Mental health challenges affect everyone, yet how we experience and express these challenges is deeply shaped by who we are. Our identities, backgrounds, and the many social factors we navigate every day all intersect to influence our wellbeing. This concept is called intersectionality, and it’s essential for counselling services in the UK to understand and embrace it.
What Is Intersectionality?
Intersectionality is a framework that recognises that people’s lives and experiences are shaped by multiple overlapping social identities — such as race, gender, religion, class, disability, and sexuality. These overlapping identities can create unique challenges, especially when it comes to mental health.
For example, a Black Muslim woman living with a disability may face different barriers and stigmas than a white, able-bodied man. Each part of her identity interacts with the others, influencing how she accesses support and how others perceive her needs.
Why Intersectionality Matters in Counselling
Traditional mental health services often fail to address the full complexity of people’s experiences. If counselling only looks at one aspect of identity, such as ethnicity or gender, it risks missing important parts of the picture.
In the UK, research shows that ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, disabled individuals, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often experience poorer mental health outcomes and face greater barriers to accessing care (Mind UK, 2023; Race Equality Foundation, 2024).
Culturally competent counselling that incorporates intersectionality does more than offer language translation or cultural facts. It listens actively to how different parts of identity influence a person’s mental health journey. It recognises the impact of systemic issues like racism, homophobia, ableism, and poverty.
Common Barriers Faced by Marginalised Groups
• Stigma and cultural taboos: In many communities, mental health remains taboo. Combined with mistrust of healthcare systems, this can delay help-seeking.
• Lack of representation: Limited diversity among therapists can make it harder for clients to feel understood and safe.
• Accessibility challenges: Disabled clients, those living in poverty, or people in rural areas may find it harder to access services.
• Discrimination within healthcare: Experiencing microaggressions or overt bias can discourage ongoing engagement with therapy.
Creating Spaces That Respect All Identities
To truly serve diverse communities, counselling services must:
• Provide training on intersectionality and cultural humility to all staff.
• Employ diverse therapists with lived experience.
• Offer flexible options like online therapy for greater accessibility.
• Engage with communities to co-design mental health services.
• Acknowledge how faith, culture, gender identity, and other factors influence healing.
A Call for Empathy and Awareness
Everyone deserves mental health support that honours all parts of their identity. Intersectionality asks us to go beyond assumptions and stereotypes to truly listen. It challenges therapists and services to be adaptable and compassionate.
This is not only good practice; it is a matter of equity and respect. When counselling reflects the whole person, healing becomes more possible.
A Personal Commitment
My own journey in mental health has shown me how complex and layered identity can be. I am committed to providing therapy that respects and uplifts every part of you. Wherever you come from and however you identify, your story matters. Your wellbeing matters. If you’re looking for a therapist who truly understands the complexities of your identity and mental health journey, please feel free to contact me directly. I offer face-to-face counselling in Telford and Wolverhampton or online anywhere in the UK. Together, we can create a safe, respectful space tailored to your unique needs.
Helpful Resources
Provides free mental health services and therapy for Black individuals and families by qualified Black therapists.
Promotes mental health awareness and culturally competent care within Muslim communities in the UK.
Offers information, advocacy and resources to support disabled people’s rights, including access to mental health care.
Supports LGBTQ+ inclusion and provides guidance on mental health and wellbeing.
Researches mental health inequalities and works to influence fairer policy and practice across the UK.
Books
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex. University of Chicago Legal Forum.
Akbar, N. (2021). Breaking the Silence: Understanding Cultural Barriers to Therapy.
Sources
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British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Cultural competence and intersectionality.
- Mind UK. Mental health inequalities and intersectionality.
- NHS England. Improving access and outcomes in mental health services.
- Race Equality Foundation. Race, ethnicity and mental health in the UK. Race Equality Foundation
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