Breaking Barriers: Anti-Oppressive Counselling for People of Colour from India

For many people of colour (POC), including myself, coming from collectivistic cultures, there is often ambiguity around the idea of therapy. Growing up surrounded by predominantly Indian voices, I often heard statements like, “If you have personal issues, why do you have to go talk to a therapist when you can talk to me?” or “Only mad people go for therapy.” Even within my relatively privileged, educated circles, these ideas persisted. One can only imagine how amplified these narratives must be in more traditional areas across India.

Navigating Shame and Fear of Judgment

For those who leave India, seeking mental health support in a Western context often brings added apprehension. Feelings of shame, doubt, and a need to appear grateful for "opportunities" make therapy seem out of reach. Many individuals fear judgement, which often stems from past experiences where personal struggles are dismissed at home with comments like, “Everyone has problems.” 

Alia, a member of the diasporic community from Kerala, reflects on her upbringing in the Middle East:

“If I was angry, I’d be punished for talking back; if I was upset, I’d be blamed for ruining everyone’s day. I only began understanding and managing my emotions after leaving home.” 

This highlights how the importance of emotions and mental health often becomes clear only when individuals step outside their familial environments. Therefore, therapists must prioritise building strong relationships before delving into deeper emotions. Similarly, Rakesh from Karnataka shares that while there was some openness about emotions at home, showing them in public was often discouraged due to concerns about judgement - the “what will people think?” aspect of it.

These experiences highlight how critical it is to take a non-judgmental stance and validate the feelings of POC clients from collectivistic backgrounds.

The Impact of Colonialism and Therapy Stigma

In addition to familial pressures, the impact of colonialism affects how Indian POC view therapy. Western models of therapy may not adequately address their unique experiences of marginalisation. This view can be reinforced by both people from back home and those in the host country, leading to a sense of alienation and loss of identity. It is important to acknowledge that colonialism sometimes disregarded or even demeaned Indian spiritual practices as "primitive." Then, when these practices were fitted into Western wellness, they were often secularised, which distanced them from their original philosophical roots. Being aware of these roots and the feelings clients may have about certain terms is crucial to avoid cultural appropriation [1].

Creating Safety in Therapy Spaces

To ensure that clients from collectivistic cultures do not feel further oppressed, ethical and competent practice is essential. The traditional setup, where the therapist sits in a chair while the client sits across, may not provide the comfort or safety that many Indian clients need. This model can feel intimidating and unfamiliar, leaving clients unsure of where their discomfort stems from.

In conversations with friends, several expressed a preference for therapy via audio or video calls, allowing them to speak from the comfort of their homes. However, there is still ambiguity in this preference.

My friend Shanaya, who returned home after studying in Europe, shares:

“I am not a huge fan of the formal setting; I feel too exposed. That being said, I’m also not 100% comfortable doing therapy online from home because it feels like reporting from the scene of the crime!”

These insights reveal the importance of flexibility in therapy settings and highlight the need for practitioners to construct a welcoming and adaptable environment.

Validation and Emotional Acknowledgment

For clients like Alia, the lack of acknowledgment of emotions can be deeply damaging. She recounts that she had to change therapists multiple times before finally finding one who approached her with kindness and non-judgement. Therapy should be a space where individuals feel validated and supported to express their feelings without fear of repercussion. This begins with therapists adopting an approach that allows clients to explore their emotions openly, leading to empowerment.

My friend Sri, after finally finding a therapist that made her feel comfortable, says:

“I felt like I was really exploring myself. It was almost like a puzzle that you are putting together. Except that the puzzle is you. I genuinely enjoyed it”

As practitioners, we must consider how our spaces can better accommodate the diverse needs of POC, especially from collectivistic cultures like India. Simple adjustments, such as rearranging seating, checking in on clients’ comfort, or offering virtual sessions, can significantly enhance clients' sense of safety.

A friend, Riya, shares her ideal therapy session:

“A painting session with me and my therapist, or at a park just lying on the grass and talking—just me and my therapist, with no one else around.”                              

Where to next?

The journey toward anti-oppressive therapy practices for Indian POC calls for an understanding of the complex interaction between culture, identity, and mental health. Acknowledging the unique challenges faced by our clients from collectivistic backgrounds and being open to adapting our approaches -such as looking at more traditional healing practices and options, if the client wishes to, can go a long way in creating spaces that empower and validate their experiences.

Therapists must remain committed to ongoing learning and reflection, ensuring that our practices are not only ethically sound but also truly supportive of our clients who we keep at the centre of care. In doing so, we can foster a more inclusive and healing environment for all.

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Note : To protect privacy, all names and identifying details in this post are pseudonyms.

Below are some recommendations and further readings on cultural implications for Indian POC in the context of counselling. You can also find some interesting Indian language movies that talk about systemic oppression, ongoing impact of colonialism on modern India, migration stories and more on the resources section of this website!

[1] Martinez, J. H., Suyemoto, K. L., Abdullah, T., Burnett-Zeigler, I., & Roemer, L. (2022). Mindfulness and valued living in the face of racism-related stress. Mindfulness, 13(5), 1112–1125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01826-6

Agrawal, J. (2020). Self in Psychotherapy:  An Indian Perspective. https://doi.org/10.31231/osf.io/zatkv

Bartlett, A., Faber, S., Williams, M., & Saxberg, K. (2022). Getting to the root of the problem: Supporting clients with lived-experiences of systemic discrimination. Chronic Stress, 6. https://doi.org/10.1177/24705470221139205

Bhargava, R., Kumar, N., & Gupta, A. (2016). Indian perspective on psychotherapy: Cultural issues. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 47(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-016-9348-1