Starting BIPOC counselling is similar to driving. For example, you want a mechanic specialising in your vehicle. Similarly, you may want a BIPOC counsellor who can identify with your cultural norms and values. You may also want a BIPOC counsellor who understands growing up with immigrant parents, the impact of colonisation, and has experienced racism. In counselling, I create a safe space and ensure you feel heard, validated, and supported. In counselling, we unpack your life experiences through an intersectional lens and how they have impacted you. Some sessions may involve driving in difficult terrain as you share upsetting and painful experiences. But you are not alone; we process these experiences as we move forward together. You can pull over, slow down, or change lanes at any time. You gain new insight and understanding, which creates new experiences and awareness. Driving home after your counselling session, you feel validated, supported, reassured, and more resilient. You also feel more connected with your authentic self.
Hi, my name is Leena Mehta. Thanks for checking out my page. I am a registered clinical counsellor in Burnaby (#19428) and am passionate about supporting individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and Person of Colour (BIPOC). It’s okay to ask for help and start therapy. I’ve worked as a counsellor for over eight years, and during this time, I’ve supported people from all walks of life. Similar to me, you may have been encouraged to keep everything to yourself and never talk about it. I’m here to let you know that it’s good to talk.
I am a Burnaby therapist who works with you to explore how cultural norms and values impact your life. This happens in a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential space, both in person and online. Your cultural background is one part of your identity; it doesn’t have to define who you are or who you want to be. We focus on your identity, your upbringing, culture and religion at your pace. We also focus on your sense of belonging and community. We unpack any racism, discrimination, and racial trauma you may have experienced and how this impacted your self-esteem and self-worth.
Struggling with being the only BIPOC in the room? What if I told you that you can take up space and speak up regardless of what room you are in? Let’s work together to strengthen your sense of belonging, even when you are the minority.
At Ease Counselling in Burnaby, I work with you to help you achieve your goals and improve your mental health. Starting therapy and talking to a counsellor may be taboo in your culture. But let me reassure you, there is no shame in seeking professional counselling support.
You may be a busy, successful professional who struggles with your identity. At work, you fit in and have a good relationship with coworkers, but you are a member of a visible minority. Some days you struggle to fit into the culture you were raised in, on the one hand, and the mainstream culture you live in, on the other. As a result, you feel like you don’t belong. What if I told you that you were not the only one in your profession who struggles to fit in and belong?
You may be married or in a relationship with a partner from a different cultural background. You feel accepted by your partner’s family, and you try to balance your needs with your partner’s and their family. However, internally, you may struggle to accept some of their traditions or rituals, but you don’t feel comfortable sharing this. What if I told you that you are not alone and that other inter-racial couples struggle with similar issues?
You may be a high-achieving student who struggles with cultural norms and values. At school, you fit in with peers and friends and assimilate into mainstream cultural norms and values. However, at home, you struggle to spend time with extended family and participate in cultural gatherings. You feel awkward and uncomfortable, but you don’t share that. What if I told you that you are not the only student who struggles to balance two cultures?
At Ease Counselling in Burnaby provides a safe space to share and explore how your cultural norms, values, identity, and view of self impact your life. It’s okay if you no longer identify with the culture you were raised in or if you have questions. It’s okay if you don’t agree with all the values you were raised with. You have a choice, and together we unpack what feels best for you.
As your counsellor in Burnaby, I’m curious to learn about your culture, norms and values. I’m interested in understanding how it shaped your sense of being, identity and relationships. You may not feel connected to your culture, or you may feel like your culture is missing from your life. We work together and focus on what you need.
What is your mother tongue? What language do you think in? Did you grow up religious? Do you have a sense of community where you live? Let’s get really curious about your upbringing.
As an individual who identifies as BIPOC, you may struggle with the following:
As your Burnaby BIPOC counsellor, I ensure you feel seen, heard, validated, and accepted. Starting your healing journey takes courage, and I am here to support you every step of the way. I grew up believing a counsellor couldn’t possibly help me, but I was wrong. I know it’s hard to reach out, but you got this.
Burnaby BIPOC counselling provides a non-judgmental, kind, and compassionate space to help you strengthen your identity. Together, we focus on your needs, which may include the following:
I need your help in determining which counselling modality is a good fit for you. It’s okay if you don’t know. As your counsellor in Burnaby, I use a variety of different counselling modalities to support clients with their identity and culture. Every client is different, and as a counsellor, I support each client with where they are in their healing journey. Counselling modalities that can help include:
ACT can help clients accept their thoughts and feelings without trying to change them. It can also help individuals change their behaviour so that it aligns more closely with their values. For example, engaging in experiences that align with their identity and cultural values.
CBT can help individuals identify and challenge negative core beliefs and thought patterns. For example, I’m not good enough, my needs don’t matter, and I’m unimportant. It can also help individuals notice the connection between their feelings, thoughts and actions.
DBT can help individuals with emotional regulation and distress tolerance by learning skills and strategies to help them cope. For example, noticing signs of low self-worth and self-esteem in the body and learning how to manage these feelings.
Starting counselling may feel scary, but there are resources you can access in the meantime.
https://www.vch.ca/en/anxiety-resources-children-youth-and-families
BC Crisis Line: 310-6789
Indigenous Crisis and Support Line – KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society: https://www.mviss.ca/
Sher Vancouver, support through education and outreach to South Asian members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community: https://www.shervancouver.com/resources.html
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800 784 2433
Vancouver Coastal Health Aboriginal Health: http://www.vch.ca/your-care/aboriginal-health
BIPOC counselling in Burnaby focuses on the connection between your race, culture, cultural norms, values, and identity. We also focus on the impact of any racism, discrimination, or racial trauma you experienced. Your sense of self, self-esteem, and self-worth may be impacted by the discrimination you experienced. Thus, some of our work together focuses on increasing self-kindness, self-compassion and self-love. You may also feel torn between balancing mainstream Western norms and values on the one hand and your cultural norms and values on the other. We unpack how this impacts your relationship with yourself and with others. Finally, as your Burnaby therapist, we may discuss feelings of not fitting in or belonging and how these affect your mental health.
BIPOC counselling in Burnaby explores the historical racial trauma, discrimination, and systemic racism you experienced. We explore how it affects your thoughts, feelings, view of self, and relationships with others. We also explore the impact of growing up with immigrant parents and being the first generation born in Canada. For example, your parents may have different views on education, employment, or marriage than you do, which may lead to conflict. We identify your triggers and how you react or respond when triggered. We focus on negative core beliefs, their origin, and how they impact your life. As your counsellor in Burnaby, I support you in overcoming your fears, challenging negative core beliefs, and strengthening your relationship with yourself.
BIPOC counselling in Burnaby works with you to heal from historical racial trauma, discrimination, and racism. You may have coping mechanisms, but these may no longer be effective. I share tools and strategies that help you process the racism and discrimination you experienced. Growing up, you may have witnessed your parents or family members experience racism and discrimination. As your Burnaby therapist, I provide a safe space to process and heal from these experiences. Some of your struggles around your identity, for example, may stem from your childhood and unresolved issues. In these cases, some of our work together may include healing your inner child and understanding how your unresolved issues impact you as an adult. Finally, I work with you to strengthen positive beliefs, your identity, reduce self-doubt, and build self-esteem.
As you start BIPOC counselling, you may want a BIPOC counsellor who can demonstrate cultural understanding and humility. Lived experience or experience in supporting clients who have experienced racial trauma or discrimination may be something else you look for. As a South Asian Burnaby therapist, I understand the impact of inequality and oppression, and I provide a safe, non-judgmental, and inclusive space. Some clients feel more comfortable working with a counsellor from the same cultural background as their own; however, others prefer to work with someone from a different cultural background. I offer a free consultation to help clients determine whether I’m a good fit. Finally, a BIPOC counsellor who is registered and in good standing with a professional body such as the BCACC is also important. What if I told you that you can benefit from therapy regardless of your ethnic background?
This depends on the individual and their unique experiences. Clients who experienced racism, discrimination or racial trauma may struggle with thoughts like they don’t belong, and they may struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety or depression. As a Burnaby therapist, I support these individuals by processing their experiences, building their self-esteem and strengthening their identity. Clients who experienced racism or discrimination but received support from caregivers or loved ones may be impacted differently. They may have a strong sense of self and identity and, consequently, may not struggle in the same way. What if I told you that I grew up in a family where we didn’t talk about our feelings?
Yes, it is possible to heal from racism and discrimination. Every client has a unique healing journey, and while it can take time to process and recover, it is possible to heal. Counselling in Burnaby supports individuals who want to heal and recover from racism and discrimination. As a Burnaby therapist, I create a culturally sensitive space where clients can process their experiences and heal.
As your Burnaby therapist, I unpack and explore what identity means to you and what you believe it comprises. For some clients, their identity consists of their values, cultural norms, mainstream norms, traditions, language, sense of belonging and culture. For others, it may consist of their gender or sexual orientation, as well as personal characteristics and qualities. Sometimes clients are not aware of what their identity consists of, and in these cases, we explore it together. What if I told you that your identity may evolve, and what you identify with currently may not be something you relate to in five or ten years?
BIPOC counsellors can be found on several websites, including Healing in Colour, an online directory of practitioners who identify as BIPOC. BCACC has a find-a-counsellor tool with filters that allow clients to search for BIPOC therapists. Psychology Today is another online directory where clients can search for BIPOC counsellors.
As a Burnaby BIPOC counsellor, sessions focus on meeting you where you are and working at your pace, alongside you, with compassion, kindness, and curiosity, both in-person and online.
As a Burnaby therapist, I incorporate evidence-based modalities in every session. I am trained in various evidence-based modalities, including Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. Each of these modalities equips me to support your unique needs, and we work together to achieve your counselling goals.
As a Burnaby therapist, I understand the impact of inequality and oppression, providing a safe, non-judgmental, and inclusive space in-person and online. People from all ethnic backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations, including 2SLGBTQ+, are welcome. As a South Asian Burnaby therapist, I create a culturally sensitive space, and I am curious to learn more about your culture, norms, and values.
