Finding a Therapist Who Understands Your Cultural Background
By Resonance Psychology in NYC
What you’ll learn
In this article, we’ll explore:
Why your cultural background plays a vital role in how therapy works and feels.
What makes a therapist truly culturally aware and how to recognize one.
Simple ways to tell if a therapist is the right fit for your values and identity.
Why New Yorkers benefit from culturally responsive therapy more than ever.
When a shared identity can be helpful in therapy and when other factors matter more.
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Let’s take a closer look at how culturally attuned therapy in New York City can create a more authentic, respectful, and healing space for you…
Talking to someone about your thoughts and emotions takes courage. But when a therapist misunderstands you and your culture in session, it can feel frustrating and even distressing.
If you've ever searched for a psychologist or therapist in New York, NY, and worried they might not truly get your background, you're not the only one. In a place as busy and diverse as New York City, being seen for who you are, your values, your language, and your family history can feel essential for healing because, often than not, your varied contexts do have an impact on your day to day life.
Indeed, your cultural heritage, experiences, and family backgrounds are very much tied to your wellbeing and mental health. That's why finding a therapist who respects your whole self and someone who is committed to understanding you with nuanced perspectives and layered contexts isn't just helpful, it can change how you feel about therapy altogether.
Why Cultural Background Matters in Therapy
When we feel safe, we speak more openly and freely. It’s no surprise that many people candidly share in therapy when their cultural background is honored and understood. Cultural identities are important to address in therapy because they shape the way we express pain, how we deal with stress, and what healing looks like for us.
For example:
Some cultures may see mental health struggles as something to keep private. Others may focus on family or community support over individual care.
How we handle emotions can be deeply connected with how we were raised. A therapist who understands this can guide the conversation without misreading what's being said, or left unsaid.
When a therapist recognizes cultural contexts, they’re less likely to make hasty assumptions, which helps avoid confusion and builds trust.
Being understood isn't just about being acknowledged for our different language, cuisine, or cultural holidays. It's about being respected in the ways we think, feel, and view the world. When your therapist understands and honors the way you are in light of your family background and cultural values, it can become much easier to talk about difficult subjects without feeling judged or misunderstood.
Indeed, therapy can sometimes bring up sensitive topics, and it helps when your cultural background is treated as an important piece of the puzzle instead of afterthoughts. In fact, many of our clients find it comforting that we are aware and attuned of cultural differences in how families communicate, solve problems, or seek help. Having a therapist who respects those differences makes it easier for candid discussions to unfold in therapy as well.
What Makes a Therapist Culturally Aware
A culturally aware therapist is someone who puts in the work, continuously. They don’t just rely on their own experiences or a course or two that they took in graduate training. They stay curious in and out of session. They’re open to learning from evolving multicultural research and from others, including their clients.
They ask thoughtful questions and avoid jumping to conclusions. If something doesn’t make sense, they ask instead of assuming.
They don’t come into the therapy room acting like they know everything. They’re learning right alongside you, showing respect for your unique story.
They keep learning, through research articles, books, courses, or consultations with professionals, so they can better understand different cultural nuances that may be relevant for the healing process.
At Resonance Psychology, we focus on culturally responsive care by integrating your values and life experiences into therapy for genuine and authentic connection. Our culturally attuned therapists take time to recognize their own limitations and listen closely to what you share. If you mention a family cultural patterns or a value that matters to you, we are eager to learn and invite you to engage in thoughtful conversations with us if you feel comfortable.
How to Tell If a Therapist Is a Good Fit
It’s normal to feel unsure of how to find competent and culturally attuned therapists. But a few simple steps can help you figure out if the therapist might be the right fit for you.
Check their online presence. See if they talk about cultural identity. Check if they mention multicultural training, or experience working with people from different backgrounds.
During your first visit or consult call, ask them how they address culture and identity in therapy. Their answers can tell you a lot about how they listen and whether they’re open to your experience.
Most of all, check in with yourself after a few sessions. Did you feel heard? Did you feel misunderstood? Did you feel like you had to explain too much, repeatedly, or not at all? That gut feeling is important.
At Resonance Psychology, we offer therapy both in person in Manhattan and virtually for New York, New Jersey and Florida clients, making therapy accessible and flexible. Therapy works best when you feel comfortable to share your whole self and unique backgrounds–whether it is in-person or via telehealth. It’s okay to keep searching until you find someone who helps you feel the most at ease.
Sometimes, you might need more than one meeting to know if a therapist is the right match. Pay attention to how you feel during each session. Do you sense the therapist is listening and making an effort to learn from you, or do they seem oblivious or uninterested in what matters to you? The way a therapist responds to your story is a big clue about how safe the space will be for you.
Why New Yorkers Need Culturally Responsive Care
Living in New York City means being surrounded by many people of varied backgrounds. It's one of the most diverse places in the world! But that doesn’t always mean people truly understand each other. The same goes with therapists in NYC as they may not necessarily all have adequate training or knowledge on how to work with diverse individuals. So, it’s important to find a therapist who is knowledgeable and experienced in multicultural identity concerns.
Indeed, the pace of life here can feel overwhelming already, but on top of that, if you are misunderstood or even pathologized by your therapist due to their lack of multicultural training, distress can quickly amplify. Furthermore, many people in NYC have international backgrounds who moved here for jobs, schools, or better opportunities. They may be balancing the difficulties that may come from the transitions to a new culture and language. So, a psychologist or therapist who understands these nuanced experiences can help clients feel more grounded and seen, even when the outside world may be stressful.
At Resonance Psychology, we work with individuals of various backgrounds, including but not limited to BIPOC, TCKs, and Asian American clients, specializing in anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and identity concerns. When therapy honors your cultures and identities, it becomes a place where you can safely build trust to work on your therapy goals without the fear of being misunderstood or judged.
When Shared Identity Can Help, and When It Isn’t Everything
Some people feel better with a therapist who shares their identity. For instance, it can feel comforting to know that your therapist sitting across from you understands many of your cultural values. Having said that, a match in identity isn’t necessarily everything. While a formal training in multicultural competency is essential, a therapist who listens closely and treats clients with respect is also important. In fact, it’s impossible for therapists to know everything about their clients even if they may share similar identities. So, it’s advisable to find a therapist who will continuously stay open to learn and listen without pretense that they know everything.
Start Feeling Better With a Culturally Open and Attuned Therapist
Being truly seen and heard in therapy can help unlock the path toward growth and healing. When your culture, identity, and history are honored, it can help you build trust and open up in therapy with greater ease.
Whether you are seeking therapy for anxiety, life transitions, or multicultural identity concerns, what matters most is that your therapist is culturally trained, attuned, and open to learn from you.
At Resonance Psychology, we understand how meaningful it is to be supported by someone who genuinely values your background and unique story. Working with a therapist who is multiculturally competent and who truly honors your varied identities can make a big difference, especially when you want to feel understood without having to over-explain every part of your culture and who you are.
Finding a competent psychologist in New York, NY, can feel overwhelming but we can help you with this process.
Reach out to us today to see if we would be the right fit for you. We’d be happy to connect and answer any questions you might have.