Mindfulness-based Virtual
Culturally Sensitive Counseling
for
Children of immigrants, Transracial adoptees & Cross-cultural individuals
in Oregon, Washington, and Illinois
Navigating the challenge of identity, culture, and family, so you can lift the weight and begin to feel vibrant in who you are.
Culturally Sensitive Counseling
Children of Immigrants
You are capable. Your family immigrated to the U.S from another culture, and they have worked hard in building a life here. You care deeply about your family at the same time, you get on each other’s nerves. Recently something happened that added to your already full plate, and it made things worse. Often, the struggles of having immigrant parents are real.
It feels like you are being pulled in opposite directions between your family’s expectations and what you truly want. You feel obligated to do the right thing with your family while neglecting your own wants and happiness. You found yourself saying that is not fair, but when you don’t do it, you feel worse. You feel anxious and guilty and sometimes, it feels like you are all alone.
International Adoptees
Or perhaps you are an international adoptee. You had to learn to navigate the journey of your identity by yourself. You feel different from others around you, and you don’t know who to turn to, as you are worried that they are going to judge you. As an adult now, you often experience fear of trusting people. Sometimes it feels like you don’t know where you belong. Somehow, you feel that you are not enough.
With mindfulness-based relational therapy, I will help you attune to yourself and make sense of your unique roots so that you can begin to gain a sense of clarity and feel more at ease with yourself and your relationship with your family
Signs You Could Benefit
From Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural counseling can be a valuable resource for individuals navigating the complexities of diverse cultural backgrounds. This counseling approach is sensitive to the myriad ways culture shapes our experiences, beliefs, and behaviors. It acknowledges the importance of understanding a client's cultural context and incorporates this into the therapeutic process
Consider seeking help if:
-
Imagine starting each day already exhausted, knowing you'll face another round of subtle comments or cultural misunderstandings at work. Or perhaps a seemly innocent " I don't understand what you are saying" send you to another round of self-doubt and anxiety rollercoaster. Each interaction chips away at your confidence, leaving you feeling drained and undervalued. You find yourself questioning if you're cut out for this job, or even if you deserve to be here.
-
You find yourself constantly on edge, worrying about how to balance differing cultural expectations from work, relationship and your family without losing yourself. This persistent anxiety can make even simple decisions feel paralyzing.
-
Communication with your partner often feels more like a battle than a conversation. You might want to share a concern, but the conversation quickly spirals into a heated debate. You're trying to express your feelings, but cultural nuances cause your words to be misinterpreted, leaving your partner feeling defensive. What you intended as a simple sharing session turns into a clash of misunderstandings, with each of you feeling like you're speaking different languages. This frustration builds, leaving both of you feeling unheard and emotionally drained, turning every discussion into a potential argument.
-
You may find yourself feeling disconnected and hopeless, particularly if cultural isolation or unmet expectations weigh heavily on your heart. You may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches or fatigue without a clear medical explanation, Or feeling irritable, moody and lack of motivation.
-
It’s as if you're living between worlds. You might feel like an outsider, unable to fully connect with your people around you because you look different. At the same time, you may also feel disconnected from your own culture and struggle to maintain a sense of identity. You feel like you have to constantly adjust yourself depending on who you're interacting with, whether it's your friends, coworkers or family members. You feel a desire to be yourself, at the same time, feeling guilty when not holding up to what others want for you. You find yourself struggling of not knowing who you truly are and feeling lost in your own identity. Sometimes you feel like you're constantly wearing a mask.
-
You might find yourself sandwiched between the traditional values of your parents and the more modern culture you experience daily. The pressure to honor your family's expectations while trying to forge your own path can be overwhelming. These dynamics often lead to misunderstandings or conflicts, leaving you feeling like you're living dual lives. You're expected to embrace the customs and beliefs of your heritage while simultaneously adapting to the culture you were raised in. This can create a sense of obligation to please everyone, even at the expense of your own happiness and authenticity. Balancing these expectations with your own desires and aspirations can feel like an ongoing challenge, where the fear of disappointing your loved ones is ever-present.
Hello there. Welcome!
We are a group of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and we specialize in working with children of immigrants, transracial adoptees, and cross-cultural individuals.
Through individual therapy, we will help you manage your stress, understand your identity and reconcile the intergenerational/ intercultural hurt so that you can enjoy life with more ease and happiness.
What are Cultural Considerations in Counseling?
Cultural considerations in counseling are crucial for providing effective and respectful support to clients from diverse backgrounds, and there are multiple considerations on what does culture encompasses during your treatment.
-
Cultural identity shapes how individuals perceive themselves and the world around them.
For example, an individual who identifies strongly with a particular ethnic heritage may view family dynamics and community roles through the lens of their cultural traditions, which can influence their behaviors and expectations in various aspects of life. This cultural identity might shape how they approach relationships, education, and career choices, aligning with values such as collectivism or individualism. In counseling, this identity influences the client's values, communication styles, and coping mechanisms.
-
These factors contribute to a person's lived experiences, affecting everything from social interactions to systemic challenges
Consider a scenario where a client of Asian descent seeks counseling to address stress and anxiety related to their work environment. In their lived experience, the individual may have faced challenges tied to stereotypes often associated with their racial and ethnic background, such as the expectation of being highly proficient in technical tasks or being perceived as quiet and submissive. These stereotypes can lead to workplace micro-aggressions that undermine their confidence and create a stressful atmosphere. By exploring these nuanced experiences based on ones' race and ethnicity, counselors can more empathetically engage with clients' struggles and help them navigate both interpersonal and systemic obstacles.
-
Trauma experienced by marginalized communities can also influence an individual's identity. For instance, a person from a historically oppressed group may carry generational trauma and internalized beliefs about their worth or capabilities. This can manifest in various ways, such as avoidance behaviors, hyper-vigilance, or difficulty trusting others. In addition, systemic racism and discrimination can further compound the effects of trauma, making it essential for counselors to understand how these issues intersect with a client's identity.
-
A person's sexual orientation or gender identity is another crucial aspect of their overall identity. For those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+), navigating societal norms and expectations can be challenging. This may lead to internalized shame or self-doubt, impacting one's mental health and well-being.
Gender identity encompasses more than just one's assigned sex at birth but also includes personal expression, roles, and expectations placed upon individuals based on societal norms. For clients who identify as transgender or non-binary, their gender identity might be an important compounding factor when talking about issues like work-related stressors, such as discrimination and lack of recognition or support within their workplace due to people's reaction to this part of their identity. It is essential to create a safe and inclusive space for clients to explore these aspects of their identity and address any barriers they face in the workplace
-
A person's socioeconomic status can significantly impact their access to resources and opportunities, including employment. Clients from lower-income backgrounds may face added stressors related to financial struggles or limited career advancement opportunities due to systemic barriers. Multicultural counseling consider the intersectionality of race/ethnicity with other identities, such as class , when working with clients from marginalized communities. This can help us better understand the unique challenges and experiences they may face.
-
Physical or mental disabilities can deeply influence a client's socio-emotional well-being by affecting their daily interactions and self-perception. For instance, a client with a physical disability, such as limited mobility, might experience feelings of isolation or frustration due to inaccessible environments or exclusionary social practices. This can lead to decreased self-esteem and a sense of helplessness. On the other hand, a client with a mental disability, like chronic anxiety, might struggle with social interactions or maintaining steady employment, potentially resulting in heightened stress or withdrawal from social circles. Culturally, these experiences are shaped by societal attitudes towards disabilities, which can vary widely. Understanding these cultural considerations is essential to provide empathetic and effective support, helping clients navigate and overcome these socio-emotional challenges.
-
Financial values and beliefs can be deeply ingrained in a client's identity, especially among individuals from lower-income backgrounds. These values may include the importance of hard work, self-sufficiency, or sacrifice for family. However, these values can also create tension and stress when financial struggles or poverty are present. Clients from marginalized communities may experience shame or guilt for not meeting societal expectations of success, despite facing systemic barriers. They may also have difficulty accessing resources, such as mental health services, due to financial constraints. By understanding the influence of financial values on a client's well-being, culturally sensitive counseling can better support them in navigating their unique challenges and help them develop healthy coping mechanisms.
-
Multicultural counseling creates a culturally sensitive framework that offers a safe space for clients to explore feelings of cultural dissonance and isolation without judgment. According to research, multicultural counseling plays a key role in eliminating stereotypes and promoting cultural equality. It also underscores the efficacy of culturally sensitive counseling in addressing these challenges by fostering an environment where clients feel understood and valued. This approach emphasizes the importance of cultural humility and curiosity among counselors.
By addressing cultural nuances, multicultural counseling assists clients in expressing their experiences with workplace misunderstandings and cultural expectations, helping to reduce self-doubt and anxiety. This approach strengthens individual identity, improves communication, and fosters a sense of belonging and self-awareness. Additionally, it supports clients in balancing differing cultural expectations from family, work, and social circles, which is crucial for mental well-being. Research indicates that cultivating empathy and tolerance through multicultural counseling can lead to better mental health outcomes and resilience against stress and depression. It guides clients in navigating the balance between honoring cultural heritage and adapting to contemporary societal norms, contributing to more harmonious and fulfilling lives.
Spark Relational Counseling’s
Cross-Cultural Counseling Approach
At Spark Relational Counseling, we believe the fundamentals of healing rest most importantly on our relationship. With that in mind, when working with me, we prioritize fostering a welcoming, trustworthy space. From this safe space, we begin to work on ourselves.
The Process
After inviting you to talk about what brings you in and what you hope to accomplish during our time together, we will take a look at some of the events/things in your life that brings you pain and discomfort. During this process, I will help you slow down and begin to attend to yourself. This includes me guiding you to get in touch with your feelings and feeling them in a way that feels good. You might discover doubts, questions, or ungrieved losses and I will be a warm companion, along the way as your story unfolds and feelings emerge.
Engaging With a Culturally Sensitive Therapist
In addition to being an empathetic listener, I also engage myself actively in the process. This looks like me teaching you relational skills to help you communicate what matters to you in a more effective way, and provide some psychoeducation around cross-cultural identity to help you gain insights into your experiences. Other than providing teaching and education, we will also become curious about how you show up during a family conflict and make sense of its roots. This includes us taking a closer look at a potential belief of yours, or more importantly, helping you navigate some of the old, painful experiences in the past that are caused by generational and or cultural differences.
Goals for Culturally Sensitive Counseling
Together, we walk on the path to a long-lasting change by empowering you to define your own unique story as a cross-cultural individual and sparking a real lived healing experience different from what you felt in the past so that you can feel more confident with who you are and begin to build meaningful and authentic connections with people you love.
Specialties
At Spark Relational Counseling, We understand the unique challenges you may face as you navigate the complexities of cultural expectations and personal struggles. Our specialized counseling service offers a culturally sensitive approach, acknowledging and validating your distinct experiences. Here’s a closer look at how a multicultural competence interacts with different presenting issues.
-
In multicultural marriage counseling, couples often grapple with cultural differences that can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. You might find that these challenges strain your communication, leaving you and your partner feeling unheard or undervalued. Multicultural counseling offers you a culturally sensitive framework to bridge these gaps, helping you appreciate each other's unique cultural backgrounds. By fostering empathy and understanding, counseling sessions guide you in navigating cultural nuances and improving your communication skills. Techniques such as role-playing and active listening exercises are used to help you resolve conflicts and strengthen emotional bonds, paving the way for a more harmonious and resilient relationship.
-
Workplace stress and burnout are common among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds due to cultural misunderstandings and biases. These stressors may leave you feeling alienated and undervalued, impacting your mental health and job performance. A study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that multicultural counseling interventions in the workplace can improve job satisfaction and reduce burnout.Multicultural counseling can address these challenges by promoting cultural awareness and empathy in your workplace. Culturally adapted stress management techniques, such as mindfulness and relaxation exercises, are available to help you cope with stress. Counseling also empowers you to set boundaries and develop assertiveness skills, fostering a supportive work environment that values diversity and reduces burnout risks.
-
Unfortunately, racial trauma is a pervasive experience for many individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. It refers to the psychological harm caused by experiencing or witnessing racism, discrimination, or microaggressions based on one's race or ethnicity. The effects of racial trauma can be long-lasting and may lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Multicultural counseling can provide a safe and supportive space for individuals to process and heal from racial trauma. Through culturally sensitive techniques, counselors can help you explore your experiences with racism, challenge internalized beliefs, and develop coping strategies. Multicultural counseling also promotes self-care practices and resilience-building activities to support your emotional well-being.
-
Anxiety in multicultural individuals often stems from cultural expectations and identity conflicts. You might feel the pressure to balance differing cultural norms, leading to persistent anxiety that affects your decision-making and overall well-being. Multicultural counseling recognizes these cultural factors, providing you with tailored approaches to manage anxiety. Through culturally sensitive counseling, you can learn to identify anxiety triggers and develop coping strategies that resonate with your cultural values. Techniques such as mindfulness, adapted to your cultural context, help reduce anxiety symptoms. This supportive environment fosters your self-awareness and acceptance, empowering you to lead a more balanced and fulfilling life.
-
Family relationships in multicultural contexts can be complex, often marked by cultural conflicts and communication barriers. Navigating differing cultural traditions and expectations might lead you to misunderstandings and emotional distance among family members. Multicultural counseling offers you a platform to explore these dynamics constructively. By emphasizing empathy and cultural sensitivity, counseling helps you understand and respect each other's perspectives. Practical strategies, such as role-playing and goal-setting exercises, improve your communication and conflict resolution skills. This approach strengthens your family bonds, promoting lasting understanding and cooperation among members.
-
Identity struggles are common among individuals living between multiple cultural worlds, leading to feelings of disconnection and self-doubt. Multicultural counseling addresses these identity conflicts by validating your cultural experiences and guiding you toward self-acceptance. Culturally sensitive approaches, such as narrative therapy, help you explore and affirm your cultural identity. Counseling sessions encourage you to integrate your cultural heritage into your personal and professional life, fostering a cohesive sense of self. By embracing your multifaceted identity, you enhance your well-being and navigate cultural expectations with confidence and authenticity.
-
Depression in multicultural individuals can be exacerbated by cultural isolation and unmet expectations. Feelings of hopelessness and disconnection might be common for you, often compounded by cultural stigmas around mental health. Multicultural counseling provides you with a culturally affirming space to address these challenges. By incorporating culturally relevant practices, such as storytelling and traditional healing methods, counseling becomes more relatable and effective for you. Counselors work with you to develop coping strategies that align with your cultural background, reducing depressive symptoms and promoting mental well-being. This holistic approach empowers you to embrace your cultural identity, fostering resilience and a sense of belonging.
Common Questions Around Multicultural Counseling
-
Cultural counseling is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes understanding and respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds, values, and experiences of clients. Its primary purpose is to provide support that acknowledges the cultural contexts in which individuals and couples operate, fostering an environment of cultural humility and sensitivity. This form of counseling is significant as it helps clients navigate cultural dynamics that influence their mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
In individual counseling, cultural awareness and sensitivity are crucial in creating a safe space where clients can explore how cultural factors impact their identity and emotional health. For couples, cultural counseling addresses cultural differences that might lead to misunderstandings or conflicts, promoting better communication and mutual respect.
By integrating cultural humility into the counseling process, therapists can help clients leverage their cultural strengths to overcome challenges, facilitating personal growth and relational harmony. Cultural counseling not only addresses immediate concerns but also supports long-term well-being and resilience in a multicultural world, ensuring that clients feel validated and empowered in their cultural identities.
-
Culture profoundly shapes individuals' beliefs, behaviors, and identities, providing a framework for understanding the world. Cultural norms and values, learned from family and community, influence personal development and social interactions. These elements dictate communication styles, decision-making processes, and relationships, impacting self-concept and priorities.
Understanding cultural influence allows individuals to appreciate the diversity and richness of human experiences. The interplay between culture and identity can be seen in the way people express themselves, interpret events, and interact with others. For instance, someone from an individualistic culture might prioritize personal achievements and autonomy, while a person from a collectivist culture may place higher value on family and community cohesion. Cultural can also be more nuanced, plays into the intersectionality of our identities.
-
Multicultural counseling integrates key practices that enhance therapy by addressing cultural diversity and promoting effective communication for both individuals and couples. Here are three fundamental practices:
Cultural Awareness
Cultural awareness involves understanding one's own biases and beliefs and how they may impact counseling practices. By reflecting on personal cultural influences, counselors can approach clients with greater openness and sensitivity. This self-awareness is crucial for creating a non-judgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their own cultural identities and experiences.
Cultural Knowledge
Cultural knowledge focuses on understanding the client's worldview and cultural context. It requires counselors to actively learn about the diverse backgrounds, traditions, and values that shape clients' perspectives. This practice is significant as it allows therapists to tailor their approaches to meet clients' specific cultural needs, fostering a more inclusive and effective counseling experience.
Cultural Skills
Cultural skills involve the ability to effectively apply cultural awareness and knowledge in therapeutic settings. This includes utilizing culturally relevant strategies and communication techniques that resonate with clients. These skills are essential for addressing cultural diversity, promoting effective communication, and ensuring that interventions are appropriate and respectful of each client's unique cultural context.
Together, these practices enhance the counseling process by fostering an environment of cultural humility, empowering clients to embrace their identities, and supporting resilience and well-being.
-
The primary goal of cultural therapy is to help individuals and couples understand and navigate the cultural influences that shape their lives. It aims to foster awareness of how cultural backgrounds, values, and experiences impact identity, mental health, and relationships. By creating a safe space for exploration, cultural therapy encourages clients to examine cultural dynamics without fear of judgment, facilitating personal growth and relational harmony.
Cultural sensitivity and humility are essential in achieving these objectives. Therapists must approach each client's cultural context with respect and openness, acknowledging that they are not experts on the client's culture. This attitude of humility allows therapists to learn from clients and tailor interventions that honor their unique cultural identities and needs.
In individual therapy, cultural therapy helps clients recognize and leverage their cultural strengths to overcome challenges, promoting resilience and well-being. In couples therapy, it addresses cultural differences that may cause conflicts, enhancing communication and mutual respect. Ultimately, cultural therapy strives to support clients in leading fulfilling, culturally congruent lives, fostering long-term well-being and connection in a multicultural world.
-
Culturally sensitive therapy is vital because it acknowledges and respects the diverse cultural backgrounds of clients, ensuring that therapeutic interventions are relevant and effective. Research indicates that multicultural competency in therapists enhances their ability to build rapport and trust with clients, which is crucial for effective therapy. It is believed that culturally adapted interventions are generally more effective than those that are not adapted, with participants experiencing greater symptom reduction and overall therapeutic success. This approach is essential in both individual and couples counseling, as it recognizes how culture influences the client's worldview, beliefs, and behaviors in the interpersonal worlds.
In individual counseling, culturally sensitive therapy provides a safe space for clients to discuss how cultural factors impact their mental health and personal growth. It fosters trust and openness by ensuring clients feel understood and valued within their cultural context. For couples, this sensitivity helps partners navigate cultural differences that might lead to misunderstandings or conflicts, promoting effective communication and mutual respect.
-
A culturally sensitive therapist is a professional who prioritizes understanding and respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds and values of their clients. They play a crucial role in both individual and couples counseling by creating an inclusive and non-judgmental therapeutic environment. Their work involves recognizing the influence of culture on clients' identities and relationships and approaching each client with cultural humility.
These therapists actively engage in ongoing education about different cultures and reflect on their own biases, aiming to provide therapy that is relevant and respectful. In individual counseling, they offer a safe space for clients to explore cultural factors affecting their mental health and encourage conversations to help clients become aware of their own unique backgrounds and how it shape their believes, values and some of the struggles. In couples counseling, they facilitate dialogue and understanding between partners from different cultural backgrounds, helping resolve potential conflicts stemming from cultural differences.
By emphasizing cultural humility, these therapists ensure that they learn from their clients, allowing them to tailor their interventions to meet the unique cultural needs of each client. This approach empowers clients to embrace their cultural identities, fostering resilience and well-being, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes across diverse cultural contexts.
-
A multicultural counselor should possess several key skills to effectively support clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, enhancing the counseling process for both individuals and couples through cultural humility and effective communication.
Cultural Competence and Humility: This involves counselors continuously learning about diverse cultures and reflecting on their own biases. Cultural competence, paired with humility, ensures therapists appreciate clients' cultural backgrounds, creating a respectful and inclusive environment. By acknowledging their limitations in understanding every cultural nuance, therapists build trust and rapport.
Empathy and Active Listening: Culturally attuned empathy means deeply understanding clients' emotions within their cultural context. Active listening involves fully engaging with clients to grasp their perspectives and challenges. In couples counseling, this practice aids in navigating cultural differences, fostering mutual respect and empathy.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Counselors must tailor their methods to align with clients' cultural values and needs. This adaptability is crucial in addressing the unique aspects of each client's cultural experience, ensuring that therapeutic interventions are relevant and effective.
By cultivating these skills, multicultural counselors foster an environment that respects and celebrates cultural diversity, empowering clients to leverage their cultural strengths for resilience and well-being.
-
Yes, multicultural counseling is highly effective in addressing the diverse cultural backgrounds of clients. It offers tailored support that respects and acknowledges their unique experiences, enhancing communication and understanding in both individual and couples therapy. A study published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology found that multicultural counseling was more effective in promoting psychological well-being and reducing distress compared to traditional therapy approaches. By incorporating cultural awareness and humility, this approach ensures that therapy is relevant and respectful, leading to meaningful outcomes.
In individual counseling, multicultural therapy provides a supportive space for clients to explore how cultural influences affect their mental health and personal development. This tailored approach helps clients feel validated and understood, fostering trust and openness. In couples counseling, multicultural counseling helps partners navigate cultural differences that might otherwise cause misunderstandings or conflicts. By facilitating open dialogue and mutual respect, it strengthens relationships and promotes harmony.
The effectiveness of multicultural counseling lies in its ability to empower clients by leveraging their cultural strengths, promoting resilience and well-being. It not only addresses immediate concerns but also supports long-term personal and relational growth in a multicultural world. By valuing and integrating clients' cultural contexts, multicultural counseling fosters a more inclusive and effective therapeutic environment.
-
The duration of marriage counseling can vary greatly depending on the specific needs and progress of each couple. Some couples may only need a few sessions to address current challenges, while others may benefit from longer-term therapy to work through deeper issues and improve their overall relationship. On average, most couples attend 12-24 sessions in marriage counseling, but this can differ based on individual circumstances. The length of time in marriage counseling is ultimately determined by the goals and progress of the couple, as well as their therapist's recommendations. Couples need to communicate openly with their therapist about their expectations and goals for therapy to ensure they are
-
Step 1.
Fill out the contact form and choose a good call-back time.
-
Step 2.
Hear back from us within 24-48 hours (except for weekends and holidays).
-
Step 3.
Begin finding fulfillment and ease again.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Perhaps you have been through many therapy websites and wave through quite a few profiles. Searching for a therapist can be a complicated process. We honor and understand the frustration, hope, and worry in starting your therapy work. Therefore, we offer a free 15 mins phone consultation to help discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have. Our hope is by the end of the call, you will have a better sense of the service I provide and make a more informed decision.
-
Based on how the current insurance system is set up, in order to use your in-network insurance benefits, the insurance company requires me to give you a mental illness diagnosis. This diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record and may negatively impact your future life choices ( adoption, life insurance, employment, etc.). In addition, therapy under an in-network insurance panel is not confidential. Insurance companies and managed care panels essentially become another person in your treatment, as they require reports about our meetings to authorize sessions. They also have the power to decide how many sessions you will receive.
We believe that those crucial decisions should be made between you and your therapist, not a stranger from the insurance office.
For these concerns on in-network insurances benefits, we choose to accept only out-of-network benefits for insurances purposes. If you would like to use your insurance, we will assist by providing you with a "superbill" (An itemized receipt) for you to take advantage of any out-of-network benefits that your plan offers. Depending on your plan, your insurance company may reimburse your session cost up to a percentage. Please note that a diagnosis is still required, but we will have confidentiality and control over your course of treatment.
-
The timeline largely depends on the fluctuation of your therapists' schedule. Usually, sessions are available to be scheduled as soon as 5-7 days from the initial contact. If you are ready now, click here to skip the wait and request a session.
-
If this is your first time going to therapy, we imagine it may be both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. We know what that feeling feels like, and congratulations on taking this crucial first step. To help you better prepare, we found this articleprovides some helpful information about what will happen during our first session.
Before arriving for your first appointment, it could also be helpful to take a moment and think about what you would like to accomplish through therapy. How have you been feeling lately? How would you like to feel? You do not have to feel obligated to tell your therapist "everything" during your first session. Instead, it is simply an opportunity to share enough and check-in with yourself on how you feel sitting with your therapist. It may also be helpful to think about what questions you might have for your therapist during your first session. You will know that a therapist is a good fit for you when you feel at ease, heard, and confident in their ability to help you during your first session.
For a complete list of FAQs, including rates and our COVID practice, Please visit our FAQs section.
Start the journey of finding peace with who you are now.
Blogs about Multicultural Awareness
-
![]()
How Multicultural Counseling Can Help You Tackle Anxiety, Burnout & Stress in Seattle
-
![]()
What are multicultural factors to consider in counseling?
Other mental health services offered at Spark Relational Counseling.
Culturally sensitive therapy can be a valuable resource for your need. In addition, we understand your needs for support don’t usually fit into one box. At Spark Relational Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services. We provide online therapy for anxiety in Washington, Oregon and Illinois. For individuals with struggles in anxiety, we offer anxiety treatment at our Portland anxiety clinic. For professionals, working women with concerns around dating and intimacy, we offer individual therapy for loneliness (dating therapy, for example) that helps you feel more confident in building a strong romantic relationship. Additionally, for those in a relationship. we specialize in couples therapy and marriage counseling and premarital counseling. If you are a small business owner, we offer therapy for entrepreneurs to help you navigate the ups and downs of owning a business. Whatever your mental health needs may be, we are here to help.