1. Understanding Our Identity and How It Impacts Our
Clients. Start Where you Are. by Phillip Horner
The question of "Who am I?" is one that is asked so many times in life. It helps shape our
directions and who we surround ourselves with, it also draws certain people to us. There are
so many intersecting pieces that not one answer is ever going to fully define who we are, but
so many of them define how people see us and our society treats us. So, it is good for us to
know as much as we can about them, because they are defining us even when we don't want
them to be. I can state that, because I am White, the world treats me with certain privileges
and usually most circumstances are presented in a positive way for me. And this is just one
of my identities that grants me this privilege and how the world defines me, consciously or
unconsciously.
As a psychotherapist it is important for me to understand my identities as they affect the
clients I work with everyday. They can create more power and oppression in the client
therapist relationship. The therapeutic relationship is critical and without a strong
relationship between the client and therapist it may be difficult to move healing
forward. Simple acknowledgment of our own identities, with our clients, early on can open
more space for conversation and create more trust. If they are not spoken to, there is the
possibility of mistrust or transference. Broaching can be a difficult thing to do with our
clients and sometimes can feel not necessary, although noticing how those identities might
impact our clients will give us a good compass how important they may be to share.
To begin this process, we start by understanding our own identities and how they intersect
with each other. Some may say, "look at your privileges," but it is beyond just that, it can

2. also be where you are from, pieces of you that are not seen, and parts of yourself that are
different than others. We look at not only privilege, but also parts that feel important to our
self, along with pieces that may be marginalized. To do this I encourage people to join
groups focused on identity, read about oppression and privilege, and talk with your friends or
colleagues about how you might identify yourself. Who are you? What feels important for
people to know? What has created who you are? Where did your family come from? These
are just a few questions that might help begin the process, which will not finish today, or
tomorrow, as it is a life long. Read more..