Where Are All the Asian Therapists?

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Where Are All the Asian Therapists?

Mental health stigmas, finances, and the model minority myth are well-known barriers between mental health care and Asian Americans. But one that’s often overlooked is the lack of APIDA representation in the profession itself: Only 5% of the psychology workforce identify as Asian (which, reminder, includes over 20 ethnicities), versus 86% who identify as white.

Why the gap?

The same factors that make Asian Americans three times less likely to seek mental health treatment may also stop them from pursuing careers in the field, says Sahaj Kohli, therapist and founder of Brown Girl Therapy. “There’s a lot of pressure that many Asian Americans feel about what academic or educational careers are expected of them,” she says. When going to therapy can feel like a betrayal of cultural values, making a career out of it can be even harder.

But I want a therapist who gets it.

We hear you. “Eastern values are often very diametrically opposed to the Western American values that we live in,” says Kohli. Like collectivism, which non-APIDA therapists might not be aware of — or know how to help you navigate. “Having a provider who can integrate that into their work is so important,” says Kohli. 

Beyond that, having a culturally-informed therapist can have a profound impact on your mental health. Asian American patients report higher satisfaction with their care when treated by someone who shares their background. And it’s not exactly productive spending your therapy session explaining fundamental cultural concepts rather than doing “really grueling work that is therapy and self-actualization,” says Kohli.

Your move

Normalizing mental health care will ultimately help increase APIDA representation in the field and encourage more people to get the care they need, says Kohli. In the meantime, these resources can help you find therapists who share your identity: 

• Asian Mental Health Collective

• Yellow Chair Collective

• South Asian Therapists 

• NAAPIMHA

• And more

Don’t be afraid to interview them to ensure they’re a fit. Kohli and Zyril Green, LMFT, suggest asking:

• Have you ever worked with someone who shares my identity? 

• Have you ever helped someone with similar struggles to mine?

• In what ways do you integrate cultural humility into treatment?

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