The term cultural and systemic oppression refers to the mistreatment of people of a specific group that is supported and enforced by society and its institutions. It can be formal or implicit, and appears in many forms, including racism and sexism. Oppression of any kind, especially over an extended period of time, can deeply affect your mental health and your sense of self. Working with a therapist who is well-versed in these constructs can help you better recognize when they are influencing your life, and how to better manage that influence. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s cultural and systemic oppression specialists today.
I work with individuals facing cultural and systemic oppression because I believe in the power of compassion and understanding to create meaningful change. Many people experience discrimination and marginalization based on their ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status. These systemic barriers can lead to a host of emotional and psychological challenges, including anxiety, depression, and a diminished sense of self-worth.
— Fabiola Celi, Psychotherapist in Durham, ON, CAThe need for social justice comes from the heavy emotional and physical toll that cultural and systemic oppression takes on us. Many of us carry the symptoms of oppression. It is in our bodies and spirits and shows up in work and in our relationships. I work with clients by teaching somatic techniques that help create inner support as well as strategize for ways to develop nourishing practices and cultivate interpersonal and community supports.
— Jamila Dawson, Sex Therapist in , CAGiven that I approach therapy from an anti-oppressive lens, I am deeply committed to understanding how power and control manifest both within our sessions and throughout your life. Also, my training in liberation-focused therapy equips me with tools to address and dismantle systemic inequalities and power imbalances.
— Jordan Williams, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Philadelphia, PAWe work with BIPOC. We live in an indoctrinated society. Stigma runs rampant and most of us operate from a narrative and language that perpetuates, support and often complies with oppression and indoctrination. Is it a surprise we are suffering from trauma, depression, anxiety and the likes? If we can begin to unpack how society has victimized us we can begin to alter our stories around shame and self-blame towards a more holistic view of inner and societal healing.
— Mou Ghose, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Los Angeles, CAI have expertise in assisting individuals who have experienced displacement and endured cultural or systemic oppression. My professional focus revolves around aiding them in the processing of trauma while fostering self-acceptance of their identities and facilitating the healing process.
— Victoriya Slavich, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in New York, NYResearch shows that the impacts of discrimination and marginalization can manifest in both mental and physical health. I strive to take into account factors related to culture, context, privilege and marginalization, as we explore therapeutic concerns.
— Dr. Luana Bessa, Psychologist in Boston, MABeing an immigrant and minority in a foreign country, I personally experienced more systemic oppression. I related with clients who also experience in oppression
— Safe Space Counseling Services -Alice Zhao, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in , MDAs a practitioner centered on Liberation Psychology, it is vital that therapy acknowledges and integrates the roles that systemic forces such as inequity, oppression, and marginalization play in impacting clients' mental health. By challenging and engaging with such dynamics instead of minimizing their impact, therapy can become a critical praxis in nurturing clients' abilities to achieve their goals.
— Patricia Arce, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oceanside, CARacism, patriarchy, able-ism, and other old tricks hurt, use, dis-empower, and silence human beings in the legacy of a "power-over." These tricks are in our language, religion, business, and other institutions. Even non-profits. Even families. Their subtle manifestations can hurt like the obvious ones, especially when they happen repeatedly. A "power-with" way of thinking supports equality, respect, and cooperation. I love to help people find support for power-with.
— Carlyle Stewart, Counselor in Asheville, NCYams developed familiarity working with cultural and system oppression from necessity acquiring the skills to advocate for clients facing bias and discrimination as inherent parts of the therapeutic system, as well as from personal experience.
— Kameryn "Yams" Rose, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in , CAThe unprovoked deaths of women and men of color have exposed again the challenges that many of us face to have true equity in the United States. This, along with COVID-19 and the resulting economic impact have had a disproportionate impact on families of color. Understanding the systemic issues and how to address them proactively is essential for our mental health.
— Eldridge Greer, Clinical Psychologist in Denver, COThere are so many forms of systemic oppression, and while none of them are isolated or discrete from each other, all of them look different. My particular area of expertise is in housing justice and experiences of homelessness. I have 6+ year serving primarily houseless or housing/resource insecure clients, or folk in recovery from this experience.
— Morgan Lyons, Licensed Clinical Social WorkerAll of my practices are shaped by being anti-oppressive (to reduce harm), liberatory (to find ways of healing and thriving), and de-colonial (challenging the harmful impacts of colonization and white supremacy culture). I support clients from diverse and often marginalized backgrounds, include LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, immigrants, and diverse abilities.
— Jaya Roy, Licensed Clinical Social WorkerAre you feeling the weight of oppression more acutely? Social media and globalization has connected us all, but has also exposed us to more vicarious trauma by witnessing the victimization of members of targeted groups, especially with the rise of nationalism, xenophobia, and the effects of capitalism, globally. We can work together together to sort though your thoughts and feelings, and decide what kinds of action you'd like to take (if any) to heal and honor your culture and yourself.
— Katy Shaffer, Psychologist in Baltimore, MDSarah's personal and research interests are focused on supporting individuals experiencing cultural and systemic oppression. Her education is focused on the intersectionality of psychology, sociology, and history.
— Sarah Kinane, Mental Health Counselor in New York, NYHumans are brilliant learners, absorbing messages from our environments — families, society, culture — these external influences shape our identities based on creed, gender, colour, etc., which then shape our realities. Knowing who we are requires understanding these influences, and how it has influenced our lenses and behaviours. Only then, can we be empowered to feel in control of our lives.
— I-Ching Grace Hung, Psychologist in New York, NYBeing a marginalized woman in a world designed for straight, cisgender white men isn't just frustrating. It's actively harmful to our health & well-being. As a therapist, I believe that we can't help our clients manage concerns like depression, anxiety, stress or burnout without attending to the role of systemic oppression and the trauma it creates. I work with women of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ clients, and other marginalized folks to provide a space for healing, recovery and growth.
— A. Maya Borgueta, Psychologist in San Francisco, CAIdentifying as part of the global majority in a system that was created to marginalize and oppress people of color is challenging, to say the least. Though dismantling the system is a goal, taking care of your individual self is vital. The conversation around systemic oppression often uses active language like "fight", but when it comes to you, I wonder if we can incorporate more rest. Part of what is stolen (among labor and time) is rest and the energy to take care of yourself.
— Sidrah Khan, Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, TX