"Therapy can be restorative, but can also be really harmful": Therapy experiences of QTBIPOC clients.

Research suggests that queer and/or trans Black people, Indigenous people, and other People of Color (QTBIPOC) generally experience higher levels of psychological distress and depression, leading to poorer mental health outcomes (e.g., Lim & Hewitt, 2018; Sutter et al., 2018). However, little is known about the experiences of QTBIPOC individuals in therapy. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand the nuanced narratives of QTBIPOC individuals in therapy. Twelve QTBIPOC individuals were interviewed about their experiences in therapy, as well as their suggestions for how therapists can improve mental health treatment. Using minority stress and intersectional theories as frameworks, the following core category was identified: The six categories that comprise this core category included and . Results of the present study suggest that therapy can be ineffective-or even harmful-for QTBIPOC individuals when systems of oppression are not adequately dismantled in the therapy room. Our findings prompt important directions for practice with QTBIPOC individuals as well as institutional advocacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).