Discrimination therapy for the strain of being targeted
Discrimination can leave you carrying hurt that never fully gets a chance to settle. I work with adults who want a place to talk about what repeated slights, bias, or exclusion are doing to them over time.
What people bring me
Discrimination often shows up as a slow build of stress, anger, vigilance, and exhaustion. People may start second-guessing themselves, pulling back, or feeling like they always have to stay guarded at work, in public, or with family. It can affect confidence, trust, and the way someone enters a room or a conversation. In therapy, I listen for the situations where this happens, the messages you absorbed, and the toll it has taken on how you see yourself.
- I keep replaying the things people said to me.
- I feel on edge around people I don't trust.
- I never know when I'm being singled out.
- I'm tired of having to brush things off.
What it costs to be treated as less than deserves to be taken seriously.
How I work with it
I work with discrimination by taking seriously the emotional and bodily wear that comes from being dismissed, stereotyped, or treated unfairly. ACT can help with the thoughts that get hooked in the aftermath, while trauma-informed care keeps us aware of how protective your reactions may be. Culturally responsive care helps me stay grounded in the broader context, including race, gender, sexuality, and the settings where this keeps happening. For couples, discrimination may be part of the stress you bring into the relationship, even if it started outside it.
- ACT
- ACT helps us notice the self-talk that gets louder after discrimination and how it affects the way you move through the day. We stay focused on what matters to you while we work with those thoughts.
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Trauma-informed care keeps the work from treating your reactions like overreactions. I pay attention to what feels protective and what feels too costly to carry alone.
- Culturally Responsive Care
- Culturally responsive care matters here because discrimination is shaped by identity and power. I stay aware of that context so the conversation doesn't shrink your experience.
What the first sessions look like
In the first sessions, we talk about what you’ve been dealing with and where it’s showing up most. You don't need polished language for it; we can start with the moments that still bother you.
Questions people ask
Can therapy help if I'm constantly dealing with discrimination?
Yes, we can talk about the ways it wears on you and what it brings up day to day. The work is about understanding the impact, not minimizing it.
What if I don't know how to put discrimination into words?
That's okay. We can start with a recent moment that still sits with you and go from there.
Do you work with discrimination tied to race and sexuality?
Yes. I work with people whose experiences of discrimination are tied to race, sexuality, gender, or the mix of all three.
Is discrimination therapy only for big incidents?
No. Small cuts, repeated slights, and ongoing pressure can matter just as much because they add up.
About Celestial Shift Therapy
Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, navigating complex identity questions, or carrying the weight of past trauma? Maybe you're facing life changes that shake your sense of self or struggling with internalized shame that keeps you from living as yourself.
Nicole ObihLCSW
Talk it through with Nicole
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.