“Things are not getting worse, they are getting uncovered. We must hold each other tight and continue to pull back the veil.”

adrienne maree brown

Values

The personal is political therefore mental health is political. In this poignant moment of collective turning, quality of care is directly linked to a helper’s politics and values. As a therapist who holds privileged intersections of my identity, I am committed to working in a way that is sensitive and responsive to systemic barriers preventing wellness for all: each of our liberation is tied to each others. 

I believe that wellness is defined by being in right relationship, liberation and creativity.

RIGHT

RELATIONSHIP

TRAUMA-INFORMED & RESILIENCE-ORIENTED CARE

  • Trauma-informed care aims to recognize, understand and empathize with the impact of trauma. As a practitioner of mental health care that serves diverse populations, it is of utmost priority to me that I intentionally uphold these core principals: consent, transparency, collaboration, empowerment, humility and responsiveness in and outside of the clinical setting.

  • Energy cannot be destroyed. I believe in celebrating the great effort and bravery it requires to transform traumatic energy into resilient energy.

  • It is a myth that a guaranteed “safe space” from harm exists, but by holding these core principals within my practice I commit to working toward creating a safe-enough, compassionate and equitable space that supports resilience, growth and minimizes re-traumatization.  

    • More information on trauma-informed care can be found here.

LIBERATION

DECOLONIZING THERAPY

  • We can not assess interpersonal issues without holding the identities of a person at the center of this work: are your identities held of value in society or have they been denied, reduced, shamed, blamed, etc? “Wellness” is not just about the ways we care for ourselves. It is also dependent on the social, environmental, historical and political contexts we live within.

  • Definitions of health and wellness have been defined by white eurocentric, cis-heteronormative, patriarchal standards which continue to pervade counseling training programs, academic institutions and treatment. Lived experiences that exist outside of these “standards” continue to be pathologized and/or all together dismissed. Moreover, the centering of individual wellness without acknowledging the interconnectedness between all humans, the impacts of intergenerational trauma, and the kinship that exists between all Earthlings, is the perpetuation of oppression. I am committed to attending ongoing formal and nonformal trainings about how to navigate this tension of being called to decolonize therapy, promote more collective care, all while operating this practice within the context of late-stage capitalism.

  • The mental health industrial complex is rooted in the medical model. There continues to be a push in the field for clinicians to identify an individual’s problem (i.e., diagnosis) and create treatment plans that cater to “observable outcomes.” This method can be harmful because healing and recovery is not a linear process, nor do any of us exist in a vacuum. To me, the therapeutic process is sacred and highly individualized: to confront pain, to heal, to feel safe when one may have never felt safe before, is a process that cannot be rushed. After working in settings that relied on insurance companies and/or the state to dictate the flow of care, in this practice, I refuse to work with a diagnosis at the center of my work. Rather than asking the question, “What is wrong with you?” I ask, “What happened to you? How did you adapt to insane circumstances? What is strong within you?” I promise you are more than a set of symptoms and you are greater than your struggles.

    • NOTE: If a “superbill” is requested for insurance reimbursement, a diagnosis is required by insurance companies. This diagnosis can be something we discuss and collaborate on in session.

  • While I have learned a few theories and can offer new perspectives, ultimately, you are the expert of your life and I am genuinely curious about you and your story. I try to approach the therapeutic relationship from a non-hierarchical stance as I believe the therapeutic relationship is co-created. I see my role as more of a helper and/or facilitator to your process.

CREATIVITY

PLAY & ART ARE FORMS OF RESISTANCE

  • Capitalism has reduced any activity or method as “unimportant” if it does not produce capital. This is disheartening because creativity is a form of expression and can produce immense joy and adaptability. I became an art therapist because I believe that art can be healing in and of itself; that is of great importance to me.

  • Sometimes the routine and rigidity of modern life have us operating on autopilot with limited mobility. Creativity opens us up to new perspectives and moments of awe. Art making disrupts the urgency of today and invites a deepening into an experience rather than “expanding” (i.e., checking items off a list.) This is why creativity and art making can be powerful allies in therapy.

  • Perfectionism is a colonial ideal. The striving for perfectionism takes a person away from their sense of wonder, healthy risk-taking, and joy. In sessions I encourage clients to resist perfectionism and embrace a growth-oriented mindset. The word “mistake” does equal “bad” and we should all be allowed to admit that we do not know all things and/or are in the process of learning new things. Each of us must start somewhere.