Values
As a counselor, my role in supporting my clients cannot be divorced from the issues of advocacy, social justice, equity, or human rights.
Values Statement:
I strive to practice non-judgment, unconditional positive regard, inclusion, humility, empathy, affirmation, and understanding in my work. In my career I've enjoyed working with a diverse group of clients-each storied individual an exquisite example of the infinite and varied constellations existing within the human experience. I strongly believe we are better together, with the values of love, understanding, and respect at the helm!
I do not feel you need to agree with or align politically with your therapist. My number one concern is to do no harm and support your well-being and growth. However, I do not tolerate racist or offensive speech, dangerous speech, or dangerous ideology in my practice. I stand by the principles of inclusion and non-discrimination. Affirming humanity comes first, always.
Life.
As a counselor, I understand that although the world has improved in many ways, discrimination, racism, and
privilege still exist in countless overt and covert ways: from personal behaviors, biases, and microaggressions, to prominence in the laws, structures, institutions, and foundations of our country. Black Lives Matter. As a white cisgender woman who holds a great deal of privilege:
I strive to be an ally and advocate, and understand this is continual work. I commit to actively unlearning harm, work to be anti-racist, will admit when I am wrong, and commit to continually examine and challenge my perspectives and biases. I commit to listening, believing, following, learning from, & supporting BIPOC leaders & educators.
Love.
I openly celebrate, value, and affirm our differences.
Regardless of race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, or gender identity, you are valued and your voice deserves
to be heard. You deserve to take up space, to expand, to live, to love. You belong. You are perfect just as you are.
​
You deserve love, respect, equal rights, safety, and representation.
If there is anything I need to know that may impact our time together please know it will be heard from a standpoint of inclusion, affirmation, and sensitivity.
Land.
“When we talk about land, land is part of who we are. It’s a mixture of our blood, our past, our current, and our future. We carry our ancestors in us, and they’re around us. As you all do.”
-Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe)
​
As a counselor, there is a reverberating theme in my work: we all want to be seen, respected, and understood.
Yet our nation's history is rife with genocide, forced removal, stolen land, erasure, & mistreatment of Indigenous people. Though the traumatic impact of this history still exists in a myriad of ways today, by acknowledging Native land we can work together to increase visibility and understanding in our shared spaces as we pursue change and advocacy surrounding issues that light fires in our hearts-- such as in access to mental health treatment . Together may we uplift, celebrate, respect, support, and learn from the varied Indigenous tribes and leaders of our world-the original cultivators and caretakers of this land, this planet, the place we all call home. We are better together.
​
I live on the land of the Dena’ina people. Whose Native land do you live on?