One Size Fits Differently

July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month 

Have you ever bought a piece of clothing with the label that reads “one size fits all”? I know I have under the assumption that the piece of clothing was sized adequately for all body types. Well, I have to admit that my assumption was wrong. I have since come to interpret this clothing label like this, “One size fits differently based on the person’s body.”  Well, the same is true for therapy. Since July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month, this blog highlights how therapists may change their approach to therapy to meet the mental health needs of BIPOC clients. 

Research shows that sociocultural factors like race, ethnicity, and cultural background informs how each person experiences the world. As such, best-practice in therapy calls for therapists to incorporate their client’s race, ethnicity, and culture into mental health care. Many therapies were developed based on male, European, and White American cultural preferences which emphasized individualism and self-reliance. These therapies center clients’ needs and wants, often limiting the influence of others on clients’ lives. BIPOC refers to people of Black, Indigenous American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and/or North African descent, who culturally value community and social support. Most therapists are trained to modify therapies based on their client. Therapists aware of these differences would modify traditional therapies or utilize a contemporary modality that incorporates collectivistic and interdependent cultural perspectives and clients. Practically, therapists would adjust therapy to clients. If a BIPOC client values community and social support, then the therapist would emphasize belonging with others and relational resources, while exploring individual needs and self-efficacy.  A therapist would remember that one therapy does not fit all people, instead they would understand that one size fits differently based on the client, which changes the suitability of the therapy. Race, ethnicity, and culture influence the utility of a therapy for clients. BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month is a great opportunity to highlight the diversity and inclusion of therapy services. 

Sources

Mental Health America. (2026). BIPOC mental health. Retrieved from https://mhanational.org/bipoc-mental-health/

Temple, M., & Associates, (2025).  Faith-forward, culturally alert, and responsive counseling (preliminary ed.). Cognella