A Commitment to Inclusive and Anti-Oppressive Mental Health CarE
At Psychology Associates, we are committed to creating a healing space that prioritizes mental health and well-being for all individuals, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. We acknowledge and challenge the structural and systemic racism that continues to impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ communities, and individuals with disabilities. Our approach is rooted in anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and social justice principles, ensuring that every person’s identity, culture, and lived experiences are respected and celebrated.
We also recognize the role that white privilege plays in shaping the mental health field and its impact on access to care. It is important for us to acknowledge the ways in which systemic inequalities can contribute to harm, misattunement, and exclusion within mental health systems. We strive to continually challenge these dynamics through ongoing education, consultation, self-reflection, and accountability in our clinical work.
Our therapists are all white, cisgender women, and we believe it is important to name this transparently. We understand that our social locations shape how we move through the world and how we show up in the therapy room. Rather than claiming cultural “competence,” we are committed to cultural humility—an ongoing, lifelong practice of listening, learning, recognizing our limitations, and remaining open to feedback and repair. We hold ourselves responsible for examining how privilege, power, and bias may show up in our work, and for continually deepening our understanding in service of more ethical, responsive care.
We also recognize that mental health is deeply influenced by the broader social and political context in which we live. The current rise in global authoritarianism, political unrest, and threats to civil and human rights creates significant psychological stress for many people. While these conditions affect everyone, they disproportionately impact those who are targeted, marginalized, or made unsafe by systems of power. We believe it is essential to acknowledge this reality and to make space in therapy for the fear, grief, anger, exhaustion, and uncertainty that can arise from living in these times.
We maintain a growing list of resources, articles, and podcasts on our resources page and will continue to add local and global offerings related to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as broader mental health education and support.
