Linda, according to your posts of late you are:

Russian, Hebrew, Atheist, and American. But you also throw in for good measure, Latino values (which is 99% of the time Devout Catholic.)

So if your looking for a therapist to match this, forget it. It's not going to happen. You throw so much into your "minority group" that it would just confuse anyone trying to listen to begin with.

Therapists are TRAINED to be sensitive to others cultures and values. If they do not understand an aspect, they are taught to CLARIFY the difference so that they may be of some help instead of ignorant about it. It does not matter what background they come from. They are not there to talk about themselves or their religious views. They are there to give therapy to the client. Not themselves.

Throwing this whole.. well minorities could especially understand is a cop out. This is nothing more than reverse racism. I see it all the time. I'm a minority. And I do not subscribe to this narrowed, judgmental way of thinking just because some one comes from another culture, religion or has a different colour of skin. And I most certainly don't try and hide it behind "well I'm a minority."

When your looking for a therapist, your looking for someone who is knowledgeable in the field of your issues, that you can connect with, that you can learn to trust and respect. If all this other crap is an issue, it's yours not the therapists.

bec

Veilid,
I think you had misunderstood my point (or I did not express it well). I was talking about of the effects ethnic/cultural background on establishing of a good rapport between the therapist and the client. This is not necessarily a race issue: also includes religion, gender, political beleives, etc. And it does matter for some people. What I wanted to ask is about personal experiences of the Forum members in this aspect.
***And since you stated you have never belonged to a Russian community here then you can't say you know otherwise can you?***
See, I also stated that I did not belong there for many reasons. I do not stereotype, I just know that culture matters. When I began to date my first boyfriend in the States, who was a black guy from Haity, most of my Russian American friends turned away from me. It is a long story, actully.
Of course, people do understand that there are certain standards which must be followed. But understanding is not all we need.
I mean pretty much the same thing you are talking about: how, if at all, historical tensions between two groups (and maybe a trauma caused to you by people of the certain group) influence your wish to be seen by the therapist of the very same group.
I think it is an interesting question, which, of course, should be discussed in peaceful and respectful manner.

Just a couple of quick thoughts here - my T has to be a female and other than that, I am pretty open although I do seek for one that has similar religious beliefs as that is a huge trigger area for me. Race-wise, I honestly can't see it making much difference unless we make it an issue. I think commonalities can be found in each other in any situation.

Grace

Bec,
I am not looking for the therapist of the same group with mine (especially, as you pointed right, I am "a little bit of everything"). My therapist is a white middle-class American, and I find her to be very professional and helpful, can not think of a better one actually. However I did not develop trust at once. For example, I did not feel comfortable talking about the discrimination I had faced in Russia. And it is also an influence of culture: I simply did not know what the therapist are trained for in the States, but had a pretty bad experience with inprofessional ones at home country.
I agree with all you say about hiding your owr racism behind the magical phrase "being a minority".
I***f all this other crap is an issue, it's yours not the therapists.***
This is exactly what I mean: what issues we may have.

Sorry if I used wrong word. I do tend to use racism and discrimination interchangeably. I should watch that. Your post was more discrimination actually. And you are contradicting yourself. How do you have many "Russian American" friends to abandon you if you never belonged to a Russian community within the states? And lack of understanding of cultural backgrounds is exactly what you were pointing out so why would understanding not be good enough?

Historical differences... Sorry that makes no sense. There are historical differences every where, that is America. If people let those lead them they would be living in the back woods married to a cousin with no social exchanges at all.

Veilid,
"Belonging to the community" and just having friends are two different things. I understand "Belonging to the community" as actually participaiting in its life somehow: for example, in my case, help to edit local Russian newspaper. I did have, and still do, some Russian friends (not too close friends, I do not know the proper English word for it). But there are very few.
Why underastanding may not be good enough... Well, I give you an example. For instance, a woman who is seeking help after raped may understand that male therapists are knowlegeble, but feels more comfortable with a female one. Same thing is possible with cultural issues: understanding that one is a good professional, but not developing enough comfort. It is of course client's issue, not therapist's.

Do you realize you are talking in circles?

What do you mean?

If you cannot see it following your own postings and responses not much I can say to show you. Except a bulleted list of contradictions which I am honestly just not going to invest that much time in as I don't see that as a productive use of my time at this point. If I really thought it would help I would but... Washing my hands of this thread as it is beyond counter productive, not making any sense at this point (to me), and I see it as someone is just trying to stir the pot, not making valid points about actual PTSD issues.

Well, Veilid, I am sorry you saw something I never ment. Or maybe my language barrier is so severe that I can not understand what you mean, or can not express my thought clearly.
What gave me an idea to write this post was a small article I read in an older (2001) psychology textbook. All I did was asking a question which I feel is important. However, if you think the discussion is counter-productive, it can be ended.