Thrive for the People
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I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. ​For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, ​we shall be one.

Crazy Horse


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Multicultural Counseling

Why Should I Work with a Multicultural Therapist?

You are a cultural being with many intersecting identities of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, geographic location, national origin, language, immigration status, etc. You come from a specific historical, cultural, and family background that has brought you to this point in your life and shaped who you are. To miss this part of your story is to miss a large portion of who you are. A multicultural therapist seeks to understand your struggles and strengths within your unique cultural context and to provide therapy that is tailored to your multiple intersecting identities. 
Photo of multicultural woman | Multicultural Counseling with a Psychologist of Color in Seattle, WA 98107
Research has shown that having a trusting and supportive relationship with your therapist is a big part of what makes therapy work. Therefore, it is important to find a therapist who can understand your identities and lived experiences to establish safety and trust. ​Many clients prefer to work with a therapist who share some of their identities because the similar cultural background can facilitate a sense of mutual understanding. Although having shared identities between you and your therapist is important, research has also shown that working with a therapist who has a high level of multicultural humility and responsiveness, no matter their identities, is crucial to having a positive outcome in therapy. You are more likely to connect well and get better faster working with a therapist who has the training and expertise to understand how culture plays a role in your mental health.  ​​

What Does Multicultural Counseling Look Like?

You deserve to work with a therapist with whom you feel seen, accepted, and understood in all of who you are, including your identities, experiences, and cultural background. ​
 
As a multicultural therapists, we value understanding you as a whole person within a complex and interdependent context of  history, society, community, family, and relationships. We value seeing mental health through the lens of your identities, experiences, and culture. If you chose to work with one of our competent therapists, we will take the time to step into your world and accurately understand your pain and suffering from your perspective. 
Photo of male immigrant in Seattle | Multicultural Counseling | Psychologist of Color in Ballard 98107
We will look at the cultural and historical barriers to your mental health. We will honor the coping strategies that may have helped you, your family, and your community to survive. We will talk about our similar and different identities and how power exists within the relationship between you and your therapist. 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. ​

Photo of young Muslim woman with a hijab who attended counseling for depression and anxiety in Seattle, WA 98107

Our Specialties in Multicultural Counseling

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. 

Read our bios for more information about our backgrounds, trainings, research, and lived experiences.  

Our Commitment as Multicultural Therapists

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 continually identifying 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.

Begin Culturally Responsive Counseling in Our Ballard Clinic

Whether you are looking for help with depression, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, relationships, or navigating the challenges of being a multicultural individual, counseling can help. Furthermore, it can make all the difference to have a therapist who understands your complex cultural identity. If you are looking for a compassionate multicultural counselor, please contact our psychotherapy clinic today. We will begin by getting to know each other in a free 15-minute phone consultation and see how we can work together to create a culturally relevant treatment plan.

Other Counseling Services

You are a unique individual.  You deserve a therapist who understands all of your complexities.  Here at Thrive for the People, our counselor understand both the impact of cultural identity and mental health issues. We offer counseling for many different mental health concerns in our Seattle, WA clinic located in Ballard. We take a whole-person approach to treatment, and we offer evidence-based counseling for ​depression, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating and negative body image, and couple and marriage counseling. In addition, if you are unable to come to our Ballard counseling clinic, we encourage you to take advantage of our online counseling services.

work with Us

Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit.
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Contact

Phone: 206-403-1148
Fax: 206-800-1091
contact@thriveforthepeople.com
​5306 Ballard Ave NW #212
Seattle, WA 98107

Location

  • Home
  • Our Team
    • Julianna Fetner, LMFT
    • Jennifer Chain, PhD
    • Join Our Team >
      • Full-Time Clinician
  • Services
    • Depression Treatment
    • Anxiety Treatment
    • Trauma Treatment
    • Relationship with Food and Body
    • Couples & Marriage Counseling
    • Multicultural Counseling
    • Online Counseling
    • Professional Consultation
  • Fees and Documents
  • Blog
  • Recommended Reading
  • Contact