“Therapy is political because therapy addresses the whole person and the systems they exist within” — @theempoweredtherapist
I believe it’s my role as a family therapist to take a position on important social justice movements and issues, as they affect family and community wellbeing. Family therapists who are trauma informed will be able to voice an evidence based viewpoint on important issues. I believe that all people, people of color, queer people, mothers, women of all orientations — and all marginalized folks — deserve to live lives of well-being, and our society plays an important role of fostering that. Our society has let these folks down for too long and continues to do so. As a therapist, I take an anti-oppressive stance. I condemn discrimination and am intolerant of hate and oppression.
I am radically accepting while being intolerant of discrimination and oppression.
I’m committed to consistent exploration, education, and pursuing perspective about my own experiences and privilege in the world, especially as a white cis woman and therapist. It’s important that as therapists, we don’t remain neutral toward, or worse enable, systems that oppress and traumatize the people we support. I do my best to keep this perspective in mind while guiding my work with my clients, while inviting them to explore their symptoms through the lens of systemic influence as well.
It’s important that as therapists, we don’t remain neutral regarding system that oppress and traumatize the people we support.
It is important to me to be a safe space. I believe true safety is more than acceptance: safety is love, respect, and celebrating the person in front of you for all they are. I am intentional about bringing safety to the virtual therapy “room” by inviting my clients to teach me who they are. I have an unconditional positive regard toward my clients, and help them to see their behaviors and symptoms through their own trauma and experience of the world. I am radically accepting while being intolerant of discrimination and oppression. Healing can be created by giving yourself compassion for how the world we live in has impacted you.
It is my intention to continue to do my own work as a person, as a member of my community, and as a good steward of the planet.