Most of the mental health professionals I've seen have been white, middle aged, middle class females. The nurses and assessors tended to be working/lower middle class.

My last (NHS) T was quite articulate and always dressed in a smart/casual way but was never flashy. In one session we were discussing my childhood and she said that her (now grown up) children went to a "good" school, and it's usually only the privileged who are able to provide their offspring with a decent level of education. When I explained my financial situation (I'm poor) she didn't understand at all and would often make silly, misinformed comments because she seemed to live in a bubble. I checked her out online and I noticed that she left a couple of short reviews on trip advisor, and in her profile picture she was on a yacht, holding a bottle of champagne! I know that doesn't necessarily prove that she was wealthy - it could've just been a holiday treat.

The majority of T's are middle class because they can afford to put themselves through college (and pay for their own therapy) know the right people and understand that the system works in their favour. I think that there needs to be more diversity in the MH profession; It's just too "cookie cutter" to be truly effective. Patients/clients need to feel that they are understood, and they may feel more comfortable opening up to someone from a similar background.