Statement on Inclusivity and Allyship
Therapy & Assessments for EVERYONE in West LA
Allyship:
- I stand with you: I am committed to being an ally to marginalized communities by actively seeking to understand their unique experiences, challenges, and perspectives.
- Listening, learning, and unlearning: I pledge to continually educate myself about the issues faced by marginalized communities and to listen attentively to the voices of those who have been historically silenced or marginalized. I recognize my own privilege and how my work on allyship must be active, not passive.
- Addressing bias: I will confront my own biases and privilege to ensure that they do not interfere with the therapeutic process. I commit to providing an unbiased and non-judgmental therapeutic environment.
- Cultural awareness and inclusivity: I acknowledge that cultural humility, awareness, and acceptance is an ongoing journey, and I will work to remain culturally sensitive, open-minded, and responsive to the diverse needs and backgrounds of each person I help.
Anti-Racism:
- Challenging systemic racism: I will actively challenge systemic racism within the mental health field and society at large. I will advocate for equitable access to mental health care and work to dismantle barriers that affect marginalized communities. This includes if my services are not affordable, offering a reduced fee when available, or offering several referrals that may be good fits for people seeking help.
- Culturally informed therapy: I will integrate culturally informed approaches into therapy, recognizing the importance of cultural competence in delivering effective care.
- Safe and inclusive space: I commit to creating a therapy space where clients can discuss their experiences of racism and discrimination without fear of judgment, and where their emotions and perspectives are validated.
Neurodivergent-Affirming:
- Neurodiversity recognition and neurodivergent empowerment: I recognize the value of honoring and normalizing neurodiversity, and pledge to embrace the unique interests, strengths, and perspectives of all neurodivergent folx. I will never pathologize neurodivergent traits and actively seek to unlearn any ableist beliefs and/or biases I may have been exposed to or internalized.
- Tailored approach: I will work collaboratively with all neurodivergent clients to develop personalized therapeutic strategies that respect their individual needs and preferences. I will not approach therapy in a way that pathologizes their neurotype nor their ways of thinking, feeling, perceiving, or behaving.
- Accessibility: I will strive to make my therapeutic practice physically and emotionally accessible to all, including those with sensory sensitivities, communication differences, or other neurodivergent characteristics (i.e., processing styles, executive function differences).
I am dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and affirming therapeutic space where each person can love themselves, define their own path and aspirations, and grow without fear of discrimination or bias. I hold many privileged identities; I am a white, cisgender, lower middle-class, hetero male. Thus, my anti-racist, anti-oppressive, allyship, neurodivergent-affirming work will continue to be an active process. I value unlearning as much as I do learning.
I encourage my clients and my community to hold me accountable to these principles and to provide feedback whenever possible. I am not perfect nor will I ever be – I am beautifully imperfect. I will always strive to be a better ally and advocate. Thank you for reading my statement on how I am trying to be an inclusive therapist and psychologist.