Race and difference

We all carry racist beliefs to some extent

It’s hard to escape racism. Whatever a person’s colour or ethnicity, it’s easy for most of us to believe that a person of another background is different to oneself.

Stereotypes are embedded in society, for example in films, news media, advertising and folklore, and we are all vulnerable to external ideas about race and culture. While racism is endemic in most societies, it is most noticeable when we see the damage it can do to individuals or groups.

The more vulnerable a person is to race-based maltreatment, the more likely a person will be aware of their own difference. A white person in the UK is unlikely to consider what it means to be white, while a black person may be constantly aware of what it means to be black.

 

Talking about racism and difference

Talking about racism and difference can be uncomfortable. For many people, it is a visceral, very emotional topic. But it is important to talk about it as a society, since we can’t hope to change it if we don’t discuss it.

It is also valuable to discuss racism and difference in therapy. Experiencing racism is horrendous, yet for too many people it is a common occurrence. Being discriminated against on the basis of your skin colour or any other difference is likely to bring up various emotions, such as anger, hopelessness, frustration and sadness. If it happens regularly, some people suppress those emotions because it feels too much to deal with them all the time.

In therapy you can talk about how discrimination has affected you and gradually release the emotions that have been bottled up over the years. It can feel liberating to be heard and understood as you work through the pent-up feelings.

Therapy is not about getting okay with racism. Your anger is justified and a good therapist won’t try to take that away from you. It’s about hearing you and supporting you to be powerful and authentic in spite of the discrimination you face.

Client Reviews

Counselling for racism and difference

Therapy is often seen as something white people do. We want to challenge that. We seek diversity in our recruitment and have provided further training for our therapists on working with race and difference. 

Some clients prefer to work with a therapist who looks like them and is likely to have experienced similar discrimination. Others are happy to work with someone who is more different from them, and actually it can be very powerful to work with the differences between client and therapist. Either way is fine – what is important is for you to work with someone you feel comfortable opening up to. You can read a little about each of our therapists here.

If race and difference is an issue in your relationship, you may like to see one of our couples therapists. You can find out more about couples therapy here.

Your first appointment can be booked online or by calling us. It is an opportunity to find out if therapy is right for you and to decide whether you wish to continue with your chosen counsellor. They will be happy to refer you to a colleague if the fit doesn’t feel right.

 

What to expect in couples counselling

I’m often struck by the anxiety that I see on the faces of clients when they come to their first couples counselling appointment. They are invariably wondering what’s going to happen. Will they have to reveal things they don’t want to say in front of their partner? Will their…

Read more

What to expect in counselling

When I trained as a psychotherapist, me and my fellow students were given the assignment of doing something we’d never done before. The course tutors wanted us to get in touch with how scary it can be to do something new, to feel the fear of the unknown. I chose to …

Read more

Counselling for individuals

Personal counselling can be about anything that is on your mind.

Read more

Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find solutions.

Read more

Our therapists

We have over 30 qualified and experienced therapists to choose from.

Read more

One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Roz Urquhart

Roz is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, who offers both long- and short-term psychotherapy She works with a varied client group offering a welcoming, safe and confidential therapeutic space in which to help her clients explore and process the issues that are bringing them into therapy Roz supports her clients to focus on unconscious processes, inner conflicts and...

Oxford Circus

Natasha Maidment

Natasha is a person–centred counsellor and psychotherapist who will provide you with a safe, empathetic and non-judgemental space to explore any thoughts or concerns you wish to bring She works with a range of issues including anxiety, stress, critical thoughts, trauma, relationship issues, identity, depression, loss and low self-esteem Natasha offers a...

Oxford Circus

Yussef Ferguson

Yussef is a psychodynamic psychotherapist who offers both long and short term personal therapy to individuals He has experience of working with a diverse range of clients and can provide a warm, confidential space to explore and gain insight into any past or present personal difficulties and experiences Yussef works with issues such as anxiety, depression, loss,...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Rhiannon Whipps
Rhiannon Whipps

Rhiannon is a psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist with over ten years experience of working within the field of mental health Rhiannon provides an empathic and non-judgemental therapeutic space for her clients to explore any difficulties which they may be facing Within the safety of a confidential environment, she encourages her clients to openly explore...

Soho

Therapist Stamatia Lorentzou
Stamatia Lorentzou

Stamatia draws on a broad range of theories of psychotherapy She works collaboratively with her clients to understand the causes of their concern and find ways to move forward Stamatia offers both short-term and longer-term therapy She has worked in various organisational settings with individuals seeking to address relationship issues, low self esteem, separation,...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Barbara Perini
Barbara Perini

Barbara is an accredited member of BACP, holding an MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and adhering to the BACP ethical framework Her approach is open-ended, offering both short-term and long-term therapy Barbara has also trained in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a short-term (16 sessions), semi-structured individual therapy developed for mood...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Catherine Hammett
Catherine Hammett

Catherine offers a safe, confidential space for clients bringing a wide range of issues to therapy  These include anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anger and work-related stress  Catherine also supports clients experiencing depression, bereavement and life transitions  Among her specialist interests are post-traumatic growth and working with adult...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Evan Bates
Evan Bates

Evan is a psychodynamic therapist, offering both long and short term therapy He creates a non-judgemental and reflective space to help clients explore their difficulties and concerns Working together to understand the connections between past and current relationships, Evan supports clients in developing a deeper awareness of their recurring emotional patterns and further...

Soho

Therapist Mita Hiremath
Mita Hiremath

Mita has been involved in the field of counselling and psychotherapy for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience working in the voluntary sector, the NHS and private practice She is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist Additionally, she holds an MSc in Psychotherapy and is a trained EMDR therapist She has also facilitated support groups in the voluntary...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Silvi Naskinova
Silvi Naskinova

Silvi is a psychodynamic psychotherapist offering both long- and short-term therapy  She aims to provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space for her clients to explore whatever is on their minds Her work helps individuals understand how their experiences (both past and present) and any unconscious forces might be impacting their relationships and ways of coping...

Oxford Circus