In 2021, a group psychotherapy intervention was piloted for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) patients at McLean Hospital in response to rising anti-Asian violence. The 12-week virtual program included five participants and combined interpersonal process group therapy with a multicultural orientation framework. The article presents the intervention’s design and examines three clinical vignettes that challenge assumptions about Asian American therapists and the dynamics of a race-centered group.

Key scenarios discussed include managing intragroup conflict among members with differing relationships to race, addressing intersectional microaggressions within the group, and understanding the limitations of psychodynamic approaches in multicultural therapy. The findings emphasize that clinical encounters are influenced by historical and institutional contexts. Recognizing these factors is crucial to avoid perpetuating inequities in mental health outcomes for AAPI individuals and communities.