As many of you know, my business model is rooted in considering how mental health is connected to participation in some form of service. Many of you have been in workshop space with me talking about the work of Micheal Stone who instructed that we have a dedicated mindfulness practice that also is deeply connected to contributing outward. In various ways, I have always tried to model and facilitate active citizenship. But we are up against a lot these days and it's going to take more.
We can all do better. I can do better. Everyone has their own personal struggle and journey; at the very least, we have to stand in solidarity with each other, considering the oppression of anyone to be the oppression of all.
To this end, I have always aired on the side of transparency when it comes to my commitment to social justice (this is also implied in my being a social worker by training, and I've included this kind of language in my bios, etc). Yet, I have also maintained a degree of confidentiality around these topics to respect the variance in perspective that may come to my practice, in keeping with arguably outdated protocols in my field. Over the last several years, and especially since 2017, I have been reconsidering this approach.
After much thought and conversation with peers/mentors, I have decided to officially be open and public about my beliefs, in terms of what I support and what I denounce. I recognize that this may make some people uncomfortable and ultimately it may mean you prefer a different practice. This is completely the prerogative of every individual. For my part, I feel the need to assert and protect my values to the extent that this is effectively part of protecting the lives of those with far less privilege than I have.
As always, I will not be available to hold space for any conversation that advocates any kind of overt exclusion. I am always available to hold space for learning, asking questions, risking mistakes, and being guided by the intention of doing better. I will never turn you away so long as you remain open to new ideas.
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Practically, I want to reiterate that I am here for continued therapeutic support for all those who continue to feel I am the right fit. Never hesitate to bring up your feelings, questions, etc about what you see happening in the world around you. I will do my best to guide you in taking a balanced lens of processing and proactivity.
Yoga/meditation can be infused into your sessions as much as you like (this is going pretty well virtually as some of you have already experienced with me). It's important to lean into our practices during times of increased stress so that we can stay strong and engaged.
I want to encourage you to remember that self-care is selfless; if you are not well, you cannot be of service to anyone else. Put your own oxygen mask on first. The key is to be consistent in your practices so you can correctly identify the moment when you feel ready to turn your attention outward.
Be on the lookout for resonant models and keep track of the things you are learning. If you’re a white person and you feel overwhelmed and unsure of what you can do to dismantle systems that were designed to uphold racism, start by examining your own personal life and relationships. Be honest and be brave. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to be wrong. This is not a time for ego. Take your beginner’s mind and open up to all you don’t know. And support people and organizations who’ve been in this work for far longer than the mainstream has taken notice, including Color of Change and your local chapter of Black Lives Matter.
If you have a platform or a vision, find a thoughtful way to leverage and use these things. We need you. There is much we all need to learn, and there is much we all have to offer. Two things are most often true. Your privilege will allow you to hold this dissonance while you keep fighting forward.
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." -James Baldwin