What Is Inclusive Counseling?

The healthcare system in the U.S. has not exactly been a beacon of inclusivity. This is particularly unfortunate due to the fact that EVERYONE needs healthcare. Race, sexuality, gender identity, and weight, just to name a few, have all been major topics in this conversation. It is in the healthcare system that we far too often see the ugly truth regarding the forms of prejudice that are still sanctioned in our society.

What Can We Do to Inspire Change?

It is both the responsibility of the providers and the patients/people receiving care to take the reigns on change. While there are limits to our scope of control in this area, as this is a systemic problem that is much larger than any one person, we are not helpless.

Providing and seeking inclusive healthcare is a standard that can and should be held, requiring self-advocacy and support. There are immense barriers to be sure, but know there are healthcare providers within the system who are passionate about promoting the wide-ranging acceptance that you deserve. This aligns with the ultimate outcome of comfortability in continuing to seek treatment and preventative services that can improve the overall health and well-being of our world.

What Is Inclusive Counseling Specifically?

Within mental health, a currently and historically stigmatized sector of the healthcare system, it is especially important to offer inclusive spaces. It means offering accessible and equitable care, regardless of one’s background. We are painfully aware that even laws and legislature meant to promote equality can have the inadvertent effect of inequality.

Inclusivity in mental healthcare is constantly evolving. It is creating an atmosphere of non-judgement and unconditional positive regard in the most genuine sense of the words. It is responding to various experiences, traumas, identities, and patterns of behavior with compassion and understanding, and teaching and encouraging clients to do the same for themselves. It is offering love and kindness and planting the seeds of that expectation from self and others in the world outside of therapy.

Let’s Talk About Relationship Therapy

Relationship therapy/counseling is one area of the counseling world in which it may be especially challenging to find inclusivity, at least in the way it is defined here. We encourage you to pay attention to use of language and terminology when seeking a relationship therapist.

If you are in a relationship that includes more than two people, seeking a clinician who uses the verbiage “relationship” (as opposed to couples) therapy may be an indicator of inclusivity for you. If you’re in a dating relationship and want to be proactive in addressing communication misalignments, past relationship trauma, etc., you might consider seeking someone who uses terms outside of “marriage” counseling. Broader language is always a good indication of inclusivity.

The most important consideration in finding the right clinician for you is confirming that your goals and those of your partner(s) align with those of the therapist. It seems that this would go without saying, but in full transparency on behalf of the therapy world, agendas do exist. Therapists are people too, and they are unlikely to be fully unbiased; however, you will certainly find variance as to the breadth and extent of said bias. Know that some therapists who offer relationship/marital/couples counseling have their own agenda, whether that be personal or faith-based.

If you are unsure about the future of your marriage and want impartial guidance on the healthiest and most amicable way to proceed, you’ll want to seek someone who aligns with and supports you either way. Inclusivity carries a different meaning for everyone; it is not a truly objective term. Do some reflection on what it means to you in order to best prepare for the journey that is finding the right therapist.

What Inclusive Counseling Means to Us

Inclusive counseling is knowing that accessibility, or lack thereof, is a prominent factor in someone connecting with services; we know that offering in person, virtual, and walk and talk therapy (when possible) can make all the difference.

Some individuals live in areas that do not offer a wide range of mental health services, and telehealth may be the only way to meet that need. Some people have children at home and need to schedule sessions virtually during their little one’s naptime. Some can only meet on their lunch break from work and join session from their own desk or eat during their session at our office. We want it to be as easy for you to invest in yourself as possible.

Inclusive counseling is using language that is not unnecessarily gendered, because this implicitly lets people who may identify as non-binary, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, and/or gender expansive know they are welcome here; it lets a pregnant person who was assigned female at birth, and who may no longer identify as such, know they can safely seek services with one of our clinicians.

Inclusive counseling is examining the hetero norms surrounding relationship therapy models and adapting them to best fit the needs and identities of same-sex and queer couples. Therapy is not “one size fits all,” right down to the modalities used and the furniture in our offices that can accommodate individuals, more than one party, and people with smaller and larger bodies.

Inclusive counseling is discussing duration and frequency of sessions and modifying when this would be of benefit. It is discussing rates based on stage of life and ability to pay. It is permitting clients to be accompanied by safe pets who may provide emotional support while exploring difficult topics in session.

How to Find Help That Is the Right Fit for You

Blue Lemon Counseling is a space, whether at our office or virtually from the comfort of your own home, that offers respect for your individual story. We have encountered a diverse range of mental health experiences and are always learning and growing as a practice.

Whether you are a new parent, are in a same-sex or polyamorous relationship, are experiencing bullying at school or in the workplace, are exhibiting behaviors you would like to explore and/or change, or you simply want to start creating space for yourself in your own life, we are here.

We are also happy to support you in connecting with other providers and practices in an effort to find the best fit for you. Finding what support looks like for you is in the interest of everyone involved.

Ready to Work with Inclusive Providers?

We know starting counseling can be scary. If you have any questions about counseling, please utilize a free 15-minute consultation to ease the anxiety! Please don’t hesitate to reach out and see how we can help.

Feel free to reach out here to get scheduled and let’s work toward change together!