In celebrating Minority Mental Health Awareness this month, some of Counslr’s mental health professionals share their valuable insights and personal perspectives to shine a light on the unique mental health challenges faced by minority communities. By encouraging open dialogue to address disparities in mental health services and foster understanding, together we can create a more equitable, accessible, and supportive mental health environment for all people to live healthier and happier lives.
Jataya Wright, LCSW
Q. What does mental health stigma look like in minority populations? What are some solutions that can help remove the stigma?
A. Unfortunately, mental health stigma is still prevalent, even in 2024. In many minority communities, this stigma can manifest as shame for receiving treatment, fear of being judged by others in the community, or having a family member struggling with mental health issues. Instead of seeking professional support, these communities often turn to religion, believing that 'prayer can solve all things' or adhering to the notion that you don't discuss personal issues outside the family. Though religion can play a very important role in people’s lives, it can’t replace professional mental health support altogether.
To decrease and eventually eradicate this stigma, we must continue moving in our current direction: increasing media attention on mental health advocacy and ensuring greater accessibility of these services to minority populations.
It is important to also realize that the availability of mental health treatment needs to be exposed to not only minority populations as a whole but also on an even more micro level to multiple generations within these populations. The stigma against mental health treatment has developed over time. It will now take time to unravel this dilemma.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Be aware. Be culturally competent. Be empathetic. Make sure to place a strong emphasis on your knowledge around cultural competency of multiple minority populations. Commit to being a lifelong learner, as traditions are forever changing with each generation. Maintain an unbiased listening ear so clients feel comfortable seeking treatment from someone who understands the way they grew up and family dynamics.
Remember, it is still difficult for many people to come forward and seek help that maybe no one else in their family has ever received. In other words, book smarts will open the door, but social awareness will keep your clients' attention.
Jocelyn Tapia, LMFT
Q. What special considerations should be taken into account when understanding neurodivergence (particularly ADHD and Autism) in people of color?
A. Autism and ADHD are often depicted as issues that only impact white males. People of color, especially Black and Latino girls, are often identified and diagnosed late and experience higher misdiagnosis rates. Support can be delayed due to structural factors, like schools being underfunded and understaffed, or caretakers fearing a diagnosis that negatively labels children. When working with neurodivergent individuals, the focus should be on enhancing their overall well-being and addressing specific challenges rather than pathologizing neurodivergence itself.
Some examples of support include:
- Being genuinely curious about the challenges neurodivergent individuals experience and assisting them through strategies that effectively meet their basic needs;
- Assisting individuals in challenging their internalized negative thoughts about themselves and developing self-compassion that highlights their strengths; and
- Exploring calming strategies that regulate the nervous system. Neurodivergent individuals may process the world more sensitively, so this can be helpful for building emotional resilience.
Q. What do boundaries look like in Latinx family households?
A. Boundaries can be difficult to implement in cohesive Latinx families. Children of Latinx parents may feel guilty about setting limits because healthy boundaries weren't encouraged or modeled at an early age. It’s normal to feel guilty about setting boundaries, but it’s okay to prioritize yourself and set your own rules to live by. While this process can be challenging, openly communicating your feelings, thoughts, and needs with family can help ease the transition.
Give yourself some grace for the challenges that may arise when setting boundaries. Families may not immediately accept or like your boundaries, because they have benefitted from your support and comfort over the years. However, boundaries are essential to maintaining a healthy connection and relationship with someone; without appropriate ones in place, resentment can build. Remind yourself that the guilt will pass and you will have a healthier relationship because of it.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Be patient and curious. BIPOC communities have a difficult time seeking counseling due to stigma toward mental health, discrimination, and concerns about accessing actual good health care. Providing a safe space where individuals can feel free to express themselves without judgment and feel validated is crucial to creating a positive experience. Individuals are the experts of their own life on what works best for them and what does not, so allowing them to explore and process their own thoughts and feelings is a great way to play a role in their well-being.
Solimar Colon-Ortiz, LMHC
Q. What are the benefits and advantages of providing text-based support in a native language?
A. Providing text-based support in a native language can increase the chances of BIPOC individuals accessing care and decrease the chances of dropping out of services. For many minority groups, one of the major obstacles to accessing services is the stigma and shame related to experiencing mental health symptoms and engaging with services. In some Latinx groups, it is frowned upon to seek mental health services because the culture doesn’t support showing signs of weakness.
Text-based support is a convenient way to access culturally competent care in an affordable and confidential way. Clients can connect at any time from anywhere. Coupled with finding access to a therapist who speaks the same language, clients can express their emotions and thoughts accurately, which can help them feel a sense of familiarity and comfort. Feeling understood and included can make a difference in whether clients can fully engage in the healing process.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. To properly and effectively communicate with clients, it is important that therapists learn about themselves and others. Culturally competent training helps therapists understand the values, traditions, customs, and beliefs of clients from different cultures. This allows therapists to treat clients with respect while showing inclusivity, genuineness, and empathy.
Yolanda Smith Ervin, LMHC
Q. What are the biggest barriers to getting quality mental health care in the communities you serve? How does cultural competency play into breaking down the barriers?
A. The biggest barrier is gaining trust. Though we’ve made many strides in the past decade in seeing mental health as less taboo, there is still an underlying distrust when it comes to minorities. Cultural competency helps break down the barriers by gaining trust and building a strong, therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, it helps the provider get a sense of what’s normal and abnormal from that particular culture’s perspective versus that of society at large. In my experience, this helps minority clients feel more understood and heard, which builds a stronger therapeutic alliance.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Lead with empathy and unconditional positive regard. Additionally, if you do not know—ask, don’t assume. My clients enjoy sharing things about their culture that I may not understand, even clients who are members of the same minority group as I am. It shows I’m interested in them and helps strengthen our therapeutic relationship.
Brandalyn Kemp MA, LPCC-S
Q. What are some typical problems you encounter as a therapist when working with minority populations?
A. A typical problem is not being able to relate to the individual, even within the same ethnic background, due to different upbringings. This can create barriers to effective communication. To overcome these challenges, it’s crucial to build trust and remain open to learning about each client’s unique cultural background. Being aware of and addressing any unconscious biases is also important for maintaining a supportive and effective therapeutic relationship.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Always keep in mind an understanding of why you joined this field. Supporting BIPOC clients may come with unique challenges, but it’s crucial to approach these challenges with a willingness to learn and adapt. Even if you don’t always see immediate results, keep investing in your clients' growth. As you plant seeds in this helping profession, you may not always see the harvest. But don’t let that stop you from planting seeds of help.
Yanely Grullon, LMHC
Q. What are the benefits and advantages of providing text-based support in a native language?
A. Using a client’s native language can help them feel more at ease in the overall environment of mental health, which is often seen as uncomfortable, untrustworthy, and even stigmatized by certain cultures. Offering services in a client's native language strengthens the therapeutic relationship by creating a sense of shared understanding and connection.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. My advice to anyone entering the counseling profession today, especially when working with BIPOC clients, is to have confidence in your cultural competency and ability to connect with others. This can help BIPOC clients embrace the safe space that therapy can provide, especially when they are anxious and uncertain about the process.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
In celebrating Minority Mental Health Awareness this month, some of Counslr’s mental health professionals share their valuable insights and personal perspectives to shine a light on the unique mental health challenges faced by minority communities. By encouraging open dialogue to address disparities in mental health services and foster understanding, together we can create a more equitable, accessible, and supportive mental health environment for all people to live healthier and happier lives.
Jataya Wright, LCSW
Q. What does mental health stigma look like in minority populations? What are some solutions that can help remove the stigma?
A. Unfortunately, mental health stigma is still prevalent, even in 2024. In many minority communities, this stigma can manifest as shame for receiving treatment, fear of being judged by others in the community, or having a family member struggling with mental health issues. Instead of seeking professional support, these communities often turn to religion, believing that 'prayer can solve all things' or adhering to the notion that you don't discuss personal issues outside the family. Though religion can play a very important role in people’s lives, it can’t replace professional mental health support altogether.
To decrease and eventually eradicate this stigma, we must continue moving in our current direction: increasing media attention on mental health advocacy and ensuring greater accessibility of these services to minority populations.
It is important to also realize that the availability of mental health treatment needs to be exposed to not only minority populations as a whole but also on an even more micro level to multiple generations within these populations. The stigma against mental health treatment has developed over time. It will now take time to unravel this dilemma.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Be aware. Be culturally competent. Be empathetic. Make sure to place a strong emphasis on your knowledge around cultural competency of multiple minority populations. Commit to being a lifelong learner, as traditions are forever changing with each generation. Maintain an unbiased listening ear so clients feel comfortable seeking treatment from someone who understands the way they grew up and family dynamics.
Remember, it is still difficult for many people to come forward and seek help that maybe no one else in their family has ever received. In other words, book smarts will open the door, but social awareness will keep your clients' attention.
Jocelyn Tapia, LMFT
Q. What special considerations should be taken into account when understanding neurodivergence (particularly ADHD and Autism) in people of color?
A. Autism and ADHD are often depicted as issues that only impact white males. People of color, especially Black and Latino girls, are often identified and diagnosed late and experience higher misdiagnosis rates. Support can be delayed due to structural factors, like schools being underfunded and understaffed, or caretakers fearing a diagnosis that negatively labels children. When working with neurodivergent individuals, the focus should be on enhancing their overall well-being and addressing specific challenges rather than pathologizing neurodivergence itself.
Some examples of support include:
- Being genuinely curious about the challenges neurodivergent individuals experience and assisting them through strategies that effectively meet their basic needs;
- Assisting individuals in challenging their internalized negative thoughts about themselves and developing self-compassion that highlights their strengths; and
- Exploring calming strategies that regulate the nervous system. Neurodivergent individuals may process the world more sensitively, so this can be helpful for building emotional resilience.
Q. What do boundaries look like in Latinx family households?
A. Boundaries can be difficult to implement in cohesive Latinx families. Children of Latinx parents may feel guilty about setting limits because healthy boundaries weren't encouraged or modeled at an early age. It’s normal to feel guilty about setting boundaries, but it’s okay to prioritize yourself and set your own rules to live by. While this process can be challenging, openly communicating your feelings, thoughts, and needs with family can help ease the transition.
Give yourself some grace for the challenges that may arise when setting boundaries. Families may not immediately accept or like your boundaries, because they have benefitted from your support and comfort over the years. However, boundaries are essential to maintaining a healthy connection and relationship with someone; without appropriate ones in place, resentment can build. Remind yourself that the guilt will pass and you will have a healthier relationship because of it.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Be patient and curious. BIPOC communities have a difficult time seeking counseling due to stigma toward mental health, discrimination, and concerns about accessing actual good health care. Providing a safe space where individuals can feel free to express themselves without judgment and feel validated is crucial to creating a positive experience. Individuals are the experts of their own life on what works best for them and what does not, so allowing them to explore and process their own thoughts and feelings is a great way to play a role in their well-being.
Solimar Colon-Ortiz, LMHC
Q. What are the benefits and advantages of providing text-based support in a native language?
A. Providing text-based support in a native language can increase the chances of BIPOC individuals accessing care and decrease the chances of dropping out of services. For many minority groups, one of the major obstacles to accessing services is the stigma and shame related to experiencing mental health symptoms and engaging with services. In some Latinx groups, it is frowned upon to seek mental health services because the culture doesn’t support showing signs of weakness.
Text-based support is a convenient way to access culturally competent care in an affordable and confidential way. Clients can connect at any time from anywhere. Coupled with finding access to a therapist who speaks the same language, clients can express their emotions and thoughts accurately, which can help them feel a sense of familiarity and comfort. Feeling understood and included can make a difference in whether clients can fully engage in the healing process.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. To properly and effectively communicate with clients, it is important that therapists learn about themselves and others. Culturally competent training helps therapists understand the values, traditions, customs, and beliefs of clients from different cultures. This allows therapists to treat clients with respect while showing inclusivity, genuineness, and empathy.
Yolanda Smith Ervin, LMHC
Q. What are the biggest barriers to getting quality mental health care in the communities you serve? How does cultural competency play into breaking down the barriers?
A. The biggest barrier is gaining trust. Though we’ve made many strides in the past decade in seeing mental health as less taboo, there is still an underlying distrust when it comes to minorities. Cultural competency helps break down the barriers by gaining trust and building a strong, therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, it helps the provider get a sense of what’s normal and abnormal from that particular culture’s perspective versus that of society at large. In my experience, this helps minority clients feel more understood and heard, which builds a stronger therapeutic alliance.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Lead with empathy and unconditional positive regard. Additionally, if you do not know—ask, don’t assume. My clients enjoy sharing things about their culture that I may not understand, even clients who are members of the same minority group as I am. It shows I’m interested in them and helps strengthen our therapeutic relationship.
Brandalyn Kemp MA, LPCC-S
Q. What are some typical problems you encounter as a therapist when working with minority populations?
A. A typical problem is not being able to relate to the individual, even within the same ethnic background, due to different upbringings. This can create barriers to effective communication. To overcome these challenges, it’s crucial to build trust and remain open to learning about each client’s unique cultural background. Being aware of and addressing any unconscious biases is also important for maintaining a supportive and effective therapeutic relationship.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Always keep in mind an understanding of why you joined this field. Supporting BIPOC clients may come with unique challenges, but it’s crucial to approach these challenges with a willingness to learn and adapt. Even if you don’t always see immediate results, keep investing in your clients' growth. As you plant seeds in this helping profession, you may not always see the harvest. But don’t let that stop you from planting seeds of help.
Yanely Grullon, LMHC
Q. What are the benefits and advantages of providing text-based support in a native language?
A. Using a client’s native language can help them feel more at ease in the overall environment of mental health, which is often seen as uncomfortable, untrustworthy, and even stigmatized by certain cultures. Offering services in a client's native language strengthens the therapeutic relationship by creating a sense of shared understanding and connection.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. My advice to anyone entering the counseling profession today, especially when working with BIPOC clients, is to have confidence in your cultural competency and ability to connect with others. This can help BIPOC clients embrace the safe space that therapy can provide, especially when they are anxious and uncertain about the process.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
Empowering Minority Mental Health: Insights from Professional Counselors
In celebrating Minority Mental Health Awareness this month, some of Counslr’s mental health professionals share their valuable insights and personal perspectives to shine a light on the unique mental health challenges faced by minority communities. By encouraging open dialogue to address disparities in mental health services and foster understanding, together we can create a more equitable, accessible, and supportive mental health environment for all people to live healthier and happier lives.
Jataya Wright, LCSW
Q. What does mental health stigma look like in minority populations? What are some solutions that can help remove the stigma?
A. Unfortunately, mental health stigma is still prevalent, even in 2024. In many minority communities, this stigma can manifest as shame for receiving treatment, fear of being judged by others in the community, or having a family member struggling with mental health issues. Instead of seeking professional support, these communities often turn to religion, believing that 'prayer can solve all things' or adhering to the notion that you don't discuss personal issues outside the family. Though religion can play a very important role in people’s lives, it can’t replace professional mental health support altogether.
To decrease and eventually eradicate this stigma, we must continue moving in our current direction: increasing media attention on mental health advocacy and ensuring greater accessibility of these services to minority populations.
It is important to also realize that the availability of mental health treatment needs to be exposed to not only minority populations as a whole but also on an even more micro level to multiple generations within these populations. The stigma against mental health treatment has developed over time. It will now take time to unravel this dilemma.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Be aware. Be culturally competent. Be empathetic. Make sure to place a strong emphasis on your knowledge around cultural competency of multiple minority populations. Commit to being a lifelong learner, as traditions are forever changing with each generation. Maintain an unbiased listening ear so clients feel comfortable seeking treatment from someone who understands the way they grew up and family dynamics.
Remember, it is still difficult for many people to come forward and seek help that maybe no one else in their family has ever received. In other words, book smarts will open the door, but social awareness will keep your clients' attention.
Jocelyn Tapia, LMFT
Q. What special considerations should be taken into account when understanding neurodivergence (particularly ADHD and Autism) in people of color?
A. Autism and ADHD are often depicted as issues that only impact white males. People of color, especially Black and Latino girls, are often identified and diagnosed late and experience higher misdiagnosis rates. Support can be delayed due to structural factors, like schools being underfunded and understaffed, or caretakers fearing a diagnosis that negatively labels children. When working with neurodivergent individuals, the focus should be on enhancing their overall well-being and addressing specific challenges rather than pathologizing neurodivergence itself.
Some examples of support include:
- Being genuinely curious about the challenges neurodivergent individuals experience and assisting them through strategies that effectively meet their basic needs;
- Assisting individuals in challenging their internalized negative thoughts about themselves and developing self-compassion that highlights their strengths; and
- Exploring calming strategies that regulate the nervous system. Neurodivergent individuals may process the world more sensitively, so this can be helpful for building emotional resilience.
Q. What do boundaries look like in Latinx family households?
A. Boundaries can be difficult to implement in cohesive Latinx families. Children of Latinx parents may feel guilty about setting limits because healthy boundaries weren't encouraged or modeled at an early age. It’s normal to feel guilty about setting boundaries, but it’s okay to prioritize yourself and set your own rules to live by. While this process can be challenging, openly communicating your feelings, thoughts, and needs with family can help ease the transition.
Give yourself some grace for the challenges that may arise when setting boundaries. Families may not immediately accept or like your boundaries, because they have benefitted from your support and comfort over the years. However, boundaries are essential to maintaining a healthy connection and relationship with someone; without appropriate ones in place, resentment can build. Remind yourself that the guilt will pass and you will have a healthier relationship because of it.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Be patient and curious. BIPOC communities have a difficult time seeking counseling due to stigma toward mental health, discrimination, and concerns about accessing actual good health care. Providing a safe space where individuals can feel free to express themselves without judgment and feel validated is crucial to creating a positive experience. Individuals are the experts of their own life on what works best for them and what does not, so allowing them to explore and process their own thoughts and feelings is a great way to play a role in their well-being.
Solimar Colon-Ortiz, LMHC
Q. What are the benefits and advantages of providing text-based support in a native language?
A. Providing text-based support in a native language can increase the chances of BIPOC individuals accessing care and decrease the chances of dropping out of services. For many minority groups, one of the major obstacles to accessing services is the stigma and shame related to experiencing mental health symptoms and engaging with services. In some Latinx groups, it is frowned upon to seek mental health services because the culture doesn’t support showing signs of weakness.
Text-based support is a convenient way to access culturally competent care in an affordable and confidential way. Clients can connect at any time from anywhere. Coupled with finding access to a therapist who speaks the same language, clients can express their emotions and thoughts accurately, which can help them feel a sense of familiarity and comfort. Feeling understood and included can make a difference in whether clients can fully engage in the healing process.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. To properly and effectively communicate with clients, it is important that therapists learn about themselves and others. Culturally competent training helps therapists understand the values, traditions, customs, and beliefs of clients from different cultures. This allows therapists to treat clients with respect while showing inclusivity, genuineness, and empathy.
Yolanda Smith Ervin, LMHC
Q. What are the biggest barriers to getting quality mental health care in the communities you serve? How does cultural competency play into breaking down the barriers?
A. The biggest barrier is gaining trust. Though we’ve made many strides in the past decade in seeing mental health as less taboo, there is still an underlying distrust when it comes to minorities. Cultural competency helps break down the barriers by gaining trust and building a strong, therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, it helps the provider get a sense of what’s normal and abnormal from that particular culture’s perspective versus that of society at large. In my experience, this helps minority clients feel more understood and heard, which builds a stronger therapeutic alliance.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Lead with empathy and unconditional positive regard. Additionally, if you do not know—ask, don’t assume. My clients enjoy sharing things about their culture that I may not understand, even clients who are members of the same minority group as I am. It shows I’m interested in them and helps strengthen our therapeutic relationship.
Brandalyn Kemp MA, LPCC-S
Q. What are some typical problems you encounter as a therapist when working with minority populations?
A. A typical problem is not being able to relate to the individual, even within the same ethnic background, due to different upbringings. This can create barriers to effective communication. To overcome these challenges, it’s crucial to build trust and remain open to learning about each client’s unique cultural background. Being aware of and addressing any unconscious biases is also important for maintaining a supportive and effective therapeutic relationship.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. Always keep in mind an understanding of why you joined this field. Supporting BIPOC clients may come with unique challenges, but it’s crucial to approach these challenges with a willingness to learn and adapt. Even if you don’t always see immediate results, keep investing in your clients' growth. As you plant seeds in this helping profession, you may not always see the harvest. But don’t let that stop you from planting seeds of help.
Yanely Grullon, LMHC
Q. What are the benefits and advantages of providing text-based support in a native language?
A. Using a client’s native language can help them feel more at ease in the overall environment of mental health, which is often seen as uncomfortable, untrustworthy, and even stigmatized by certain cultures. Offering services in a client's native language strengthens the therapeutic relationship by creating a sense of shared understanding and connection.
Q. What advice would you give someone entering the counseling field today in relation to effectively supporting BIPOC clients?
A. My advice to anyone entering the counseling profession today, especially when working with BIPOC clients, is to have confidence in your cultural competency and ability to connect with others. This can help BIPOC clients embrace the safe space that therapy can provide, especially when they are anxious and uncertain about the process.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
