Cultural and Systemic Oppression

Sarah's personal and research interests are focused on supporting individuals experiencing cultural and systemic oppression. Her education is focused on the intersectionality of psychology, sociology, and history.

I am so happy that we are finally naming the issue instead of silencing, erasing, gaslighting, pathologizing or criminalizing those who are at the effect of it. The ways in which the violence manifests in people's lives can take many forms. And the symptoms can resemble other issues. But if we cannot differentiate cause from response, we will not be able to effectively engage or heal.

In my graduate education, I have both taken and taught classes on racism and systemic oppression. In my clinical practice, I see systemic oppression to be more then race; it also includes gender, sexuality, ethical non-monogamy, ability, citizenship, etc. Much of my experience working with cultural oppression include the manifestations of anxiety and depression.

All of my practices are shaped by being anti-oppressive (to reduce harm), liberatory (to find ways of healing and thriving), and de-colonial (challenging the harmful impacts of colonization and white supremacy culture). I support clients from diverse and often marginalized backgrounds, include LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, immigrants, and diverse abilities.

A few common themes thread throughout my areas of focus, such as racial trauma, systemic oppression, colonization, and even state-sanctioned violence to name a few. As a multicultural therapist, I may be curious about how cultural factors influence your experiences with risk and safety. Together we can explore these issues in a calm and non-judgmental way. My goal is to hear you, see you and understand you.

There are so many forms of systemic oppression, and while none of them are isolated or discrete from each other, all of them look different. My particular area of expertise is in housing justice and experiences of homelessness. I have 6+ year serving primarily houseless or housing/resource insecure clients, or folk in recovery from this experience.

The historical system of oppression (white supremacy) that our society operates under impacts all of us regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, body size, etc. Our seek therapists seek to understand dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression that have shaped our clients identities and lived experiences & work towards helping you heal the wounds from racial stress and racial trauma (microaggressions, racism, violence, & discrimination).

As a practitioner centered on Liberation Psychology, it is vital that therapy acknowledges and integrates the roles that systemic forces such as inequity, oppression, and marginalization play in impacting clients' mental health. By challenging and engaging with such dynamics instead of minimizing their impact, therapy can become a critical praxis in nurturing clients' abilities to achieve their goals.

Identifying as part of the global majority in a system that was created to marginalize and oppress people of color is challenging, to say the least. Though dismantling the system is a goal, taking care of your individual self is vital. The conversation around systemic oppression often uses active language like "fight", but when it comes to you, I wonder if we can incorporate more rest. Part of what is stolen (among labor and time) is rest and the energy to take care of yourself.

Are you feeling the weight of oppression more acutely? Social media and globalization has connected us all, but has also exposed us to more vicarious trauma by witnessing the victimization of members of targeted groups, especially with the rise of nationalism, xenophobia, and the effects of capitalism, globally. We can work together together to sort though your thoughts and feelings, and decide what kinds of action you'd like to take (if any) to heal and honor your culture and yourself.

Racism, patriarchy, able-ism, and other old tricks hurt, use, dis-empower, and silence human beings in the legacy of a "power-over." These tricks toxify language, religion, business, and other institutions. Even non-profits. Even families. Their subtle manifestations can hurt like the obvious ones, especially when they happen repeatedly. A "power-with" way of thinking supports equality, respect, and cooperation. I love to help people find support for power-with.

Our therapists believe in addressing the global contexts that impact us and our clients.

I chose to complete my studies in Social Work, specifically to study systems of oppression in our society, with a strong focus on religious systems of oppression. I am well-versed in religious systems of oppression, but this understanding translates to any hierarchical system: racism, workplace discrimination, family systems of oppression, interpersonal oppression (abuse and neglect), and financial oppression (capitalism). Where you have humans in societies together, there is always risk.

I am a culturally humble/aware counselor. this means that I am aware of my privilege as a white male who recognizes the privilege I bring with me, but my role in the counseling session is to be a passenger down the road to the betterment of the client's mental health; the client will always be the driver and will define which roads they wish to take.

I offer specialized treatment for race-based trauma and internalized racism using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. This approach allows us to explore the different parts of you that have been impacted by racial trauma, helping you to understand and heal the wounds of oppression, discrimination, and internalized beliefs. IFS creates a space where you can connect with these parts compassionately, unburden them, and reclaim a sense of inner balance, self-worth, and empowerment.

As intersectional beings, intersecting systems of oppressions influence our experience incessantly. With the ever expanding technological and historic globalization, the oppression we face daily may even feel overwhelmingly debilitating. It's no wonder that much of our mental health concerns

I am passionate about creating a sense of identity and pursuing changes that benefit all my clients, focusing on those who have been oppressed and have historically been affected by systematic issues and cultural oppression.

Humans are brilliant learners, absorbing messages from our environments — families, society, culture. These external influences shape our identities based on creed, gender, colour, etc., which then shape our realities. To know who we are requires understanding these influences, and how it has shaped who we are. By doing so, we can tease out who we are at our “core,” from what we’ve been taught. Let’s sift through these layers to find your true self.

The unprovoked deaths of women and men of color have exposed again the challenges that many of us face to have true equity in the United States. This, along with COVID-19 and the resulting economic impact have had a disproportionate impact on families of color. Understanding the systemic issues and how to address them proactively is essential for our mental health.