our hope is for you to feel accepted and heard, as well as supported in becoming the person you want to be. We encourage you to reach out for support - we would love to answer your questions.

 

Common questions about therapy for marginalized identity stress

 

  • 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 with and can connect with is our first priority. We do think it can be really wonderful to share identities with your therapist, especially if you’ve never had this experience before. However, shared identities isn’t a shortcut to understanding or being understood - we’ll always focus on listening well and getting to know you for who you are. We also see a lot of value in building a therapy relationship with someone who may not share all of your identities. Sometimes having some points of difference may mean a refreshing perspective or being able to explore questions you’ve never thought of. We do believe that diversity can be a strength and allyship can be healing.

  • We’re really sorry. Having a negative experience with a past therapist can be incredibly hurtful and even devastating. If you’re open to it, we encourage you to share with your potential therapist generally what happened, so they have the opportunity to intentionally create a different and positive experience for you. We are always interested in anyone’s prior therapy experiences. We want to know what you found supportive and useful and what wasn’t - and this is no exception.

  • We love questions and encourage you to ask them. If you’re unsure if your therapist has experience working with your identities - we suggest asking “do you have experience working with (fill in the blank) and how might that affect how we work together?”

    Or think about asking “I’d really like one of my therapy goals to be focusing on (fill in the blank) - is this something that you are open to?”

    Or consider asking “What’s the best way to check in about therapy or ask questions/offer feedback during our work together?”