Is it possible to be assigned to a Black women or Woman of color as my counselor?

Hi Jennifer! It is nice to e-meet you! My name is Shea. I am a counselor. It is possible to choose a counselor who is a Black woman or woman of color. You can select from any of the BetterHelp counselors licensed in your state, including a selection of counselors from many cultures and backgrounds. It can be so important to find a counselor who understands our experiences. There are many ways to 'click' with a counselor...sometimes a common experience such as being a woman or having the same cultural background is an important way we click with counselors. Other times, a counselor being trained to support people with our specific symptoms is a big help towards building good rapport. That being said, all counselors are trained to work with clients from many backgrounds and should be comfortable talking about race. I'm plenty comfortable talking about race and what it is to experience the world, though I'm not going to understand it first hand the way someone who has experienced it will. The neat thing about counseling is that the work of counseling doesn't depend on common experiences, so we can do productive work even if we don't have shared experience, if you are comfortable. Your comfort as a client is paramount. In counseling you are the consumer which means you are in charge. Any time you are not comfortable or not getting the support you need to grow it is okay to bring that up and advocate for yourself. I encourage you to follow your gut, always interview providers for fit, and change providers (in counseling or otherwise!) if you find you need a different expertise. We may not always like what we hear--growing can be a difficult experience--but counseling should be a comfortable, safe, empowering space, and you should always be respected by your provider. You have the right to be treated well in counseling and everywhere else. Wishing you well, Jennifer! I love what an informed consumer you are and the ways you are working to help give yourself your best chance in life. Stay safe out there!