What It Feels Like To Be Seen: Intersectionality In Mental Health

Exploring how the layers of our identities shape our challenges, our resilience, and our paths to healing

Dec 30, 2024

Imagine carrying the weight of who you are, and then having others try to tell you who you should be. That’s been my life, and it’s exhausting. Intersectionality, for me, is about seeing all the pieces that make up who someone is — not just the parts that are easy to categorize. It’s understanding that people aren’t one-dimensional, and neither are their struggles. I think about all the ways my identities intersect — being Latina, white-passing, and a lesbian — and how they’ve shaped the way I navigate the world.

purple-petaled flower — Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash

Growing up in Brazil, I didn’t think much about these labels. I knew who I was, and that was enough. But moving to the U.S. added layers I wasn’t prepared for. Suddenly, my identity became something others wanted to define for me. I wasn’t “Latina enough” because I didn’t speak Spanish, and I wasn’t “white enough” because I didn’t fit the cultural expectations tied to whiteness here. And when I came out, I had to wrestle with what being a lesbian looked like for me — not what stereotypes said it should be.

The Framework of Intersectionality

Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term “intersectionality” to describe how overlapping identities — like race, gender, and class — create unique systems of oppression and privilege. Building on her work, Grzanka and colleagues (2020) emphasized how psychology must consider these intersections to understand and address social inequalities better. They argue that intersectionality challenges oppressive systems and provides a framework for translational science aimed at social justice.

Similarly, Huang et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review showing that most mental health interventions fail to address intersectionality effectively. They found that interventions often focus on single issues — like sexuality or race — without accounting for how these identities interact. This oversight means therapies frequently miss the unique challenges faced by individuals with overlapping marginalized identities, such as LGBTQ+ individuals of color.

Seeing Intersectionality in My Clients

As a therapist, I’ve seen how this plays out in real life. I remember one client who came to me struggling with depression. On the intake form, their issues were listed as “family conflict” and “low self-esteem,” but when we started talking, it became clear there was so much more. They were a first-generation college student, navigating family expectations while dealing with systemic racism in academia. They were queer, trying to reconcile their identity with their faith community’s disapproval. Every layer added another weight they were carrying, and none of it could be separated from the others.

This is what intersectionality is about. It’s not just checking boxes or acknowledging diversity — it’s about seeing how identities interact to shape someone’s life. It’s about understanding the structural and interpersonal systems that create these challenges in the first place.

Navigating My Own Intersectional Journey

But this isn’t just about my clients. It’s about me, too. Moving to the U.S. was the first time I felt the sharp edges of not belonging. In Brazil, I was simply me. Here, I felt like I was always being put into a category, none of which fit quite right.

Being Latina meant I was part of a community, but being white-passing meant I didn’t always feel welcome in that community. Torres et al. (2018) discuss this dual experience, highlighting how white-passing Latinx individuals often struggle with benefiting from racial privilege while feeling disconnected from their cultural roots. Add to that, being a lesbian, and the stereotypes about what that “should” look like, and it was easy to feel like I didn’t fit anywhere.

Resilience in Intersectionality

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that intersectionality isn’t just about oppression. It’s also about resilience.

Rosenthal (2016) explains that intersectionality highlights not only structural barriers but also the resistance and strength of marginalized groups. For example, LGBTQ+ communities often build networks of support that provide affirmation and belonging despite societal stigma. Similarly, Torres et al. (2018) found that Latinx individuals frequently draw resilience from their cultural pride and community ties.

In my life, resilience has come from embracing my full self. I’ve learned to see my intersecting identities not as contradictions, but as a testament to my complexity and strength. I’m Latina, white-passing, a lesbian. I’m also proud, resilient, and continually learning what it means to be me.

Why Intersectionality Matters

If you’re reading this and feeling like no one sees the full picture of who you are, know this: your story matters. Your intersecting identities aren’t a burden — they’re a mosaic of strength and complexity. And whether it’s in therapy, in your relationships, or in your community, you deserve to be seen for all of who you are.

Intersectionality isn’t just an academic framework — it’s personal.

It’s a way of seeing the world that acknowledges both struggle and strength, oppression and resilience. For me, it’s the lens that helps me understand my clients, myself, and the systems we all live in. And it’s the reminder that none of us are just one thing. We are so much more.

If you’ve ever felt like your identity doesn’t fit neatly into the boxes others have created for you, I’d love to hear your story.

Share your experiences in the comments, and let’s continue this conversation about how our intersecting identities shape who we are and how we move through the world.