When people hear the term "culturally competent therapy," it often conjures up vague notions of inclusive language or diverse office decor. But true cultural competence in therapy goes far deeper. It’s not about checking boxes or offering a superficial nod to diversity. It’s about the heart of therapeutic connection—empathy, understanding, and responsiveness to the full spectrum of a client’s identity and lived experience.

In countless communities across the country, men of color are quietly suffering. Not because they lack resilience, but because the world has taught them to equate vulnerability with weakness. The message has been clear: men must be strong, stoic, and self-reliant. Add the complex layers of cultural stigma, racial discrimination, and systemic inequity, and you find a silent mental health crisis that has gone unaddressed for too long.