Identity Therapy
Do you struggle with parts of your identity? Identity can be classified in many ways such as race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, age, etc. Do you feel like areas of your identity seem challenging in certain setting such as: workplace discrimination, relationship conflict, stereotypes, and microaggressions?
We are living in a time where people’s identities determine their reality and often we may feel that we are defined by a certain aspect of our identity.
It is important for us to recognize the role that identity has in our overall development as people and members of our society. People who are members of marginalized groups are more susceptible to negative mental health outcomes, these include depression, anxiety and addiction to name a few.
Our Approach
At Bridges to Wellness we believe in using an integrative approach to managing identity-related concerns.
We utilize both Person-Centered Therapy, Cultural Humility as well as various Multicultural Therapies.
This assists our clients in understanding themselves, as well as the ways that they are being perceived by others. Through therapy, clients can find ways to cope with struggles associated with their identity issues and ultimately find themselves in the process. We are not afraid of talking about the difficult issues and feelings that belonging to certain groups can create and we do so in an environment that is safe and without judgment. We understand the impact of oppression and discrimination and how it can affect the mental and emotional health of clients.
We help you discover how your experiences influence your identity.
Once we can identify the ways in which societal pressures and oppression have contributed to the stress that we’ve experienced, we can create barriers and boundaries for our own protection. This will allow us to see a positive reflection of ourselves and how our identities can be our best asset because they make us who we are.
You may believe therapy can help you but you still have questions about identity therapy.
Do I have to choose only one aspect of my identity to discuss?
Absolutely not! We understand the importance of intersectionality of identities and that each aspect of a person’s identity contributes to their experience and makes them unique. We want to learn and explore the specific ways in which your multiple identities impact you.
If my therapist doesn’t share my identity will they be able to relate to me?
We certainly hope so! Every person has many facets to themselves, and we learn that we often have more in common with people than we think! Empathy and understanding are critical aspects of what we do in therapy and utilizing these skills helps us to see the world through our clients’ point of view.
How will I know if doing identity-related work will benefit me?
We believe that everyone can benefit from exploring how their identities impact them and how they manage certain stressors. We also believe that pressure from stereotypes and stigmas can be insidious and often show up in ways we wouldn't expect. Understanding this can help to realign one's perspective and reveal that sometimes we are capable of defining ourselves for ourselves.
Want to schedule an appointment?