Intersectionality and Holding Space for All Parts of Yourself and Others

In mental health conversations, we often hear the importance of “showing up as your whole self.” Yet for many, “the whole self” feels complicated. We carry multiple identities, experiences, and roles that intersect in ways that are both empowering and challenging. Understanding and honoring these intersections is at the heart of compassionate care, authentic connection, and personal growth.

What Is Intersectionality?

Intersectionality, a term introduced by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, refers to how different aspects of a person’s identity—such as race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, disability, religion, or immigration status—intersect and shape their experiences. It helps us see that no single aspect of identity exists in isolation. For example, someone may not experience the world simply as “a woman” or “a person of color,” but as a woman of color—where both identities combine to influence opportunities, barriers, and lived experiences.

Why It Matters in Mental Health

When we ignore intersectionality, we risk oversimplifying people’s stories. In therapy, counseling, or community spaces, this can lead to missed opportunities for healing. A person’s grief may look different if they are also navigating racism. Someone coping with trauma may also be carrying the weight of economic hardship. Holding space for these realities doesn’t mean we have to know every answer—it means we approach others with humility, curiosity, and respect for the fullness of their lives.

Holding Space for Yourself

It’s not only about how we treat others—it’s also how we treat ourselves. Many of us struggle to accept parts of our identity that have been misunderstood or undervalued. Holding space for yourself means:

• Acknowledging complexity. You are allowed to be many things at once—strong and vulnerable, joyful and grieving, confident and uncertain.

• Rejecting either/or thinking. Instead of choosing between “this part of me” or “that part of me,” practice saying “both/and.”

• Practicing self-compassion. Some intersections carry pain, shame, or stigma. Giving yourself permission to feel, to heal, and to rest is part of honoring all of who you are.

Holding Space for Others

When supporting friends, clients, family members, or colleagues, we can hold space by:

• Listening without assumptions. Let them define what aspects of their identity feel most important in the moment.

• Affirming their experiences. Acknowledge that their unique intersections shape how they move through the world.

• Recognizing privilege and power. Be aware of the positions you hold in relation to others and how that impacts your interactions.

Moving Forward Together

Intersectionality invites us to step into a deeper practice of empathy. It reminds us that healing is not one-size-fits-all, and that true connection happens when we honor the full, complex selves that we each bring into the room. By holding space for all parts of ourselves—and for all parts of others—we create communities where authenticity, resilience, and healing can thrive.