Therapy for Culture, Identity & Race

Your ethnicity, race, and cultural context are important components of who you are.

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Therapy for Culture, Identity & Race
in Houston, TX and Online

Why Explore Therapy for Culture, Identity & Race?

Are you facing discrimination because of your race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or disabilities?
Do you feel torn between your family’s expectations and history, American cultural norms, and your own wants and goals?
Are you struggling with belongingness?
Do you feel uncomfortable or unsafe being yourself out in public?
Are you struggling to form healthy, respectful relationships—whether romantic, friendly or professional?
Do you often feel invisible, belittled, prejudged, and/or trapped by a label that doesn’t fit who you are?
Are you struggling with internalized bigotry and shame about your identity?
Were you raised in a multi-ethnic household, adopted by parents of a different race or cultural group, or parenting children with a partner from a different culture?
Are you experiencing conflict between your values and the cultural or religious norms of your family or upbringing?
Do you wish you could feel free to find and be your true self, without fear or hesitation?

Your background and experiences are an important component of who you are. You may even find that your cultural, religious, or racial identity impacts your daily life more than you realized.

You Can Thrive With
Racial Identity Therapy

Give us a call at 832-559-2622 to find out more about Therapy for Culture, Identity & Race in Houston. You can also schedule an appointment online with our counselors today. We have therapists near the Montrose, Heights & Sugar Land neighborhoods.

Book an Appointment

CALL US (832) 559-2622

You Are Not Alone

The term “multicultural” captures a wide range of identities: race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or disabilities. And, it’s certainly possible to inhabit more than one identity at the same time. Navigating identity, family boundaries, career stress, relationships, and more can be difficult for everyone, regardless of background.

But, if you are a member of a population that faces discrimination in the legal system, health care system, workplace, or everyday interpersonal interactions, you likely feel the weight of these challenges even more keenly. Overt and covert discrimination and mental health too often go hand-in-hand, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma.

And, as you try to absorb clashes of cultural norms, ideas, and messages about the “right” way to be, you might be feeling chronic distress or loneliness.

As a member of a marginalized or minority group, you may feel bombarded by conflicting messages about who you are and who you should be. Perhaps you frequently see your identity parodied and carelessly dismissed, causing you to feel hurt, discouraged, and exhausted. On top of that internal struggle, fear for your safety, blocks to career opportunities and services, disheartening news stories, conflicts with your family, and all the stresses of daily responsibilities may be taking a toll on your physical and mental health.

Identity & Cultural Counseling Can Provide You With Support On A Variety of Topics

It is possible to talk with someone who will listen and understand in a safe, confidential, and private setting. The therapists at Eddins Counseling Group are culturally competent and incorporate multicultural counseling into therapy for a range of concerns.

We will acknowledge and honor your background, rather than assume or impose.

Multicultural counseling is typically a component of any therapy you seek. In some cases, however, it may be the primary focus. Your ethnicity, race, and cultural context are important components of who you are. Counseling is about exploring your identity, bringing awareness to your unique experiences, exploring issues of oppression or discrimination, and clarifying your values and preferences. Race, ethnicity, and identity play a role in your mental health and you may not even recognize its impact.

Whether you’re Latinx, of African descent, Anglo-American, racially ambiguous, or anywhere in between, therapy can be a great place for you to learn about yourself.

Having a safe space to walk through your honest feelings surrounding your racial, cultural, or religious experience is an important part of understanding yourself.

Beyond any set of identifiers and labels, you are a unique person with personal wants, needs, fears and hopes. Your therapist can offer you validation, empathy and expert guidance as you parse through everything that everyone says you are and reject those messages that only feed turmoil and self-doubt. You can get to the root of any shame you feel about yourself and your identity and find freedom from internalized oppression.

Therapy Can Help You Explore:

Family Styles

Family styles and childhood experiences influence identity, such as in these examples:

Being a racial minority
Going to a school whose students are mostly comprised of another race
Adoption by racially differing parents
Mixed households
Having different religious views than your family of origin

However you experienced race differentials as a child, those experiences contributed to your understanding of yourself and the world around you. Or perhaps you are a parent wanting support in parenting from different cultural backgrounds or helping your child (or adopted child) with their own racial, ethnic or cultural identity.

Family Issues

If your family members do not share your cultural identity, you may feel excluded, rejected, and uneasy when you try to express yourself to your relatives. Or, if your family members do share your cultural identity, you may feel torn between their expectations, your family culture, and the life you want for yourself. Either way, you may feel alienated from family members and unsure how to have a healthy relationship with them without sacrificing who you are.

Your therapist can help you develop effective communication tools, equipping you to advocate for yourself so you can be assertive rather than aggressive or overly compliant. You can learn how to set healthy boundaries and process judgments or criticisms so they no longer limit you. Overall, you can find balance between the family you come from and who you are today.

Spirituality

If you have begun to question the religion you were raised in, or if you feel rejected by your faith community, you may feel as though you are going through a spiritual crisis. Perhaps you no longer know if you share the beliefs that you were taught to cherish while growing up. Or, perhaps the spirituality you hold dear to your heart seemingly conflicts with other parts of who you are.

In nonjudgmental multicultural therapy, your therapist will support you as you question and explore what spirituality means for you. You can discover what you believe and find clarity about what you hold dear, as well as come to find strength and possibility in conflict and doubt. You don’t have to hide parts of yourself; instead, you can embrace the complexity of belief and learn ways to honor both your faith and your unique identity.

Career Concerns

It may be that you have trouble getting job interviews simply because of your name. Or, maybe you are in a career that you love but feel worn down by clients or coworkers who don’t respect your input and bosses who don’t seem to recognize your skills and insights.

Multicultural counseling offers you a safe, supportive space to air out all your frustrations and concerns. And, your therapist can help you advocate for yourself in the workplace and cope with stress and anxiety overall. With the right tools, strategies, and resources, you can clearly express your qualifications, productively address workplace discrimination, and feel confident in your job skills.

top therapist in houston and sugar land texas

Racial Identity Therapy FAQ's

What if there is a stigma around therapy in my culture?

If you come from a culture that doesn’t welcome the idea of therapy, you may have heard that you simply need to pray more, turn to your family or toughen up.

But, in truth, there is nothing wrong with seeking counseling. Therapy can be helpful for anyone, regardless of background, at any stage in life.

You don’t need to be in a crisis to reach out for help, and working with a counselor does not mean you are weak or defective. In fact, it takes courage to reach out for help. And, seeking mental health counseling is a lot more common than you may think.

Most people find it relieving just to process topics that may be taboo or uncomfortable to discuss with close family and friends.

Exploring things in an open and honest way helps you build confidence and clarity.

Will my therapist try to push me away from my family and beliefs?

The main goal of multicultural therapy is to help you clarify what’s important to you. Your therapist will never push you toward one set of beliefs or force you to do something you don’t want to do.

Instead, your therapist will honor and respect your background, identity, beliefs and values, helping you create a plan to live in alignment with your deepest, fullest self.

You don’t have to discard any part of your identity to find wholeness and satisfaction. Rather, you can navigate life’s complications and find peace with who you are.

How do I choose a therapist for racial identity therapy?

While your counselor is there to guide and direct your therapeutic experience, they are merely there as an aid.

That’s why choosing a therapist that’s right for you as you seek out racial identity therapy doesn’t mean they have to share your specific race or heritage.

In fact, having another perspective from a different racial identity may help you to process some of your own experiences and reactions to other races around you.

The important part of choosing your therapist is that you feel safe and comfortable with them.

Our client care coordinator can help you find a good fit therapist if you are feeling unsure.

Relationship Support

If you are part of multicultural friendships or a romantic partnership, you may struggle to see eye-to-eye with the people you care about. You may find yourself in conflict about important issues, leading to hurt and confusion all around. Perhaps you just wish your loved ones would believe and support you when you share your experience, or accept that you sometimes face challenges they don’t.

With counseling, you can hone your communication skills and develop strategies to gracefully and effectively navigate conflict.

You can also learn to manage heightened distress and respond to hurtful comments without lashing out or withdrawing. Your therapist can also help you identify what you need out of your relationships so you can surround yourself with people who respect, value and support you.

There Is Acceptance and Relief

Our trained counselors at Eddins Counseling Group are prepared to help you process your unique identity and to better understand your roots. We invite you to call Eddins Counseling Group at 832-559-2622 or contact us for more information about multicultural counseling and our practice in Houston or Sugar Land, TX.

Book an Appointment

CALL US (832) 559-2622