What matters: my commitments for creating inclusive and sustainable spaces for healing

Embracing diversity and growth: an exploration of my commitments to foster equity, inclusion and safety

Hello friends. Today I wanted to share a little more about who I am as a person and the values that underpin the way I move through the world. In my work as a counsellor, therapist, nature therapist, meditation teacher and sound healer, I often work with people who have experienced marginalisation and trauma due to systemic oppression. I want to share some reflections today about my values and the commitments I make to safely support the people who I work with, along with understanding the impact of oppression due to indentity or intersectional aspects of identity.

My values have always strongly underpinned my work and it’s always been important to me to do work that mattered to me. I’ve worked in Local Government, the charity sector and I ran a values led photography business and education company for photographers. From creativity to connection, I’ve always deeply cared about the work that I do.

Wellbeing offerings that are all about mind, body and spirit, that are offered in a trauma informed and identity affirming way.

A lot of my work life has sprung out of a need for something I needed myself. In my photography days it was a community that was a safe and inclusive space, where photographers were supported to develop their craft while forming nurturing connections. In this current space it’s wellbeing offerings that are all about mind, body and spirit, that are offered in a trauma informed and identity affirming way.

As a late diagnosed AuDHD person I’ve had a lot of therapeutic experiences that have failed to see me and my needs. Many approaches to therapy and wellbeing are rooted in colonialism, imperialism, heteronormativity, heterosexism, binaried understandings of gender, ableism and the list goes on. Perspectives outside of our Western-centric understanding about what it means to heal are often appropriated, which whitewashes and dilutes wisdom that existed long before the medicalised model of mental health that is prioritised in the Global North.

This is perhaps a complicated way of saying that I have a strong sense of justice, fairness and a strong belief in equity and decolonizing my understanding of mental health, therapy, healing and wellbeing. So how do I hold safe spaces for people who have aspects or intersectional of their identity that mean they experience oppression and therefore trauma? I do this by offering the following commitments and values that underpin the way I work.

My commitments

Commitment one: I commit to continually exploring and examining the ways that I, as someone who has been racialised as white, benefit from privilege due to the existence of white supremacy, colonialism and oppressive structures and systems. I am committed to the ongoing work of dismantling my biases and identifying my blind spots.

Commitment two: I commit to honouring the roots of the practices I share and the teachers that have passed them down to me. I will always endeavour to share practices as authentically as I am able, acknowledging the cultures and communities that practices come from. I commit never to share practices that are closed.

Commitment three: I commit to continually exploring and examining the ways that I may have internalised ableism and neuronormativity. This means actively challenging the societal norms and psychological perspectives that marginalize and pathologise disabled people. This includes advocating for accommodations, accessibility, and inclusion in all areas of life, from therapy sessions to community spaces.

Commitment four I commit to continually exploring and examining the ways that I may have internalized heteronormativity, heterosexism, and ideas about about gender binaries. This commitment involves interrogating my own biases and societal expectations around sexuality and gender identity. In all of my services, I will offer a space that is affirming and inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. I commit to continuing to educating myself on LGBTQ+ issues, engaging in learning and conversations with humility and openness.

Commitment five: I commit to continually exploring and examining the above, as well as other aspects of identity that lead to magranilsation, for example fatness, age, health inequality, spirituality and religion. I will strive to in hold awareness about the way that intersectionality impacts experience. I continue to educate myself around micro-aggressive stereotypes, harmful perspectives, experiences that may differ to my own, and the way in which aspects of identity are pathologized.

Commitment six: I commit to continually exploring and examining my own learning needs to better serve my clients and community through ongoing self-reflection, feedback, clinical supervision, and professional development and learning. I will continue to expand my perspective by keeping informed about research, best practices and evolving perspectives. Additionally, I commit to actively seeking out diverse voices and perspectives, both within and outside of my field, to broaden my understanding and challenge my assumptions.

Commitment seven: I commit to treading lightly on the earth and I endeavour to leave the world a softer place than I found. I appreciate the interconnectedness of all living beings and the natural world and I value reciprocity and reverence for the earth, our home.

Commitment eight: I commit to humility and actively listening to the experiences and wisdom of marginalised communities. I recognise that I don't have all the answers and that there is always more to learn from those whose lived experiences differ from my own.

Commitment nine: I commit to advocating for social justice both within and beyond the therapeutic space. This includes speaking out against injustice, supporting policies and initiatives that promote equity and liberation, and actively working towards dismantling systems of oppression in all areas of society.

Commitment ten: I commit to fostering a sense of belonging and community within and beyond my practice, recognising that healing often occurs within the context of supportive relationships and community. This will include self-reflection and accountability, recognising that I am not immune to perpetuating harm and that growth requires ongoing introspection and course correction. I welcome feedback from clients and colleagues and I am committed to continuously evolving and improving as a therapist, space holder, and human being.

Commitment eleven: I commit to trauma informed practice and ongoing development of my understanding of trauma and the nervous system. This includes taking a mind, body and spirit approach to holding space for trauma, including recognising the limitations of a one size fits all approach.

A deeply held belief in justice, equity, and liberation.

In essence, my work is guided by a deeply held belief in justice, equity, and liberation. This is so, so important to me and I operate from the knowing that when we know better we can do better. I am striving to continually know better so that I can do better. Thank you for taking the time to explore my commitments today. I welcome feedback if you’d like to get in touch.

If you’d like to work with me check out my counselling and therapy info here and other events, including sound baths, here.