Finding a coach, therapist, or psychologist who is Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC)

Even though I never really struggled with my mental health. Even though I never went to a therapist or a psychologist. I worked with coaches, mentors, and other people who guided me along the way. They helped me enormously, but sometimes, I missed having someone who was of African descent. It is different to work with a psychologist who looks like you, a coach, or a therapist who has African roots. A coach who is Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC).

A black or BIPOC life coach or a life coach with African Roots?

I don't really like the word BIPOC. I don't even like to say black coach. I don't like labels in general. It shouldn't need to be a thing in our societies. But for me, growing up in Belgium, there weren't so many people of color to look up to. I didn't see them on television; they weren't my teachers, they weren't the doctors I went to, and they weren't the coaches I worked with. 

Meanwhile, growing up in the West as a person with another skin color (or another culture or religion!) might be very challenging. There are so many different experiences we go through. And racism is real. 

I know there are many great psychologists and therapists out there, doing the very best they can & educating themselves on racism, cultural differences, and trauma. I also don't believe you need to have experienced everything the client that sits in front of you has experienced.

However, I have heard so many different experiences of black people going to a psychologist or therapist and being harmed even more. Experiences of people with other ethical-cultural-religious roots are diminished or not taken seriously. And for the hundredth time, the client feels alone and misunderstood. Or even worse, more traumatized. 

It is not to say that the white therapist or psychologist is racist in a direct way. A lot of times, therapists and psychologists really want to help people and are very kind! The intentions are, most of the time, good. The damaging words or behavior, however, mainly happen when a white psychologist, therapist, or coach isn't aware of their own way of thinking about people with another skin color, religion, or culture. It also doesn't reflect their own subconscious beliefs. These beliefs live in their subconscious, and they show themselves in ways that don't really help.

Working with black people, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) as a white psychologist, therapist, or coach? 

It is important as a psychologist, therapist, or coach to reflect on your own privileges and what that means for your life. Which advantages did you have because of your skin color? Which privileges do you have being part of the dominant culture? How are your experiences different from clients with another cultural-ethical background? How does all of this influence your worldview, beliefs, and behavior?

When working with BIPOC people as a coach, it is of high importance not to gaslight their experiences. It is important to have empathy and to really try to understand as best as possible how the world is for people with other ethnic backgrounds. The best thing is to really learn more about racism and power dynamics and experiences BIPOC people have growing up in the Western world. 

Even for me, growing up in Belgium and Europe and being a spiritual coach with African roots, there are still some things I need to check within myself! I grew up experiencing racism, but I live in Ghana now, and I also experience the reality of being seen as a white person. 

Growing up in a racist society gave me certain beliefs that I need to uproot within myself. And heal. There is something called reverse racism. Where you actually start damaging yourself as a black person because you unconsciously believe white people are better. That's why there is work to do, you know. 

I check which racist beliefs & colonial energies are living within me so I can tackle them. It is not always the nicest job to do, but it is necessary if we don't want to damage people.

Benefits of BIPOC coach

For BIPOC clients, working with a BIPOC coach or psychologist can make them feel more comfortable. Often, BIPOC coaches or therapists have experience in switching between different cultures, worldviews, and belief systems. Therefore, they are able to approach situations easily from different standpoints. In that way, they might be able to create coaching or a trajectory that is aligned with the needs or perspectives of the client.

Additionally, psychologists, therapists, and coaches with different ethnic backgrounds are able to use their own lived experiences to understand the challenges that their clients face.

Even though, as I mentioned before, I don't believe you need to have experienced the same things as your clients to be of great help, it can contribute to the session. A little side note here is that it is important for the BIPOC coach to have mainly emotionally healed from their own experiences so they can create a safe and stable container for their client.

BIPOC coaches can, just as any other coach, create a safe and welcoming space for their clients to explore their goals and aspirations. One of the benefits of BIPOC coaches is that they also easily recognize the impact of systemic oppression and racism on the lives of their clients. In that sense, they might provide a sense of validation and understanding that may be lacking with white coaches or psychologists. 

In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits of BIPOC coaches, which may benefit all their clients -independent of their cultural background or skin color, is that they may have a background of other practices, approaches, or techniques that aren't necessarily Western.

The approach to healing and health differs greatly between different cultures. When BIPOC coaches are able to work in a decolonized way, talk therapy or talk coaching isn't necessarily seen as the best way.

Outside of the Western perspective, it is understood that it's more beneficial to work on the different layers of our being: mind, body & spirit. Spirituality is often a part of it. Spirituality is not separate from other aspects of life but rather intertwined with them. 

In my own coaching practice, I always tune into what is needed. If talking alone isn't going to help to bring someone further, I may dive into inner child work, breathwork, or energetic work. Sometimes ritual work, the medicine of sound, or connecting to one's Ancestors may be needed. Sometimes, a cowry shell divination is what will bring clarity & direction. 

Of course, white coaches, psychologists, therapists, or healers can also work with these modalities or techniques. In my opinion, it is not a black-white story but more a story about who works in a colonized or unconscious way or who tries to work in a decolonized or indigenous way.

How do you find a BIPOC coach, psychologist, or therapist with African roots?

There are, of course, coaches, psychologists, and therapists who are not BIPOC and do excellent work for their BIPOC clients. Simultaneously, there are BIPOC coaches, psychologists, and therapists who do excellent work for all their clients, people from all ethnicities.

Nonetheless, if you are a BIPOC person yourself, working with a coach who understands your unique experiences and challenges can be a powerful way to build self-confidence and resilience.

The first step is to really understand what you need and want. Make what you are searching for clear to yourself. It will help in your search for the right person to help you. Define for yourself what your challenge is or what you are dealing with. Ask yourself if you really need a BIPOC coach for the thing you are dealing with. 

Ask yourself why it is important for you that your coach, psychologist, or therapist is BIPOC. Do you just want to work with a therapist, psychologist, or coach who understands what you've been through in America or a European country? Do you feel more safe with a black person or person of color? Or do you want to have someone who can integrate different perspectives, cultural influences, or spiritual experiences?

I know it may be challenging to find the right person to work with. It's always interesting to ask around. Maybe there are family members or friends who can advise someone. You may be surprised if you open up about what's going on for you or if you share what you need with others and what may come out of it.

There are online communities or Facebook groups where you might find the person you are looking for. Of course, Mister Google may help you find different BIPOC coaches, psychologists, or therapists. That's probably how you ended up finding this article!

I also offer one-on-one coaching, so if you are still searching and want to see if we align, you can read more about my offerings on my website.

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It would be lovely to hear from you!

x Ama