Resources to Suit Your Identity

It isn't always easy to find affordable or accessible therapy or mental health resources, let alone ones that are inclusive. Often you will want to find a therapist who understands your experience and shares a similar identity. This is perfectly fine. For instance, a black trans woman going to therapy for trauma simply will not benefit from seeing a straight white male whose knowledge base is probably limited. People whose first language is other than English naturally want don't want to have to deal with language or cultural barriers. You want someone you can feel safe with, someone you can trust. Whether you are looking for emotional support or professional help, here are some things to try.

1. Word of mouth: A good place to start is to talk to your friends about who they go to. You can also look for groups to join on Facebook who share in your identity. Here, people can post questions to their local community members and ask for recommendations in the area.

2. Local clinics and community centers: Local centers are a great way to find ideas for allied therapists. You can find one on google, for instance, by searching for "clinic near me + LGBTQIA" or similar search terms.

3. Client focus and specialties: Look for a therapist whose specialties reflect you and your needs. Consider clicking more or less areas of specialties to focus in on what you want to address in treatment and to get a longer or shorter list.

4. Do additional research: You can learn a lot about therapists based on what they put online. Start with the profile to help narrow your search and then continue research online. Visit their website if they have one. Find out what makes each therapist unique and who may resonate with you. Along with finding therapist that explicitly talk about your related issues or even the specific issue you’re hoping to work through, look for other qualities that you think will help with the relationship. Ultimately, if this looks like a person you can trust, that’s a great start

5. Ask questions: Most therapists will do a 10-20-minute phone interview so you can see if they are a good fit. Be sure and ask questions about any information you didn’t see on the web such as insurance and payment information, their qualifications, approach to helping and anything else you are curious about. Ask them about their training, knowledge and experience in working with your specific population. If you have questions about a specific issue now is the time to ask.

6. Read reviews: Although online reviews aren't always reliable, you can read over comments for language indicating whether a therapist is exceptionally welcoming or not. If there are poor reviews about how a therapist treated someone based on their identity, that's a big red flag.

7. Try group therapy: Additionally, some therapists run group therapy sessions for specific communities and issues. For example, one such page lists “group therapy for gay men.” Check for groups to find community and support from other people going through the same things as you.

8. Telemental health: If you aren’t having any luck finding a therapist near you, look for a distance therapy option. Some therapists offer their through the phone or online video support. See if there is a community center in your area that can point you in the right direction.

9. Trust your instincts: Trust yourself and what you're seeing and hearing. You may not always be able to find a therapist who shares in your identity, and so you'll want to evaluate others you can trust as a potential ally. Clinicians who provide culturally competent, judgement-free, and quality therapy and can create a safe space for you to be vulnerable and honest do exist. It's just a matter of finding them.