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MENTAL HEALTH | THERAPY
We Need More Asian Therapists
In my experience, it is difficult to find a female Asian American therapist, which limits access to healthcare.
I have utilized therapy services in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Paris, France. Out of the five therapists that I worked with over the past five years in those cities, only one has been Asian. The other four therapists that I worked with were Caucasian females. My preference when I work with therapists is to have someone of a similar background and experience as me, as I believe our shared background would make working together go more smoothly.
Unfortunately, it was almost impossible in Seattle to find an Asian and female therapist who resided near me and was in my health insurance network. Similarly in Paris, it was difficult to find an Asian and female therapist near me, as most therapists spoke French, greatly limiting my options. It was only in Los Angeles, using a teleconferencing option, was I able to find an Asian female therapist around my age who was covered by my health insurance network. Luckily, I have been able to work with her for the past three years.
In my experience as an Asian American, I found it easier to convey the challenges I faced to my Asian therapist than therapists of…
