Cultural and Systemic Oppression

Cultural and Systemic Oppression related to Race, Sexuality, and alternative lifestyles

As an African American woman therapist I have lived the "Black in America" experience and have dedicated the majority of my professional career researching and implementing culturally sensitive practices that address systemic oppression. My widely read with over 14,000 downloaded thesis entitled "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, A Literature Review on African American Community Healing and Expressive Arts Therapy" has become my life's work.

There are so many forms of systemic oppression, and while none of them are isolated or discrete from each other, all of them look different. My particular area of expertise is in housing justice and experiences of homelessness. I have 6+ year serving primarily houseless or housing/resource insecure clients, or folk in recovery from this experience.

There are so many forms of systemic oppression, and while none of them are isolated or discrete from each other, all of them look different. My particular area of expertise is in housing justice and experiences of homelessness. I have 6+ year serving primarily houseless or housing/resource insecure clients, or folk in recovery from this experience.

I utilize a blend of boundary-setting modalities to address historical and intergenerational trauma. Survival instincts and ways of coping are often passed down in a family system, even if they don't always serve the present moment. Understanding why we react to certain situations, and why others may react, can increase compassion. Once we have cultivated that compassion we can articulate and implement boundaries from a place of acceptance and respect.

We all know we exist within a dominant culture that was designed to cause us systematic harm. My approach to therapy is rooted in this lens - I am not here to help you "cope" with the impact of systemic oppression; I am here to help you reclaim safety, power and agency as you continue to exist within systems of oppression. I am here to support your own knowing - so you can hear yourself through the noise of white supremacy, patriarchy, heteronormativity, capitalism, and colonialism.

My work is justice-minded counseling. The conversations we have will always focus on your experiences in the context of our world. You may have experienced injustices based on any axis of your identity. You may have experienced the consequences of being perceived as a woman or just as different. I want to create a safe space with you for every part of you that feels less than or not good enough because you're different. Let's build the world that fits your unique needs!

I specialize in working with young adults who are navigating the pressures of academic, career, and personal life, while also confronting issues related to race, identity, belonging, and the impact of social injustices.

Oppression can be covert or overt, but it is always unjust. Understanding how external factors, whether it be from legislative policies or society's perception, affect our lives makes it easier for us to learn how to navigate and break down these barriers. We must also mourn the ways in which our lives have been shaped due to oppression.

As intersectional beings, intersecting cultures and systems of oppressions influence our experience incessantly.

Personal empowerment is inseparable from transformative sociopolitical change. This conviction infuses all that I do, including my psychotherapy approach. Since 2016, I have offered workshops and courses on Racism, Diversity, and Psychoanalysis. I also have years of experience as a grassroots environmental and social justice community organizer.

I have been a victim of systemic racism and oppression pretty much my entire life. Biased and discriminated against multiple times. However, through the mercy and grace of God and the people and resources He has brought into my life, I have gained a better sense of self and what my purpose and calling in life is; to serve people with compassion, dignity, integrity, and respect.

Therapy is never culture neutral, and our cultural identities deserve to be held and celebrated alongside of challenging and confronting marginalization and oppression from larger systems. The way we move through the world is deeply impacted by the context of culture and systems of power and oppression. Messages we see, hear, and feel from these systems and intersections of cultural identity can negatively impact our mental health and healing. I want to hold space for you in a healing process

Are you feeling the weight of oppression more acutely? Social media and globalization has connected us all, but has also exposed us to more vicarious trauma by witnessing the victimization of members of targeted groups, especially with the rise of nationalism, xenophobia, and the effects of capitalism, globally. We can work together together to sort though your thoughts and feelings, and decide what kinds of action you'd like to take (if any) to heal and honor your culture and yourself.

Developed familiarity working with cultural and system oppression from necessity acquiring the skills to advocate for clients facing bias and discrimination as inherent parts of the therapeutic system, as well as from personal experience.

Poverty, environmental concerns, resource management, support, family patterns, relationship history,

I believe in calling out and speaking the truth to the systems of oppression that surround and us and impact our healing journey. This may look like us having a conversation about your frustrations at work being compounded by the overt sexism in your industry or it could involve a safe place to unpack the microaggressions your mother in law drops at every famiy gathering. I think it's important to discuss these moments in therapy and I work to be an ally and a advocate for my clients.

I have received training on supporting clients who are impacted by racism. I also have lived experience navigating and healing despite living within cultural and systemic oppression.