This is where I want so badly to tell you how versed I am on matters of diversity and how much you can count on me to never let you down in being a leader and champion in all aspects of social justice. The truth is, I’m not and you can’t. I live and work from within a highly privileged vantage point, and in fact have experienced unearned privilege far beyond that of most others throughout my life. I have been able to maintain this privilege without having to acknowledge it to others or even to myself. Among the privileges I enjoy are those assigned to white, heterosexual, cisgender, male, U.S.-born, able-bodied, neurotypical, and highly-educated individuals. Despite my efforts to understand this, I nevertheless remain woefully unaware of many of the ways my privileges, powers, and protections affect others.

I aspire to empower all who I work with through the work that I do, including those in historically marginalized communities, and to provide a space that is safe and welcoming to all and that supports the dignity of all who enter that space. I recognize the importance of cultural humility and of maintaining an openness to changing my own perspectives and beliefs, and remain committed to expanding my knowledge and understanding of individual and group differences through continued education, self-exploration, and through listening deeply to my clients’ life stories. I have so much left to learn about systemic barriers to change and about the lived experiences of others, and about the full impact – good and bad – of my views, choices, and behaviors. While I seek to foster an environment that champions justice, equity, and belonging, I am still learning and most certainly fall short more than I care to admit. Much of what I do understand about these issues is still largely surface level. What I do not yet understand about the lived experiences of members of marginalized communities and those holding underrepresented identities far outweighs what I do know, and I realize that merely being aware of this is not nearly enough.

• I am aware that systemic barriers exist that imperil the mental health of individuals and the well-being of society itself even though I may not have faced these obstacles myself.
• I acknowledge that discrimination, prejudice, bias, oppression, privilege, marginalization, inequality, and injustice are real, are systemic and institutional, and are detrimental to mental health, to the pursuit of happiness, and to an enlightened society.
• I recognize that racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, heterosexism, sizeism, xenophobia, religious discrimination, and neuro-discrimination are but some of the myriad ideologies that are detrimental to mental health, to the pursuit of happiness, and to an enlightened society. They are widespread, are harmful, and are inherent to the daily lived experiences of those whose voices too often go unheard.
• I understand that when a nation, society, or community is founded on discrimination, discrimination becomes part of its DNA, even when blatant or otherwise overt acts of discrimination are tempered.
• I understand that equality does not mean equity.
• I recognize how badly change is needed, though I cannot personally feel or experience the urgency for that change in the way that those whose lives are impacted every day by discrimination and injustice can.
• I recognize that any endeavor (even finding a therapist who will truly see and hear you) is arduous for those holding underrepresented identities.
• I understand that the very privileges I experience as a white, male, cisgender, heterosexual, neurotypical, able-bodied person come directly and indirectly at the expense of those who differ from me in these ways.
• I am aware that cultural competence requires a continued commitment to learning and an openness to admitting that I am wrong.
• I care about the impact of the words I use, I acknowledge that words matter, and I aspire to use language that is inclusive, respectful, and free of bias.
• I understand that I need to earn the right to hear your story.
• I welcome questions and feedback about my background.

Day by day, week by week, month by month, I will do better.

Land Acknowledgement

My office is located along Phillippi Creek in Sarasota, FL. This land occupies the traditional, ancestral, and unceded homelands of the Calusa, Mascogo, Miccosukee, and Seminole people who cared for the land and this waterway for countless generations before being dispossessed of and forcibly removed from their homelands. These historical injustices cannot be forgotten or re-written. I recognize the sovereignty, traditions, history, and land rights of these indigenous inhabitants, and acknowledge the connection and relationship that endures between these peoples and this land today and always. To learn about the native and traditional indigenous inhabitants of the land where you are, visit https://native-land.ca/