Therapy & Assessments for EVERYONE in West LA

As a clinical psychologist and fellow human being, I am committed to fostering an environment where every individual, including their race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, and neurotype, is valued, affirmed, and supported. All humans, including folx who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC), members of the LGBTQIA+ community, folx of any size, folx with disabilities, folx of any religion, folx of any immigration status, and folx of any neurotype should feel welcome and heard at my practice.

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.