What is minority stress?
Life’s challenges can be overwhelming; everyone deserves a space to feel heard and supported. At Roamers Therapy, we provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and evidence-based environments to help you heal, grow, and navigate your mental well-being journey. As your psychotherapist, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Every now and then we experience things that cause stress. These can be things like work, relationship problems, or even just being stuck in traffic. Minority stress, however, is a form of stress that is endured by people of a marginalized group (e.g., people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, etc.). People of marginalized groups face this stress because of the discrimination and victimization they experience due to their identities (e.g., bullying). There are three key factors which characterize minority stress and separate it from other stressors: 1) chronic, 2) social, and 3) unique.
What are the effects of minority stress?
Minority stress has several effects on the people who endure it. For one, people who experience minority stress are at risk for experiencing a lifetime of harassment, prejudice, discrimination, and other forms of victimization. Because of this, people who experience minority stress are at a heightened risk for developing anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance use, and suicidality. People who experience minority stress are also less likely to engage in help seeking behaviors (e.g., seeing a therapist) out of mistrust in people in the majority group and fear of being discriminated against.
Find the Right Therapist in Chicago to Combat the Effects of Minority Stress
Minority stress is unfortunately persistent and affects people throughout their lifetime. However, there are several things that people can do to combat the effects of minority stress. If you are in a position of privilege, you can advocate for the rights of people who are oppressed. If you are dealing with minority stress, you can talk to loved ones you confide in. Creating a community for yourself is essential for supporting yourself through adversity. You can also find a therapist who either shares your identity statuses, or who is culturally competent.
At Roamers Therapy, our psychotherapists are here to support you through anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues, race-ethnicity issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, ADHD, Autism, or any challenges you encounter. Our psychotherapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Gottman Therapy.
Whether you’re seeking guidance on a specific issue or need help navigating difficult emotions, we’re ready to assist you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule a session with our mental health professionals to begin your healing journey. To get started with therapy, visit our booking page.
First, decide if you’ll be paying out-of-pocket or using insurance. If you’re a self-pay client, you can book directly through the “Book Now” page or fill out the “Self-Pay/Out-of-network Inquiry Form.” If you’re using insurance, fill out the “Insurance Verification Form” to receive details about your costs and availability. Please let us know your preferred therapist. If your preferred therapist isn’t available, you can join the waitlist by emailing us. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive intake documents to complete before your first session.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.