Therapy for BIPOC adults who want to be understood
I work with BIPOC adults who are tired of translating themselves in order to be taken seriously. My approach blends ACT with trauma-informed, culturally responsive care, and you'll never have to justify your lived experience to be seen here.
What people bring me
BIPOC adults often come in carrying the weight of racism, family expectation, code-switching, and the feeling of being watched too closely. Some are dealing with anxiety or depression that seems tied to the places they move through and the roles they have to play. Others feel torn between who they are and what people around them expect. It can be exhausting to keep making yourself legible before anyone will take your pain seriously. In our work, I pay attention to both the personal hurt and the bigger context around it.
- I get tired of having to explain myself.
- I feel pulled in too many directions.
- I carry stress that other people don't seem to see.
- I don't know where I can actually be myself.
How I work with it
I work with BIPOC clients by keeping race, culture, and lived experience in the room, not at the edge of it. ACT helps us notice the thoughts and pressures that keep showing up, while trauma-informed care keeps the pace respectful. Culturally responsive care is what lets me stay honest about context, identity, and the ways people are often expected to carry more than they should. For couples, I also pay attention to how these pressures shape communication, distance, and care between partners.
- ACT
- ACT can help when pressure, self-doubt, or old messages keep steering your choices. We look at what matters to you and how to stay connected to that without forcing anything away.
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Trauma-informed care keeps the work from minimizing what repeated harm has done. I pay attention to what feels activating and what helps you stay grounded.
- Culturally Responsive Care
- Culturally responsive care is central for BIPOC work because the context matters. I stay aware of race, culture, and identity so your experience isn't treated as isolated from the world around you.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions are about hearing your story in your words and noticing what feels most pressured or most hidden. We’ll talk about what’s been going on, what you want from therapy, and what you don't want to repeat here.
You are not the problem. Let's work on what actually is.
Questions people ask
Do you offer therapy for BIPOC adults?
Yes. I work with BIPOC adults who want therapy that holds race, culture, and identity with care.
Will I have to explain my background before we get to the real issue?
No. You can start where it matters most to you, and I’ll stay with that.
Can BIPOC therapy help with anxiety or depression?
It can be a place to talk about those concerns in the context of your life and experiences. We’d look at what they’re connected to and how they show up for you.
Do you work with BIPOC couples?
Yes. I work with couples where race, culture, or family expectations are part of what’s affecting the relationship.
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.