Multicultural Counseling in Seattle

You deserve to work with a therapist with whom you feel seen, accepted and understood of all your identities, experiences, and cultural background. All therapists at Thrive for the People receive ongoing multicultural and social justice training and we use a multicultural and anti-oppression approach to our work with every client. As multiculturally-affirming therapists, we value understanding you as a whole person within a complex and interdependent context of history, society, community, family, and relationships. We understand that mental health counseling is not one-size-fits-all and that people from diverse and marginalized groups have unique mental health symptoms, stigma, and challenges to overcome due to the systems of oppression. We know that mental illness impacts people differently depending on their identities and cultural views of mental health. We value a deep understanding of your identities, experiences, and cultures. If you chose to work with one of our multiculturally-affirming therapists, we will take the time to step into your world and accurately understand your pain from your perspective.

Many mental health professionals have basic training on cultural diversity. As a group of multicultural therapists with in-depth training, relevant research, as well as lived experiences, we can offer a deeper exploration of how your cultural identities are connected with your daily life and mental health.

We will look at the cultural and historical barriers to mental health. We will honor the coping strategies that may have helped you, your family, and your community to survive. You and your therapist will talk about your similar and different identities and how power exists within the relationship. We will create a safe space for difficult conversations about inequality, oppression, marginalization, colonization, and injustice. We will assess whether the treatment plan fits with your understanding of the problem, your cultural background, and your expectations.

Multicultural counseling can be especially helpful with the following issues:

• Cultural adjustment
• Language barriers
• Socioeconomic status
• Immigration status
• Gender identity
• Racial and ethnic identity
• Sexual identity
• Religious identity
• Experiences of bias, discrimination, and oppression
• Trauma as the result of oppression
• Cross-cultural communication
• Code-switching
• Generation gap
• Stigma against mental health care in families and communities
• Access to culturally relevant care
• Interracial relationships
• Internalized oppression
• Colorism
• Intergenerational trauma
• Imposter syndrome
• Immigration issues
• Model minority myth
• Post-traumatic slave syndrome
• Stereotype threat
• Sexual harassment and assault​
• The sociopolitical climate in the US and Globally

Here at Thrive for the People, we recognize that there are individual, systemic, structural, institutional, and historical forms of oppression existing in our individual and collective contexts. We are committed to constantly and systematically prevent, address, and combat bias and oppression that is operating within ourselves, our relationships, our organization, and our spheres of influence. We acknowledge that the development of multicultural knowledge, awareness, and skills is a never-ending process of learning, unlearning, self-reflection, courageous conversations, feedback, mistakes, compassion, and empowerment. We are committed to continuously identify our limitations and gaps. We value and support social justice and anti-oppression advocacy and activism in our organization and in society.

We follow the American Psychological Association’s Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality​.

We encourage and welcome feedback and suggestions for deepening our knowledge, awareness, and skills around diversity and multiculturalism. Anyone’s willingness to contribute to our growth in this area and provide feedback and accountability will be received as an act of generosity.