Last week, I wrote about how creating a short bio for my practicum placement site got me thinking about the meaning of being an LGBTQIA-affirming therapist. But that was not the only part of the bio that stirred reflection. Another part was including that I am particularly focused on supporting immigrants and international workers and students. This post is about the daily effort to be actively affirming of people who live and work between cultures, across borders, and often within systems that were not built for them.
For immigrant therapists like me, being affirming of immigrants and international clients carries a unique significance. First, there is the empathy that comes from shared lived experience. We know what it means to be far from home, to navigate unfamiliar institutions, and to adjust ourselves to be understood. That shared understanding becomes a bridge in therapy, one that can help foster safety and connection from the very beginning.
However, being affirming of immigrants and international clients is not something exclusive to those who share that experience. All counselors are called to this work. Cultural competence, non-discrimination, and advocacy are at the core of our profession.
For this reason, we have a responsibility to counteract harmful societal narratives. Immigrants and international clients often face stigma, invisibility, and pressure to assimilate. When we affirm their identities, we push back against the message that they must erase parts of themselves to belong. Therapy becomes a space where they can reclaim dignity, voice, and value in a world that demands they shrink themselves to fit in.
At the same time, affirming their identities and unique human value means recognizing the very real stressors they face. The impact of anti-immigrant policies, unstable visa rules, and systemic racism is not hypothetical. These forces shape daily life in ways that affect one’s wellbeing at the core of who they are, what they do, and where they can exist and work. As affirming therapists, we help clients name and process these realities without minimizing their responses. We also engage in advocacy groups and take a stand against policies based on hatred and misplaced fear.
Our work also includes a commitment to cultural responsiveness. This means learning from our clients and honoring their worldview, not assuming that a country’s cultural norms define mental health. It means taking the time to understand how culture shapes language, emotion, family roles, and healing practices, and integrating that understanding into the therapeutic process.
Without cultural awareness, behaviors and coping mechanisms shaped by different cultural norms can easily be misunderstood as symptoms of a disorder. An affirming stance allows us to ask more questions before making assumptions and to see our clients more clearly within the full context of their lives, rather than as a code to be found in the DSM.
Equally important is the need to recognize the resilience of immigrants and international students and workers. Many have endured loss and ongoing uncertainty, yet continue to work, study, care for families, and contribute in meaningful ways, from breakthrough medical research to harvesting the food that feeds our families. When therapy affirms this strength, clients can embrace their own capacity to thrive despite difficult conditions.
Finally, there is something powerful about modeling what it looks like to live with cultural pride and integration. As an immigrant therapist, I will not just tell my clients that their roots are valuable. I try to live that truth. I want my clients to see that they do not have to choose between success and authenticity, between belonging and staying connected to who they are. In my office, they can bring all of themselves, and they will be met with respect, curiosity, and care.
In 2025 and beyond, in the United States and other countries affected by xenophobic policies, the role of the affirming therapist is more critical than ever.
If you would like to receive my blog posts in your inbox, please enter your email address below.
I will see you next week.
Roque Neto 