Cultural and Systemic Oppression

Anti-racist, liberation-focused approach

Society dishes us a can of whoop-a$$ on the daily. Unless you're part of that top 1%, cultural and systemic oppression contributes to significant stress. Let's work to eradicate the jacked up messages society has used, and continues to use, to keep us down.

I work with every individual to help them understand their intersectionality of identity (racial/ethnic identity, immigration status, gender, sexuality, class, religion, disability, trauma history, etc.) and how systematic oppression leads to the pathologizing of people who hold marginalized identities on a micro, meso, and macro levels.

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.

Cultural and material conditions shape our psychology; no symptom can be understood outside of this context.

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 are in our 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.

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 a white, queer, gender-fluid person I am committed to consistently exploring my relationship to my identity and social location. My therapy practice seeks to be a highly inclusive space, and a container for exploring the ways systemic oppression impact our internal and external psychological experiences. I invite each of my clients to consider their gender, sexuality, racial perspective, ability and socioeconomic status as part of their work in therapy.

Systems of oppression including but not limited to racism, heterosexism, cisgenderism, sexism, and ableism are often at the root of many of the suffering that bring people to therapy. I have 20 yrs of experience holding space to witness these experiences, to counter and prevent internalization, and develop strategies of disruption. I have trained and supervised therapists and other human services professionals to address oppression as an essential part of clinical work.

"Power-over" tricks like racism, patriarchy, and able-ism oppress, dis-empower, and silence human beings. These tricks are everywhere: in our language, religion, businesses, non-profits, even in families. Even in our own minds. Both the obvious and subtle manifestations cause harm, especially when they happen repeatedly. Together we can question oppressive assumptions, and replace "power-over" with "power-with" relationships of equality, respect, cooperation, and empowerment.

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.

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. Knowing who we are requires understanding these influences and how it has influenced our lenses and behaviours. Only with this deeper insight, can we feel empowered to regain control of our lives.

I have received training on supporting clients who are impacted by racism. I also have lived experience navigating and healing despite living within cultural and systemic oppression.

I utilize a blend of boundary-setting modalities to address historical and intergenerational trauma. Survival instincts and ways of coping are often passed down in a family system, even if they don't always serve the present moment. Understanding why we react to certain situations, and why others may react, can increase compassion. Once we have cultivated that compassion we can articulate and implement boundaries from a place of acceptance and respect.

Humans are brilliant learners, absorbing messages from our environments — families, society, culture, whether these messages are positive or negative. These external influences shape our identities based on creed, gender, colour, etc., which then shape our realities. Knowing who we are requires understanding these influences and how it has influenced our lenses and behaviours. Only with this deeper insight, can we feel empowered to regain control of our lives.

Personal empowerment is inseparable from transformative sociopolitical change. This conviction infuses all that I do, including my psychotherapy approach. Since 2016, I have offered workshops and courses on Racism, Diversity, and Psychoanalysis. I also have years of experience as a grassroots environmental and social justice community organizer.

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. Knowing who we are requires understanding these influences, and how it has influenced our lenses and behaviours. Only then, can we be empowered to feel in control of our lives.

As a first generation multicultural therapist creating a safe space for those that have been othered, marginalized, oppressed, and hold multigenerational trauma matters deeply to me. Since 2011 I have been working with and educating myself on DEI, multigenerational trauma and somatics, and have been working in large part with BIPOC/ the global majority. I am white passing, and welcome discussion about the impact of this; my intent is that a space is made for all of you, free of code switching.

The world that we live in is not necessarily a friendly one to who we are. Whether we are women or men, people of colour or white, the norms and infrastructures that we have inherited often discourage us from living authentically. What is freedom if not to be free of all arbitrary constraints?