Exploring Difference, Race and Culture in the Therapy Room

In psychotherapy, difference, race and culture are not side topics — they are lived experiences that shape how people understand themselves, relate to others, and move through the world. For many clients, feelings around identity, belonging, discrimination, migration, or cultural expectations are deeply connected to experiences of anxiety, depression, trauma, shame and relational difficulties.

As a psychodynamic therapist offering online therapy, I recognise that therapy does not take place in a social void. Each client brings their cultural background, racial identity, family history and lived experiences into the room. Equally, I bring my own identity, experiences and social positioning. Relationally, this matters.

In my clinical work across NHS Talking Therapies, the Priory and private practice, I have worked with clients from a wide range of ethnically diverse backgrounds. Many have spoken about experiences of racism, microaggressions, cultural conflict, intergenerational trauma, migration, and struggles with belonging in both personal and professional spaces. These experiences often carry profound emotional impact and are sometimes difficult to name or bring into therapy, especially if they have been minimised or dismissed elsewhere.

Exploring race and difference in therapy is not about imposing narratives. It is about creating a safe and reflective space where clients feel able to speak openly about their lived realities. Often, this involves gently noticing what feels difficult to say, where there may be fear of being misunderstood, or where difference feels unspoken but present. These moments are part of the relational work.

From a psychodynamic perspective, difficulties around race, culture and difference may connect to early attachment experiences, identity formation, family expectations and unconscious dynamics. For example, a client may carry internalised feelings of not being rooted enough in cultural or racial experiences or communities. By exploring these experiences thoughtfully and respectfully within the therapeutic relationship, deeper understanding can begin.

Through my work, I aim to offer a culturally sensitive, non-judgemental and reflective therapeutic space where difference is not ignored or avoided but held with care and curiosity. This includes recognising the impact of systemic inequalities, power dynamics, and cultural complexity while staying rooted in each client’s unique personal story.

If you are looking for an online psychodynamic therapist and would like a space where your identity, culture and lived experiences are held with respect, you are welcome to explore my work further on my website and contact me.