How to find the "right" culturally-responsive therapist for you.

Searching for a therapist can feel like a big task. For some in the Asian community in Australia, there may be an extra layer of hesitation; wanting to find someone who truly understands the cultural nuances behind your experiences.

It might feel difficult to explain to a therapist what it means to balance family expectations, navigate migration-related stress, or manage the impact of subtle racism. Some people might worry about having to educate their therapist about these experiences, rather than feeling supported in exploring them.

While the process can feel overwhelming at first, there are some gentle steps you can take to help you find a therapist who feels right for you.

find a therapist who feels right for you.

Start with your own reflection

Before beginning your search, you may find it helpful to reflect on what matters most for you in a therapist. Some questions to consider might include:

• Would I feel more comfortable with someone who shares my cultural background, or is simply being open to understanding it, enough?

• Do I need someone who speaks a certain language to support me in therapy?

• What kinds of experiences (migration, identity, racism) would I like acknowledged in our sessions?

• Are there practical preferences such as age, gender, or the therapist's own migration journey, that may help me feel at ease?

These reflections can help you feel more prepared as you begin looking for support.

Explore spaces that centre multicultural mental health (they do exist!)

Once you’re ready to start searching, there are places you might turn to that already centre cultural-responsiveness.

Sorry for the shameless plug, but our Shapes and Sounds Asian Mental Health Practitioner List is a directory dedicated to Asian Australian mental health practitioners, therapists who are specifically passionate about supporting the Asian community in their work.

Another option is the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Directory, which may also be a helpful starting point if you’re looking for bilingual or culturally diverse therapists across Australia.

Starting with these spaces can help reduce the feeling of needing to explain every part of your background from scratch.

Use your introductory calls to help your search

Many therapists offer free introductory calls, and some people find this a helpful way to get a sense of whether someone feels like the right fit.

Don't feel afraid to ask such questions as:

• Have you worked with Asian clients before?

• How do you bring cultural identity into your sessions?

• How do you approach cultural differences you may not be familiar with?

It might not only be what they say, but how they respond, because it's this that really helps you to determine who you'll feel comfortable working with. 

Notice how you feel once you’re in the therapy room (or zoom)

Even when the search feels complete, it may take a little time to know if a therapist is the right fit for you.

As you begin your therapy sessions, you might ask yourself:

• Do I feel heard and understood here?

• Does my therapist acknowledge and validate my cultural experiences?

• Do I feel comfortable enough to share openly?

It’s normal for therapy to feel uncomfortable at times, but overall, the space should feel supportive and respectful of your whole self, including your cultural identity. If it doesn’t, you might like to bring this up with your therapist because they might be able to pause and reflect here with you too. Alternatively, it’s okay to continue your search until it feels right.

Taking that first step

Finding a therapist can take time, but for many people, the right fit makes all the difference. If you’re looking for someone who understands the mental health complexities of being Asian in Australia, culturally-responsive care might be an important part of your journey.

We’ve created a free PDF guide, filled with reflection prompts and a simple checklist, to help you think through what might feel important before you begin therapy.

💡You can find the guide, along with more tips, right HERE.

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