Culturally Competent Counselling and Why Representation Matters in Therapy

By Nicole Chinery | June 2025

As I was passively scrolling on Instagram a few days ago, I came across a video where a creator was speaking on her experience in Sephora, and if you’ve struggled with low self-esteem you can understand that Sephora can be a very intimidating space. She passed a statement in her video that stuck with me, “Sometimes you must expose your eyes”. While this was in relation to her encouraging her viewers to take up space and allow themselves to explore, for me it highlighted the importance of representation. 

It’s hard to believe something exists when you don’t see it. That is precisely why representation matters, especially for black people in our attempts to dismantle negative narratives and stereotypes about our mental health. But it's not just about seeing a black therapist, it is more so about receiving culturally sensitive therapy that is inclusive and caters to your unique needs. In a study by Doris Chang and Alexandra Berk, clients who were unsatisfied with their therapy experiences reported that their therapists provided interventions that were ‘too textbook and not tailored to the client’s specific life contexts and history’ and criticised them for not being well equipped with group specific knowledge (2009). 

At its core, healing requires spaces where we feel seen, heard, and understood, not just on the surface, but in the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. Representation in therapy isn’t a trend; it’s a necessary step toward collective and individual liberation. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to prioritize your mental health in a space that honors who you are, this is it. Book a session with our practice today and begin your journey with a therapist who sees you fully and intentionally.

Sources: Chang, D. F., & Berk, A. (2009). Making cross-racial therapy work: A phenomenological study of clients’ experiences of cross-racial therapy. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(4), 521–536. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016905