Written by Kenya Sanchez

A Personal Connection

Being raised in Chicago, from Mexican roots, I count myself lucky to have limited experience in
feeling out of place, especially in an environment so heavy on diversity. Being Latina has been
an asset in my educational opportunities, and granted me a seat at many tables thanks to
initiatives that helped support minorities in their pursuit of academic and professional success.
For a first-generation student and professional like me whose parents did not receive any
education above the age of 16, this support has catapulted me in ways I will always be grateful
for.

Moving to Utah was truly the first time that I began to realize that being a person of color in the
community in which we exist can carry a different weight in this region than I had previously
experienced. I began to understand to a degree what marginalization due to race and physical
appearance can feel like for many. BIPOC people may know that internalized stigma and
marginalization does not only come from external sources, but can often also come from
members within our own communities. While I have not experienced everything my BIPOC
clients have had to experience, I empathize, sympathize and validate any personal struggles
faced existing in such a complicated space.

BIPOC Identity Healing

The weight of not fitting into the “mold” can be different for each member of the BIPOC
community, but to not acknowledge that we carry an extra weight would be a disservice to
ourselves. At some time or another, our identities may be used in different ways by others that
limits our opportunities in social circles, professional settings, and everyday life.
Healing from the wounds of being underrepresented or marginalized requires acknowledging
the weight and pain of our generational predecessors, and also developing a new story for our
lives that frees us from the fears and limits others have put on us or even those fears and limits
we have imposed upon ourselves.

In therapy, healing can also be aided by working with a therapist who either understands your
cultural background and experience, or is of the BIPOC community themselves. Understanding
the different cultural expectations, norms and interpersonal struggles faced in BIPOC
communities can facilitate communicating the clients’ struggles and encourage deeper work.

Therapy and the Racial and Cultural Identity Development (R/CID) Model

Therapy with BIPOC members of our community includes re-telling and making sense of one’s
marginalized experiences, feeling validated in the disadvantages and struggles BIPOC people
face and removing self-blame or shame for things out of one’s control. Grieving pain caused by
prejudice while also reclaiming one’s own heritage and personal associations to it can help
clients embrace their identity in a more inclusive way. It is important to note that every person
will relate to their cultural background differently, and there is no one right or wrong way to
reclaim one’s cultural/racial/ethnic identity. A therapist’s job is not to tell you how to be you, but
rather discover what feels authentic to you and navigate the process of reclaiming yourself as
best as possible.

Some BIPOC people may not feel that they need to go to therapy specifically to work on their
feelings of marginalization or oppression, and that is okay! It helps to have an informed clinician
who understands possible associations to BIPOC identity as clients work through other
therapeutic goals.

The Racial and Cultural Identity Development (R/CID) model is a framework to understand how
BIPOC individuals develop a sense of self in relation to their racial identity, physical presentation
and the dominant cultural experience. Therapy using this model as a resource can help a
BIPOC client understand where they feel they fit in their cultural/racial identity without
judgement, and work through some of the emotional snags that come with societal judgements
and expectations placed upon us as BIPOC members of this community. We can come to terms
with our inner world as it currently is and feel empowered to take control of the story that’s been told for us about who we are or who we need to be. The R/CID model normalizes identity growth
and change, prompting clients to embrace their identity growth as well.

Final Notes

Some people may be nervous or worried about going to a therapist and disclosing citizenship
status. Clients are not obligated to disclose that information to their therapist, and therapists are
not legally obligated to disclose that personal information out of respect for personal health
information privacy. A therapist of the BIPOC community (like me and other wonderful members
of the Hope Therapy team) can help support you as you navigate this aspect of your identity
with kindness, respect and celebration of who you are!