On Being Latine & Being A Therapist
This blog is incredibly special because it features two folks who are near and dear to Kindman & Co.! Dani Marrufo is a therapist who has been here for a few years, and Gaby Teresa is a therapist who used to work at Kindman & Co. and has now launched their own private practice. Gaby and Dani share more about what it’s like to be a Latine person working in mental health. In this article you’ll read more about how healing it can be to work as a therapist and also the really hard parts. Both Gaby and Dani hold multiple intersections of identity, and since they are relational therapists, it all goes into the therapeutic work.
And like Gaby says, “The reality is that the Latine experience is SO broad, coupled with the many intersectionalities that we each hold. That being said, I will speak on my experience as a Latine person in the mental health field.”
The Healing of being a latine therapist
Gaby: Being a Latine person in the mental health field can feel very healing and like incredibly important work when working with other Latine folks. I feel especially at home with other queer Latine people. When someone just really gets the intersectionality in a therapeutic space, it feels unlike any other experience I’ve felt before. When I opened up my private practice, I was so excited to see that I had so many queer Latine folks reaching out looking for a space to really unpack all of the facets of our identities. It also created a space for those clients to feel as though they could make a more decolonized version of therapy that felt right for the both of us. For some clients, that looks like conducting our sessions in spanglish, for others that looks like implementing limpias because their abuela swears by them, in addition to weekly therapy. In reality, Latine people have been healing each other for centuries–and it wasn’t ever meant to fit into a colonized mold.
Dani: Working with Latinas has truly been an experience that exceeded my expectations. I came into the mental health field wanting to reach Latin folks who were hesitant to seek out formalized therapy. but was initially approaching it through a lens like “I could teach someone how to access their feelings.” The reality is that Latinas often have a sense of what they are feeling and can access this through somatic embodiment. You don’t have to label a feeling with a fancy word to know that you are not okay. The reality is, Latinas are feeling, sensing,and emotionally aware people—I am not teaching them how to access feeling, rather helping them to feel more valid and empowered in this feeling. Witnessing clients be vulnerable and push their limits with emotions has been extremely rewarding and I'm excited to continue to do this in the upcoming group, Chillona is Chingona.
The challenges of being a latine therapist
Gaby: On the flip side, being a Latine person in the mental health field also means actively fighting machismo in therapy spaces, ableist narratives around therapy being “para locos,”and challenging the idea that the Latine experience is a monolith—just to name a few. It can also feel very isolating if you are not intentional about finding your communidad.
Dani: One of the hardest parts of being a Latina in mental health is the lack of community that I have experienced. I have found that the further I have come in my education and career, there are less and less Latine folks. As I continue to pursue education and learning, I feel my lived experiences are less understood by loved ones and the saying “ni de aqui ni de alla” takes on new meaning.
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If you are looking for community and seeking a space that allows you to process the unique experiences of being Latina where you get to take up space with grandes sentimientos, please look into joining Chillona is Chingona, a therapy group centered around the Latina experience that is facilitated by Dani.
Dani Marrufo is Latinx, lesbian woman who is passionate about supporting Latinx, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ folks. She is constantly navigating the intersections of my queer identity & religion/spirituality and very excited about helping poly and queer-identified partners to feel more secure in their relationships, communicate effectively and compassionately, and bridge any relevant cultural differences to have increased curiosity and enjoyment in their partnership.
Gaby is queer, mixed race, spoonie, Latina. They are passionate about connecting with clients looking to reconnect with their roots, explore social justice frameworks, and find healing. You can find Gaby at Raíces Therapy or on Instagram @chicanatherapist.
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THERAPY SERVICES AT KINDMAN & CO.
We are here for your diverse counseling needs. Our team of therapists provides lgbtqia+ affirmative therapy, couples therapy & premarital counseling, grief & loss counseling, group therapy, and more. We have specialists in trauma, women's issues, depression & anxiety, substance use, mindfulness & embodiment, and support for creatives. For therapists and practice owners, we also provide consultation and supervision services! We look forward to welcoming you for therapy in Highland Park and online.