Should You Be the Same Race or Gender as Your Therapist?
One of the things that I am most often asked in my phone consultations with folks is about matching between client and therapist along gender or race lines. That is, should you be the same gender or race as your therapist? As with most answers in psychology...it depends!
Finding the right therapist to work with is no easy feat. First, there is the research. You scour search results of sites like Google or sort through results on directory sites like Psychology Today in order to find a mental health professional in your area (with payment terms that you're comfortable with). You may not even know what you're supposed to be looking for! Should you have someone of your own race or should you not care? Does it matter? What about gender? Then, you make a quick call or schedule your first session and anxiety sets in. Now, you actually have to go.
It takes a lot out of you.
Research exists on the topic of matching between client and therapist along racial and/or gender lines, and the results are mixed. Based on the research that I've seen, there doesn't seem to be much difference in terms of treatment outcomes as it relates to therapist/client matching. That is, you are likely to gain similar outcomes if you are Black man meeting with a Black male therapist or a While male therapist. Are you surprised? Me too.
Of course, this all starts with the basis that there is no, or very limited, bias on the part of the therapist. The research indicates that therapists of all races, who are comfortable with their own racial identity and competent in working with clients of difference racial groups, are equally efficient. That's particularly good news if you live in an area where you are not able to find a therapist of your own race, if that is your preference.
When it comes to race, it seems that you can be sure a therapist of any race that is competent in working with your racial group can be effective at helping you work through your biggest concerns.
Another idea that I found interesting about the research is that the length of treatment IS affected by therapist, client match. Specifically with regards to race, there is research that indicates that while match doesn't so much matter for White folks, Black folks are more likely to stay in therapy longer when matched with Black therapists.
The research on gender (or sex) matching between therapist and client is also mixed. There is some research that indicates that, similar to race, gender matching makes no significant difference in terms of treatment outcomes. However, there is research that indicates that women tend to stay in treatment longer when matched with women therapists. Inversely, men may be more likely to drop out of therapy, and sooner, when matched with male therapists. Go figure.
It should be noted that all research attempts to explain trends that are able to be generalized about the population at large. Some research does a much better job at this than others. So take all of this information with a grain of salt.
At the end of the day, what matters most is who are you most comfortable sitting across from. When you're empowered with an answer to that question, you will be much more comfortable and prepared to work through your concerns with a therapist than you can grow to trust and lean on.
Additional suggested reading on the topic: Your Therapist is White. You're not. Is this a problem?