I’ve been checking out a bunch of therapist search engines and found very weird filters like “Native American”, “Black”, “Christian” etc. I’ve seen some website with a filter for gender, religion, race, but no credentials (psychologist or psychiatrist) or keywords for certain therapy types.
I gotta ask… Why? I never thought about seeking out a therapist or a physician that had my ethnicity. When I asked for recommendations or people asked me to recommend them therapists, never was the religion/race/gender of the therapist mentioned. Why do Americans care?
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What website was this? I’ve done therapy and never run into that before
I strongly prefer female ones in most cases. So it’s helpful.
Not race/gender/religion but I have a Gay PCP since I am also gay. It makes me feel more comfortable and I feel less stigmatized talking about sexual health.
This is mostly a mental health thing, and it makes sense if you think about it. For example, a person who’s experienced racial discrimination might want a therapist who’s been there, or someone deeply religious might relate better to a counselor with a similar faith background.
(Edited for clarity)
Some people prefer therapists that they feel like they can relate to, and that can relate to them.
Some religious women prefer an OBGYN that’s their faith or a similar one so they’ll understand some of their views. For instance, if you’re a Catholic woman, you probably don’t want an OBGYN that’s going to push birth control or abortion on you.
I’ll tell a story: When I got pregnant for the first time, I’d never really seen an OBGYN before. I’m a Devout Mormon and had been recently married. I go see a local doctor in my college town, and she congratulates me on the pregnancy, but straight up mentions unprovoked that the clinic does offer abortion services if that’s what I’d prefer. I was DEEPLY offended and said so and she said “I’m sorry, we just have to say that to everyone.”
So now I prefer doctors with similar views to mine. Every doctor I’ve had since has either been Catholic or LDS.
Idk, this makes a lot of sense to me; if you’re a Christian and wanted to talk about your faith during therapy, I’d think you’d much prefer a Christian therapist?
They don’t require it.
For therapy it’s common for people to have a preference based upon their issues. Someone struggling with their religion may prefer to talk to a therapist that shares their religion. Someone talking about an abusive bf/gf may want to talk to someone of the same sex etc.
What’s hard to understand that some people want providers that they can better relate to?
the idea is that, if (hypothetically) you are a black person, and some of the issues you want to talk about are related to the experience of being black in the US, it might be helpful to talk to someone who has some of that same knowledge/experience.
Nobody needs to use that filter of course but some people might find it helpful.
People who have never experienced your problem often struggle to correctly diagnose and treat your issues. Cultural competency is a major factor in success.
These are prefernces, not requirements. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice and just need to go to who’s available, particularly in less populated areas.
It’s not that common to filter like that. I have a lot of experience hooking people up with therapists and have never heard of the site you’re using.
However, the issues are often that there are some personal sensitivities that can play a role. For example, where I worked connecting people with services (including therapy), we had a very large Native American population. Many of them were more comfortable seeing a mental health provider who was Native American or was reasonably well-versed in the culture, because there are religious and cultural issues at play that not every white/Anglo therapist will understand. Same is often true for other racial and ethnic groups.
In addition, if you’re talking about sensitive or painful issues, sometimes it can be easier to talk to someone more like yourself. I know that personally, I’ve been to therapists to deal with some abuse and trauma in my past, and I tend to respond a lot better to women than to men. It’s not anything against men, it’s just that I feel sometimes women are prone to understanding my specific trauma a little better in that context.
I don’t know where you’re from, of course, but something I’ve seen a lot of people from more homogenous cultures not understand is that Americans don’t necessarily expect full assimilation. We generally acknowledge and accept that people’s experiences will be very different based on their gender, sexual orientation, their race, their ethnicity, etc. So sometimes people just want to talk to someone who gets where they’re coming from.
I’m not in therapy yet but whenever I’ve considered it I’ve leaned towards finding a therapist who is also gay since I’ve had issues at times making peace with my sexuality and it would be nice to talk to someone who can understand that from personal experience. Even if they haven’t struggled, they at least know what it is like in the community.
Some people WANT that. I guess it’s easier for some people to have people that align with their beliefs.
Like I prefer irreligious doctors. My mom didn’t want to go to hospice yet, as her oncologist said her cancer was treatable. Her primary care physician said she’s be in a better place and we could meet in heaven. That’s not how we felt.
I know recently I saw someone asking for a therapist that wanted only a combat veteran. They felt their trauma was unique and wanted someone that had experienced that trauma.
You don’t want to talk about LGBT persecution with a therapist that thinks homosexuality should be illegal.
Cultural sympathy. Same reason a rich dude from the north east USA shouldn’t write a movie about living in Nigeria as a philipino.
I’m curious, what do you think it could be?
Therapy is far more effective if the therapist fully understands what the person is going through. A white lady therapist isn’t going to fully understand all the intricacies and life experiences of a black man or an indigenous woman living on the reservation, therefore won’t be able to provide the most effective treatment. With the religion thing, if religion is important to the patient then it’s best to have a therapist who is knowledgeable about the religion and can work those religious beliefs into treatment.
Personally I don’t want my therapist to tell me to pray or whatever, so I prefer to work with a therapist who is not religious. Someone who is very religious might want the opposite. A woman who is seeking therapy due to repeated sexual assault from a male partner or family member might not want to be alone in a room with a male therapist. Someone who has had to deal with a lot of racism in their life might feel most comfortable with a therapist who can relate.
That said, not being able to filter by credentials as well is ridiculous.
I’m a trans nurse practitioner. I provide gender affirming care, and a lot of my patients prefer me over our cisgender providers because I can relate to what they’re going through since I’ve already been through it.
I don’t particularly prefer a doctor of any race, gender identity, etc, but I understand why some people do.
Never gave it a thought before. I prefer a surgeon or physician that is skilled, knowledgeable and straightforward. Had a difficult time finding a dentist since mine for 30 plus years retired. Very rude woman, short, heavy handed, needless to say she didn’t stay in practice long. Found 2nd one, nice but more expensive for minor treatment. Have a great one now with a skilled assistant, both wonderful.
> Why do Americans care?
People often want a therapist they can relate to, especially if they think their reason for going to therapy is tied up in personal experiences. It makes sense for somebody to feel that a member of their particular community in the US might understand their experiences better. My former therapist had a hard time understanding certain cultural aspects of my experience.
> but no credentials (psychologist or psychiatrist) or keywords for certain therapy types
You’re either wrong or outright lying, which search engine did you use?
If you’re the same ethnicity as the majority in your country, and especially if you’re male, it probably doesn’t matter for you. If you’re a minority or a woman, having doctors of you ethnicity or gender can be the difference between life and death. Medical professionals often dismiss symptoms of women and minorities
Why in the world is that weird? medical care is one of the most sensitive things a person is going to go thorough. It’s best, if the person is as comfortable as possible.
Say I’m going to therapy due to trauma from a man and religion. Personally, I’m going to prefer a woman therapist who doesn’t base her mental health treatment on religion. Same reason why I only go to female OBGYNs because of my trauma from a male doctor.
I’ve also read a lot about how non-white individuals don’t/haven’t historically receive the best care possible from mental health providers who come from a drastically deferent background. LGBT+ individuals also often will seek out an environment that is safe, welcoming, and understanding.
>Why do Americans care?
The [website](https://complicated.life/en) you posted is hosted in Europe with several of the therapists being from Germany. Did you go to a European website and then blame America for the racial and religious options?
It’s pretty relevant when you’re in a minority group, or if you only want faith-based counseling (or to avoid it).
The US is not a cultural monolith. For example, people who grew up in a Chinese immigrant community will have a very different set of expectations and cultural pressures than someone who grew up in a Mexican immigrant community.
There’s a lot of racism and misogyny baked into the medical profession here, and speaking specifically as a Black woman, I feel more comfortable with a healthcare professional that understands and makes an effort to mitigate that. Statistically, my prognosis will also be better.
It’s also nice to not have to spend an entire session explaining cultural nuances to my therapist so they understand the context of what I’m telling them.
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Edit: Lmao, did I really get downvoted for being honest about medical racism?
Folks may feel more comfortable speaking about issues with someone who shares a cultural, ethnic, gender, etc. background as they do. In particular in regards to health issues they may feel as though they’re more likely to be taken seriously and given proper care and concern when diagnosing issues.
With Therapy it increases the likelihood that you’re speaking to someone who is empathetic to your troubles and shares similar experiences.
I recall from a recent NPR segment that a very high percent (I forget the exact figure) of pregnant black women stated that they did not receive the level of care that they felt they needed and that their concerns were not properly addressed by diverse attending doctors and nurses. Those same individuals are much more likely to actively seek out a black female doctor or attending staff for future needs because they feel their concerns will be taken more seriously by someone of the same ethnicity and background.
It’s about comfort. I prefer male doctors, I’m not comfortable with another woman being responsible for my care. The filters just let people choose who they want to work with on their personal issues.
It is to deal with phycological trauma mostly.
For example, a victim of rape will typically not be comfortable with a person of the same gender as their attacker being the therapist helping them work through that trauma, or being the physician checking on them (often in intimate ways).
Similar issues can occur if someone share the same ethnicity as the attacker, and both can also apply to other kinds of victims such as those who are victims of violent crimes such as attempted murder and the like.
I have never heard of someone asking for a specific religion for those kinds of things but I can guess that it has to do with trusting that the person understands and will work within their religions restrictions on things. This could be things such as not allowing people who are of a different gender to see you naked if you are not married to them, or them understanding what kinds of medications are forbidden under your religious doctrine.
That doesn’t appear to be an American website.
People have said why Americans might want this, but I want to point out that we are more diverse than any other developed nation. So you have a wider range of experiences. A lot of countries it wouldn’t make sense to filter things that way because there isn’t the same diversity of clients or service providers.
Our country is Diverse.
That offers more Choices.
For me (a women) I try to see a women provider so I am more likely to be taken seriously. Women haven been accused of hysteria – which is 100% fake – when being ill. Even in 2023 there are so many stories about women going to doctor to doctor to doctor and being told they are fine when they aren’t. If I’m going to pay hundreds after insurance I want my doctor to take me seriously and for me that will more than likely mean seeing a women doctor. Also studies have come out saying patients with women doctor’s patients tend to heal better and have less complications.
Probably because some folks with a therapist especially want someone that can relate to their experience.
Like before my divorce I sought a marriage counselor and I wanted one who had been married for a while. It didn’t end up working out but I couldn’t put that on the counselor.
Most mental health issues are mediated through daily life as well as family and cultural legacies as well as simetimes divergent cultural values, so high levels of cultural literacy are frequently required. Imagine being Jewish and needing to start off appointments with explanations of why you’re currently under a lot of stress and family drama for someone who doesn’t even know the word “chag.”
A lot of people from marginalized groups want someone who at least has a background in treating people from that group, or with a deep level of education and experience dealing with issues that commonly come up for people of that background. Looking for someone who is part of that group is the easiest way to do this.
I’m part of a group that is a bit harder to find someone who is from that background, and I have had a lot of issues with therapists who claim to have expertise treating folks from that background not actually knowing what they’re talking about at all.
The service providers are trying to stand out and fulfill a niche to find customers that would be more attracted to the idea of being seen by a specific type of individual
Some people feel more comfortable with a certain gender, race or religion. Whether they’re a professional or not, some people are bigoted and will treat you differently if they’re not used to being around people like you.
Medical care is deeply personal. A lot of people feel more comfortable with or that they can better relate to people of similar backgrounds.
I imagine it largely just leads to better care on average too.
Do YOU think a white man in his late 50s is going to be able to understand what a young black woman in her early 20s goes through, in general? How about me? white woman in her 60s – how much am I really going to grasp of Native American culture and the problems facing our indigenous population? Would a LGBT therapist be the first choice as a marriage counselor for a devoutly Christian couple?
As far as gender, people often want to avoid the gender of the parent &/or partner who made them seek therapy in the first place. Other times, it could be useful for a client to confront their issues with a therapist of that gender.
I wouldn’t care about a therapist’s religion, unless they try to push an agenda based on it. I’ve heard of Christian ones who’ll insist that forgiveness of an abuser is essential for healing. IMO, that’s crap, so someone with that mindset, or who insisted that I pray, would be wrong for me. (I’m agnostic.)
As far as race, people from minority communities are often better understood by therapists from those communities, or similar ones. I’ve heard that some white therapists tend to assume claims of discrimination are irrational or paranoid. They haven’t experienced or seen this, so it must be inaccurate. They skew the therapy to “correct” what they think is a cognitive distortion, even though the client really IS dealing with a racist boss or neighbor.
It’s not just an Amercian thing, though. Sadly, these issues exist pretty much everywhere.
A lot of folks want to work people that might share or understand their experiences. I’m LGBTQ+, and many folks in our community will not approach mental health clinics or services without inquiring first and foremost if their practices and practitioners are LGBTQ+ educated and inclusive. I live in West Michigan for example, which is extremely right-wing, and religious…it’s really hard to go to any social service, mental health group, or shelter, and not find “Jesus” written somewhere. Some people just don’t want the religious angle, and a lot of LGBTQ+ folks end up facing harmful therapy practices or therapists telling steering them towards religious practices, or straight up shame them for being who they are.
I actually once changed my PCP years ago, and after my first visit with the new doctor, I never went back/got a new one. Within five minutes of meeting him, he straight up joked that men having sex with men is “dangerous/dirty.” Idc if it was a joke or not. I was immediately shut off from telling him anything, and I couldn’t wait to get out. Seeing a doctor or therapist is you putting yourself in an extremely fragile and vulnerable position, and you want to know that you are going to be accepted and cared for respectfully.
First of all that’s not an American website.
Generally though, people need to feel safe in therapy. People tend to feel more safe around people they feel kinship with. A black person who has trauma from racism probably won’t feel as safe with a therapist of the race they have trauma associated with. A woman in therapy for rape trauma probably won’t feel safe alone in a room with a male therapist. Someone who has been discriminated against or attacked for their religion—antisemitism, Islamophobia, etc—won’t have to explain how damaging it is and how terrifying it is to someone who’s had similar experiences. If someone has family trauma and culture is a factor, you’ll want someone of the same cultural background so they have a proper understanding of the familial norms in, for example, Desi culture or Hispanic culture.
I work in a hospital. I have noticed that Asian patients are more likely to see a doctor with an Asian name, ditto Indians and Middle Easterners. Maybe people feel more comfortable with people they share certain things with (eg, culture, language, religion) in these very trying times.
For my 80+ year old mom she has a hard time understanding accents. She’s also too embarrassed to ask a doctor to repeat themselves and just won’t do it. therefore when I ask her how the appointment went or what the doctor said, she can’t tell me. So yes she does choose doctors that she will have a better chance understanding so that she can get the help she needs.
It’s usually women who want women therapists because there just tends to be less judgement and more understanding. Like if I want to talk about how health issues related to my uterus makes me feel, chances are a woman will understand and relate to that better.
Also like, if someone wants to talk about their sexual assault trauma, it will probably make the process easier to not have a therapist of the same gender as the assaulter.
In regards to the religion thing, some people want faith based counseling that specifically adheres to the tenets of their religion. Or they’re queer and don’t want to put in the emotional work getting acquainted and up to date with a therapist only to have the therapist call them slurs and degrade them (doesn’t happen all the time but enough that it’s a problem)
For race, there’s just some experiences and trauma that are race specific. Some therapists may also turn out to be racist similar to the queer thing mentioned above.
Therapists are supposed to help you and be unbiased but we’re all human and biases are inherent, it’s also sometimes nice for your therapist to understand your experience without you having to educate them about it, which can/is emotionally taxing.
> I never thought about seeking out a therapist or a physician that had my ethnicity.
So you might say this to mean that your doctor’s race is unimportant to you, because you expect that they will do a good job regardless of their own background. And since I do believe you’re asking this question in good faith, it’s a virtuous statement.
But, there are people who have experienced medical mistreatment, or lack of diagnosis, or completely incorrect diagnoses, because western medicine has traditionally been Eurocentric in its research and application. I’m not saying that there are a bunch of racist doctors out there, maybe some but that’s not the real issue. The issue is that healthcare research has been lacking for certain racial/ethnic groups which makes symptoms and potential treatments harder to recognize and plan for.
Having a doctor that is your own race/ethnicity can help, because they presumably are more familiar with how illness can present itself in you, and how to treat it. It could be something a simple as recognizing flushed cheeks, or something as clinically important as the dosage of anesthesia. In mental health, having a counselor with a similar background will do wonders for how well they understand your experience.