BIPOC Women Aren't Afraid of Therapy! They Just Want a BIPOC Therapist They Can Connect With!

Many people still believe that Black and Brown women don't want to do the work required in therapy to heal wounds of trauma or adverse life experiences. But, as a BIPOC woman therapist with a private practice that serves BIPOC women, what I have come to understand is that these women don't have time to 'speed date' therapists who don't connect with their lived experiences.

BIPOC women, as with all women of other ethnicities, are busy managing their lives and frequently the lives of their children, partners, and family members, like aging parents and struggling siblings. So, many of them don't have the luxury of spending several weeks or months with a therapist they believe doesn't understand their life experiences. Just the thought that the therapist won't look like them or won't comprehend their situation is enough to keep many BIPOC women from pursuing therapy.

There are many needs of BIPOC women that are appropriate for addressing in therapy. Like all communities, their needs are diverse, and experiences can vary widely among individuals. However, there are some specific needs and traumas that have been more prevalent historically and continue to affect many BIPOC women. 

• Historical Trauma:
  • African Americans have a long history of experiencing slavery, systemic racism, segregation, and discrimination. The collective trauma of this history can have a lasting impact on mental health and well-being.
• Racial Trauma:
  • Experiencing racism and discrimination on a personal level, whether in education, employment, healthcare, or daily life, can lead to racial trauma. Microaggressions and macroaggressions can take a toll on mental health.
• Intergenerational Trauma:
  • Trauma experienced by previous generations can be passed down through families, impacting the mental health of subsequent generations. Historical and racial trauma can contribute to intergenerational trauma.
• Socioeconomic Stress:
  • BIPOC folk are more likely to face economic disparities, poverty, and limited access to quality healthcare and education. These socioeconomic stressors can lead to anxiety and depression.
• Health Disparities:
  • Higher rates of chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, can cause stress and trauma. Access to healthcare and the quality of care can also be concerns.
• Violence and Community Trauma:
  • Exposure to violence in communities, including gun violence and police brutality, can lead to trauma. Witnessing or experiencing violence can have long-lasting effects on mental health.
• Educational Inequities:
  • Disparities in the education system can result in limited opportunities and increased stress for BIPOC students, and this can lead to feelings of inadequacy and lower self-esteem.
• Criminal Justice System:
  • BIPOC people are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system, leading to a higher likelihood of incarceration and the associated trauma, as well as the trauma experienced by families.

Unfortunately, not all therapists can relate to these experiences. Cultural diversity workshops, diversity and inclusion training, and any other 'trainings' geared towards closing the gap between the BIPOC experience and the experience of non-African Diasporic or non-Hispanic therapists can provide comfort needed for most clients entering a therapist's office for the first time expecting to disclose their family's and their deep dark secrets.

At Nurture the Soul Women's Counseling, we understand that with all the hurdles for a BIPOC woman to pursue therapy, our shared connection to Black and Brown folks narrows the gap just enough to make picking up the phone and scheduling that first appointment easier.  

So, if you know of a BIPOC woman in New Jersey who needs a BIPOC therapist with a focus on "women" clients, then share this blog with them or have them contact us at (609) 232-7323 or email us at info@nurturethesoulcounseling.com.