“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time; but if you are here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Issues of diversity can increase stress levels, decrease self-esteem, and impact our ability to engage in healthy, fulfilling relationships. Including issues of diversity (individually or intersectionally) in the counseling process can produce opportunities to heal and overcome experiences of oppression and discrimination. EMDR therapy may be an ideal means for processing and integrating traumatic and disturbing events regarding power, privilege, and oppression. Equine therapy may be a means for re-writing how you want your relationship to feel.
Diversity
Race
Gender and gender identity
Sexuality
Education level
Learning style
Neuro-divergent processing
Age
Relationship status
(Dis)Ability status
Hearing status
Socioeconomic status
Immigration status
Religion/spirituality
First language
Housing status
Employment status
Legal history
Medical and mental health status
Body shape and size
“Jess is a skilled and insightful therapist. She has an understanding of systemic and social issues and how they impact the individual experiences of clients, which is important in supporting social equity through counseling and eliminating barriers to mental health services. Jess is a courageous therapist who is not afraid to challenge herself and clients, and through this support clients in finding new ways of being, thinking, and engaging in relationships and the world.”
Internalized oppression
Struggling with self-esteem or self-worth related to issues of diversity? Prioritize one area of your identity over another? Find yourself believing that your are "broken", "bad", or "less worthy"?
We can work through various versions of internalized oppression together.
Allyship and solidarity
Feel guilty about your privilege? Feel burdened or frozen by the weight of your identities that are valued in our society (i.e. whiteness, maleness, Christian, heterosexual, cisgender, etc.)?
Counseling can support you in breaking through guilt, allowing you to step more fully into a role as an ally for others and for yourself.
If you are looking for trainings, supervision, or consultation regarding issues of diversity/inclusivity/oppression, contact me directly and/or view my Consultation page.