Consultation/Trainings
Diversity/Multicultural trainings including topics such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ageism, sexism, sizeism, heterosexism, social class, ability/disability status, and other multicultural topics. It takes openness and new perspectives to grow and learn about different cultures and perspectives. At times, these issues can affect the workplace and organizations. I can help your organization evaluate what the need is and what is possibly disrupting the ultimate flow of your office or institution. I can also provide training and perspective to better serve underepresented groups in your communities.
Cultural Commentary
I commonly say "there's space for everyone in the circle" and what I mean by that is that there are SO many perspectives and it is important that we value all of the differences in our cultures and experiences. It is imperative that we place value on ALL of the perspectives, not value one over the other, and appreciate the varied views that can contribute to a collective. We all have our lenses: how we view situations and how we create meaning. This process is created by some biology, some neurology and then by what we experience in life - the nature/nurture blend that is frequently referenced in our culture. Usually those cultural filters are comprised of what we have been exposed to from cultures, family, religion, media, community, religion, and other sources of information as we develop. Some of what emerges in our cultural world has differing advantages and disadvantages. For example, it is more valued in our culture to be light skinned, heterosexual, able-bodied, small to average sized, etc. These identities are attached to some level of social value and importance. As a result, the underrepresented group, the group that receives constant prejudice, tends to feel the effects of stigma daily.
The impact of living in a stigmatized world, specifically with what I call the "oppression trifecta: racism, classism, sexism" or any intersections of these, can be very difficult for people. I provide broad based diversity commentary about race, ethnicity, social class, size, gender, sexual orientation, religious/spiritual orientation and how those all intersect in current events and social issues. As I think about how to comment on experiences, I apply a power and social context lens. This is an area that many commentators leave out. I may leave out a perspective, of course, but that is indeed the beauty of different lenses and perspectives. They all have a place... they are all angles looking at the same experience. Many times, this social contact perspective is presented when looking at current social issues. My perspective is many times going to be highlighting the social power and lens that is left out. Power is something human beings crave sometimes. However, some identities inherently have more social power. This is cash in our society and it is paramount for us to start looking at how those dynamics effect a particular situation. We need to look at gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, social class, region, size... all of those identities who create who we are and how we are seen in our world.
Psychotherapy
My doctoral training and clinical experiences have prepared me to be work as a clinical psychologist from a generalist perspective to work with many types of individual, couple and family concerns. Two specialty areas in my clinical work are couple therapy and therapy for sexual & gender identity issues.
* Relationships are fantastic and feed our soul. Relationships are also very difficult at times. They require strong emotional and personal awareness as well as a desire to grow along with someone else. I try to provide a safe place to explore your couple concerns and learn new skills as necessary for that particular couple to navigate their processes. It is helpful to assist couples in understanding how their past relational experiences, especially in their families, impact the individuals and couple and how to make successful changes. Couples have told me that my warm, yet direct style is helpful in identifying their patterns and begin working on them from the onset of therapy.
* I also have a specialty in working with LGBTQ individuals and families. I am a gender specialist who sees 2-3 cases per year in private practice, which can include parents whose child just came out, transgender transition process, and most other sexual orientation and/or gender identity issue. I believe wholeheartedly that being authentic, regardless of what spectrum or identity, is the most important thing in our lives. If you are dealing with identity concerns of any kind, contact me to see if individual psychotherapy is appropriate for you.