Cultural and Systemic Oppression

As an adolescent and adult, I observed the violence that is inflicted upon marginalized bodies when spiritual leaders attempt to act outside of the scope of their training and provide counsel to people with needs beyond their grasp. I saw how their limited understanding as well as their internalized white supremacy hurt multiple generations of families. As an active participant in my own healing, I have devoted my life to helping others reclaim their own power, and fight for their healing.

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.

As a Women's Studies major at the University of Minnesota in the early 90's, my knowledge of and interest in oppression of all sorts grew enormously. It was truly one of the most valuable aspects of my education. That interest has only increased since the 2016 election. From that time on, our political and social climate has felt surreal. Unfortunately, it seems the progress we've made since the 1960's has been crumbling before our eyes. Ultimately I'm an optimist though, and I still have hope.

I believe it is important to look at systemic structures and how that impacts your mental health. I help you shift focus to the larger societal systems and how they may effect you depending on your unique identities. I also explore your cultural background with you. Depending on your cultural identity, we can understand how you or your ancestors have been oppressed historically and currently.

Systemic oppression, be it racist, patriarchal, or cultural, can have a strong and negative impact on your life, mental health and sense of self. As a Latina Therapist who myself have experienced the negative impacts, my goal is to help POC heal wounds from internalized oppression and systemic inequality.

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.

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.

All staff are people of color and participate in trainings aimed at enhancing our ability to practice from an anti-oppressive lens.

I have worked in and adjacent to the activist community in Chicago and am familiar with the was that systemic oppression impacts cultures of the global majority. I work to affirm my clients, help to repair their racial stress/traumatic memories and organize their strategies for managing the structural oppression they have and may continue to face and experience.

I currently run one of the largest ERGs in the nation for a well-known entertainment company. I have a deep passion for helping my clients see what is possible and understand that imposter syndrome exists because we live in a system never designed for people of color to be active participants.

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.

until all of us are free, none of us are free. my practice centers the reality of our interconnectedness and deeply acknowledges the consequences of late-stage racial capitalism and legacies of white-colonialism. i work to help folx externalize what these systems have made us to believe about our realities so that we direct our rage and grief at the actual roots of our suffering.

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.

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.

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.

It would be easy to tell you to just be yourself. The reality is that there are systemic constraints which require many of us to navigate our identities based on what is called for in our environments. I want you to be free and I also want you to be protected. I enjoy helping clients process the reality of oppression while carving out space in their lives to further express themselves.

I bring my analysis and work from organizing to fight systemic oppression and the anti-violence field to bear on my psychodynamic work. I have developed an anti-oppression approach to my treatment that helps me and my clients understand how Complex PTSD and intergenerational trauma and ongoing experiences of oppression are connected.

Dr. Schiffner has focused on cultural issues throughout her career. She is an AfroLatinx licensed psychologist who has experience working with clients from various cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds. Her goal is to provide anti-oppressive, inclusive, and culturally-responsive services from a lens of cultural humility knowing that she can never understand every facet of cultural diversity yet striving to remain open, self-reflective and current in diversity knowledge.