As therapists, we’re called to meet people where they are. But to truly do that, we have to understand where we are too — the social positions we occupy, the power we hold, and how those realities shape the therapeutic space. For those of us with privileged identities, embracing intersectionality in our work is not optional; it’s essential.

This blog explores how therapists can meaningfully implement intersectional practice when we hold privilege, and how to do so with humility, intention, and care.

What is Intersectional Practice?

In the context of therapy, intersectional practice is the intentional integration of an awareness that every client exists at the intersection of multiple social identities — such as race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, immigration status, and more — which shape their lived experience in unique ways.

These identities don’t exist in isolation, and neither do the systems of power that affect them. Intersectional practice recognizes how overlapping forms of oppression and privilege impact mental health, access to resources, and the therapeutic relationship itself.

It goes beyond cultural competence — it’s not just about knowing facts about certain groups or identities. Instead, it’s a relational and political stance that centers each client’s full humanity, and acknowledges the broader social contexts they’re navigating.

In practice, this means:

• Staying attuned to the ways systemic oppression may show up in the room
• Acknowledging our own social locations and how they influence power dynamics
• Creating space for clients to explore how identity and oppression intersect in their lives, without pathologizing or minimizing
• Being open to discomfort, feedback, and the constant process of unlearning and repair

Intersectional practice is, ultimately, about creating therapy that is not just inclusive — but just.

Why This Matters

When we overlook the impact of race, gender, class, ability, sexuality, and other social locations, we risk making therapy unsafe — even unintentionally. We might invalidate a client’s lived experience, replicate harmful dynamics, or ask them to shrink parts of themselves to fit our comfort zone.

Our ethical codes demand cultural competence, but intersectionality goes beyond competence. Growing our awareness of how intersectionality impacts the lives of our clients helps us understand how multiple systems of oppression intersect in people’s lives. It invites us to see clients as whole, complex beings whose challenges are shaped not just by internal dynamics but also by structural forces.

Recognizing Our Privileged Identities

Before we can show up responsibly in the room, we need to start with ourselves.

Ask yourself:

• What identities do I hold that are centered in dominant culture?
• How have I been socialized to view people who don’t share these identities?
• Where do I feel discomfort, defensiveness, or fragility when these topics arise?

It’s common to fall into well-meaning but harmful patterns:

• Using a “colorblind” approach that ignores racial realities.
• Assuming that shared marginalization in one area (e.g., being queer) gives us full insight into another (e.g., being Black).
• Avoiding conversations about race, gender, or privilege for fear of “saying the wrong thing.”

These tendencies don’t make us bad therapists — but they do require reflection and repair.

Embodying Intersectional Practice

This work isn’t about checking boxes — it’s about staying relational, responsive, and real.

Use curiosity, not assumptions.

Ask questions that leave room for complexity. For example:

“Are there aspects of your identity that you feel are important for me to understand as your therapist?”

Check in on power dynamics.

Don’t be afraid to name your own identities when relevant:

“As a white, cisgender therapist, I want to acknowledge that I may miss or misinterpret things — and I invite you to let me know if that happens.”

Learn from moments of disconnection.

Say you’re a cishet therapist working with a trans client, and they pause when you use gendered language. Instead of brushing past it, you might say:

“I noticed a shift in your energy just now — did something feel off in what I said?”

Doing the Inner Work

This is ongoing work. It doesn’t happen in a training or a single supervision session. It happens over time, with intention and accountability.

• Educate Yourself Proactively
  Read and learn from Black, Indigenous, queer, disabled, and other marginalized voices. Don’t rely on clients or colleagues to teach you, but don’t disregard the insight from these sources either. .
• Seek Meaningful Consultation
  Join consultation groups where identity and intersectionality are part of the conversation — not just clinical technique.
• Normalize Mistakes and Repair
  We will get it wrong sometimes. The goal is not perfection, but responsiveness. Can we hear feedback without defensiveness? Can we apologize and stay in relationship?

Practical Steps to Begin or Deepen the Work

• Revisit your intake forms: Are they inclusive? Do they invite clients to share identities that matter to them?
• Audit your language: Do your notes, website, and speech reflect inclusive and affirming language?
• Diversify your referral list: Include providers from different backgrounds, specialties, and communities.
• Join or create accountability partnerships: Peers who can call you in and help you grow.

Final Thoughts

Being a therapist with privilege in an intersectional world means holding both: the power we carry and the responsibility that comes with it. It means approaching each client with curiosity and humility, knowing we will never fully know their experience — but we can commit to honoring it.

Intersectionality is not a goalpost to reach, it’s a lens, a posture, a lifelong practice.

Let’s keep showing up for the work, even, especially,  when it’s uncomfortable.

Reflection Prompt:

What’s one privileged identity you hold, and how might it be showing up in your clinical work?