Asian American Journal of Psychology, Vol 17(1), Mar 2026, 44-59; doi:10.1037/aap0000395
Existing research has shown that being the target of racial microaggression is a common and recurring experience for therapists of color. Despite this, existing knowledge about microaggressions experienced by therapists of Asian background is limited. Lesser still is our current understanding of these microaggressions occurring in clinical and professional settings. To address this gap, the present study explored Asian Canadian therapists’ lived experiences with clinically or professionally situated racial microaggressions and their means of coping with these racial discrimination-related stressors. Specifically, this study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyze data collected from semistructured interviews with nine Asian Canadian therapists. The results identified four major themes with 11 subthemes: (a) complexity and ambiguity, (b) impacts, (c) action versus inaction, and (d) strengths and rewards. The data revealed the complex, ambiguous, and context-dependent nature of microaggressions and the significant negative impacts of microaggressions on the participants’ emotional well-being. The extra intellectual effort required of Asian therapists to figure out how to respond to microaggressions was shown to be highly exhausting, both cognitively and emotionally. Several coping methods were identified by the participants, including a mixture of broaching, social support, clinical supervision, spiritual practice, psychotherapy, reframing of thoughts, and strengthening/reaffirming cultural identity. However, inaction and remaining silent were also reported under certain circumstances. Implications and recommendations for practice and research in support of Asian Canadian therapists in responding to microaggressions, at personal and institutional/organizational levels, are considered and forwarded. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)