As a Black male therapist in Vancouver, I’m often asked if I only work with Black men. The truth is, I work with all kinds of clients. I work with people from many backgrounds, men and women, immigrants and locals, who want therapy that feels grounded, emotionally attuned, and responsive to who they are. Identity matters, but it’s not the whole story. Perspective, approach, and the feeling of being seen. All of that matters too.
The clients who reach out often fall into a few patterns:
- Clients who want a different kind of therapist. Many have only been in therapy that is passive and nondirective. While some found that useful, others left sessions feeling like nothing was moving. They come to me because they want therapy that can be
- active and structured when helpful, and
- spacious when that’s what’s needed.
- People with Black partners, children, or family members. I often meet parents raising Black sons who want a therapist who understands some of the unique pressures their child may face. Or partners who want to deepen their cross-cultural relationships. For them, my lens isn’t just about race. It’s about bringing depth and clarity to important relationships.
- Clients from non‑Western backgrounds. Vancouver is full of immigrant and cultural communities. Many know what it feels like to navigate two worlds. They may not share my exact background, but they recognize that I understand what it’s like when the “normal” model of therapy feels too Western, too individualistic, or out of sync with their experience.
What connects all of these clients is the same thing. They want therapy that actually fits them emotionally, culturally, and practically.
Why this matters to my clients
- Better therapeutic fit: You don’t have to translate your entire context before the work can begin. We start deeper, sooner.
- Improved engagement: When people feel seen and respected, they’re more likely to stay with therapy and do the work between sessions.
- Safer trauma work: Cultural attunement, pacing, and consent reduce misattunements that can re‑trigger or shut clients down.
- Concrete progress: More clarity with anxiety and stress, steadier communication in relationships, and decisions that align with values.
- Local impact: In a diverse city like Vancouver, identity‑aware and cross‑cultural care expands access and trust for communities that haven’t always felt at home in therapy.
How men approach therapy in Vancouver
Most men that reach out to me rarely begin with “I need therapy.” Instead, they often want a sounding board, a place to think out loud without being judged. Someone to help sort through ideas and situations without treating them like victims. That doesn’t mean they’re avoiding emotion, it’s a way of building trust.
Over time, those conversations go deeper, identity, pressure, family, and the parts of themselves they rarely show anywhere else. That process isn’t forced, and my role is to meet them where they are and create a space that feels steady, not scripted.
Cross-cultural therapy in Vancouver
While identity matters, it isn’t the whole story. Many people want a perspective that cuts across cultures, not just one that mirrors their own. They want someone who understands the push and pull of immigrant life, or the pressure to succeed in environments where they already feel different. Cross‑cultural counselling recognizes the complexity of identity and makes therapy a place where those realities are acknowledged. Second generation immigrants, raised by first generation parents benefit most from a cross-cultural perspective in my experience.
Trauma-informed, without reducing you to trauma
Trauma shows up in many forms, single events, chronic stress, intergenerational patterns. Being trauma‑informed means we pay attention to safety, pacing, triggers, and the nervous system. It also means we see the whole person: strengths, resources, relationships, and the parts of life that are working.
Why a flexible, directive style helps some clients
One theme I hear often is that clients want more direction. They’ve tried therapy before and left feeling like it was just endless listening without movement. For those clients, I can integrate a more directive approach, bringing in frameworks and practical tools that help them feel grounded and focused. Of course, therapy isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. Some people benefit from structure and others from space. My job is to move back and forth, to adapt the style so that it fits the person in front of me. The goal is always the same- to make therapy feel worthwhile, not generic.
Why this work matters so much in Vancouver
Vancouver is one of the most diverse cities in the world, yet the therapy profession here doesn’t always reflect that diversity. For many clients, that can mean sitting across from someone who doesn’t fully see the world the way they do. For therapists, it can mean not having colleagues who bring in perspectives that stretch beyond the usual frame. My goal isn’t to represent one group alone. It’s to make therapy a space where anyone who has ever felt outside or misunderstood can feel recognized. Sometimes that’s a Black man looking for a sounding board. Sometimes it’s a parent raising a son who’s facing challenges they don’t fully understand. Sometimes it’s someone from a cultural background that doesn’t fit neatly into the North American mold.
What ties all of these together is perspective. People want to be seen in a way that feels real, not generic. And when that happens, therapy becomes more than a conversation, it becomes a place where identity, clarity, and growth come together.
In‑Person Therapy in Vancouver (BC‑wide Online Available)
I currently prioritize in‑person sessions in Vancouver for those who want a face‑to‑face connection and a steady setting for deeper work. If you’re elsewhere in BC, online sessions are available.
Next StepIf this approach resonates, you can book a brief consultation to ask questions and get a feel for how we might work together.
Book in person: https://irokohealth.janeapp.com
Learn more: https://www.irokohealth.com
About the author
Isi Oboh is the director of Iroko Health, a therapy practice based in Vancouver. He works with driven, emotionally reserved individuals who look strong on the outside but often feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck on the inside. His approach blends clinical depth with grounded, real-world insight, helping clients reclaim clarity, confidence, and internal alignment.
