Cultural and Systemic Oppression

Being bicultural/biracial, and having worked with the refugee and immigrant population for over 22 years, I have a deep-seeded passion for social justice and advocacy. I believe in being an agency of change and for providing safe spaces for individuals to explore and address ways in which they have been oppressed, marginalized, and disenfranchised.

When you live life uncertain if spaces have been carved out for you, it impacts your concept of safety; your quality of life; thoughts of self; thereby, your mental health. Cultural and systemic oppression, is an unfortunate part of existence outside of the perceived dominant group. Through art therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other modalities we can begin to address the impact of oppression on the psyche and decolonize the mind.

I specialize in Culture Shock & Cultural Identity Issues. Cultural assimilation is not just some fun theoretical concept one learns in school. Doing it successfully can mean the difference between getting a job and going hungry, between having friends or not having friends, between being shunned or being accepted in your new community, and between surviving and thriving.

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare. — Audre Lorde My training and career has always focused on serving marginalized and minoritized communities. I think of engaging in culturally-conscious therapy--to do the work of uncovering and understanding your roots in order to build a resilient and values-aligned life--as a form of radical resistance to oppressive systems.

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.

The Shame Resilience Theory developed by Dr. Brené Brown in 2006. I believe many of us live with internalized shame and the core beliefs about ourselves are clouded by this specific emotion. Over time, internalized shame can develop into symptoms anxiety and depression.

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.

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare. — Audre Lorde My training and career has always focused on serving marginalized and minoritized communities. I think of engaging in culturally-conscious therapy--to do the work of uncovering and understanding your roots in order to build a resilient and values-aligned life--as a form of radical resistance to oppressive systems.

Developed familiarity working with cultural and system oppression from necessity acquiring the skills to advocate for clients facing bias and discrimination as inherent parts of the therapeutic system, as well as from personal experience.

I believe in calling out and speaking the truth to the systems of oppression that surround and us and impact our healing journey. This may look like us having a conversation about your frustrations at work being compounded by the overt sexism in your industry or it could involve a safe place to unpack the microaggressions your mother in law drops at every famiy gathering. I think it's important to discuss these moments in therapy and I work to be an ally and a advocate for my clients.

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?

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.

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.

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

We work with BIPOC. We live in an indoctrinated society. Stigma runs rampant and most of us operate from a narrative and language that perpetuates, support and often complies with oppression and indoctrination. Is it a surprise we are suffering from trauma, depression, anxiety and the likes? If we can begin to unpack how society has victimized us we can begin to alter our stories around shame and self-blame towards a more holistic view of inner and societal healing.

All of us are brilliant students of our society, — our families, communities, societies, culture. These factors shape our identities based on creed, gender, colour, etc. — which then shape our realities. To know who we are requires understanding these influences, which reflect this imperfect world as well as 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. I look forward to shifting through these layers with you to find your true

Clinically, I work from a holistic, relational, empowerment focused and intersectional feminist perspective. I recognize that areas of oppression are linked and cumulative. In response, I work to help clients navigate these complex dynamics and improve their quality of life. As a Cis-White, Able-Bodied female, it is my job to do the background work and create a space where clients can explore, learn and understand themselves better. You are the expert of your life.

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.