Moving Beyond Labels to Identity
When someone asks, "Who are you?" the answer is not simple. We are students, friends, workers, athletes, artists, children, siblings, parents. Personally, I might say soldier and mental health professional—and from another angle: brother, uncle, son, fiancé, student, runner, overthinker, analyst, and more. However, in everyday life—whether in a university application or a job interview—we are often reduced to just one label.
Labels are mental shortcuts our brains use to simplify complexity (Tajfel, 1981). However, when applied to people, they can shrink, stigmatize, and even harm. In Canada—a country that values fairness and diversity—moving beyond labels allows us to uncover something more profound: our Y—the story beneath the surface.
Psychotherapists here in Ottawa, see daily how labels weigh on people. Clients often arrive saying, "I'm just an addict" or "I'm a failure." Our work usually begins with reframing: reminding them that they are more than one label, and helping them rediscover their Y.
Labels in Education
In Canada, university admissions rely heavily on grades, extracurriculars, and essays. At the University of British Columbia, for instance, a personal profile supplements marked with stories of challenges and achievements (UBC, 2017). Still, even this process simplifies complex lives.
- A GPA labels you "smart" or "average."
- A sports team labels you "athlete."
- A volunteer role labels you "leader."
These are not wrong—but they are incomplete. A top grade does not reveal the late nights spent balancing work and study. Being "captain" does not show the courage it took to keep playing while injured. Your Y is the fuller story behind the label.
Labels in Mental Health and Addiction
Howard Becker (1963/2018) explained that labels shape both how others treat us and how we see ourselves. Called a "troublemaker" often enough, people may start to live it.
The same holds in addiction. Calling someone an "addict" can erase the rest of their identity. Instead, Canadian health organizations encourage person-first language, such as "person with a substance use disorder" (CCSA, 2019). This acknowledges struggle without erasing humanity. Someone's Y always extends far beyond a diagnosis.
Labels in Society
Sociologist John Porter (1965) described Canadian society as a "vertical mosaic," where opportunities are unevenly distributed. Labels like "immigrant," "poor," or "Indigenous" often reinforce these divides.
- An immigrant may be assumed to "not belong," even if born here.
- Someone labelled "poor" may be dismissed as irresponsible, instead of resilient.
- Indigenous students may be stereotyped rather than recognized for their perseverance.
Labels erase individuality. Your Y restores it.
The Cost of Labels
Labels can oversimplify, confine, and even dehumanize. Research shows dehumanization fosters stigma and exclusion (Haslam & Loughnan, 2014). Labels also create self-fulfilling prophecies, where expectations shape outcomes (Rosenthal & Jacobson, 1968).
When we instead ask about someone's Y, we invite empathy.
Finding Your Y
Your Y is your story—the why behind your actions.
- A grade shows performance; your Y shows the struggle behind it.
- A résumé shows jobs; your Y explains resilience and sacrifice.
- A label shows one surface trait; your Y reveals the human beneath.
Shifting from judgment to curiosity means moving from "Who are you?" to "What is your Y?"
Discovering Your Y in Ottawa
Here in Ottawa, we see every day how people carry labels that do not tell their whole truth. Therapy can be a space to peel back those labels and rediscover your Y—the strength, motivation, and identity that run deeper.
If you want to explore your Y beyond the labels, we would be glad to help.
Book an appointment today and start reclaiming your story.
ReferencesBecker, H. S. (2018). Outsiders: Studies in the sociology of deviance. Simon & Schuster. (Original work published 1963)
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. (2019). Moving toward person-first language in substance use. Ottawa, ON: Author. https://www.ccsa.ca
Haslam, N., & Loughnan, S. (2014). Dehumanization and infrahumanization. Annual Review of Psychology, 65(1), 399–423. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115045
Porter, J. (1965). The vertical mosaic: An analysis of social class and power in Canada. University of Toronto Press.
Rosenthal, R., & Jacobson, L. (1968). Pygmalion in the classroom: Teacher expectation and pupils' intellectual development. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Tajfel, H. (1981). Human groups and social categories: Studies in social psychology. Cambridge University Press.
University of British Columbia. (2017). UBC Admissions: How We Evaluate Your Application. https://you.ubc.ca
