My work is rooted in a deep commitment to anti-racism, anti-colonization, and anti-colonialism. For me, this means actively challenging systems of oppression, unpacking the ongoing harms of colonialism, and working to create spaces where equity, justice, and care are at the forefront.

Colonization didn’t end centuries ago; its impacts continue to shape our systems, relationships, and even the way we understand ourselves. It has left deep wounds, perpetuating systemic oppression, racism, and dehumanization. My role as a therapist is to help disrupt these cycles by honouring the wisdom, history, and voices of those who have been most harmed by these

It’s my responsibility to actively challenge these systems by working to unlearn colonial frameworks, honouring Indigenous knowledge, and supporting clients in reconnecting with their cultural and ancestral practices. Decolonization, for me, isn’t just theoretical; it’s active. It shows up in how I practice humility with the traditions and histories shared in the room, and how I advocate for systemic change that uplifts Indigenous sovereignty, wisdom, and healing.

What This Looks Like In Therapy

My practice is built on creating a space that feels safe, affirming, and empowering for you. I work to ensure you can show up as your full self, with all your experiences, identities, and emotions safely held. I know that systems of colonization and racism often force people to minimize or hide parts of themselves. Therapy is your space to reclaim, heal, and grow without judgment or erasure.

I approach every session with cultural humility, recognizing that your lived experience is something I can never fully know. You are the expert in your life, and my role is to listen, learn, and support you by meeting you exactly where you are. Together, we’ll explore how power dynamics, racial trauma, and the legacies of colonization may have impacted you.

Because oppression doesn’t exist in silos, I take an intersectional approach. Racism intersects with countless other forms of harm, like ableism, sexism, classism, and queerphobia. These layers of experience shape your story, and I believe therapy should see and respond to you as whole and multifaceted, not just one-dimensional parts of who you are.

Healing As Resistance

Colonization and systemic injustice thrive on disconnection, shame, and fragmentation. Healing within these systems can feel like an act of resistance because it disrupts the harm they perpetuate. Therapy can be a place to hold grief, rage, and pain, as well as joy, celebration, and hope. Together, we work toward liberation—not just from external forces, but also from the narratives and wounds they leave behind. I know healing can’t happen in a vacuum. That’s why part of my role is to help create pathways back to community care and connection, where we can resist individualism and ask what collective healing might look like for you.

Decolonizing Therapy

Therapy itself isn’t exempt from the harms of colonization. The field of mental health is built on Western, colonial frameworks that have marginalized Indigenous, Black, and other non-Western ways of healing. I actively work to decolonize my practice by questioning whose knowledge we uplift, whose voices are valued, and what healing looks like. This can mean incorporating practices and perspectives that honour your cultural traditions, rejecting the imposition of "one-size-fits-all" solutions, and ensuring that therapy feels relevant, accessible, and affirming for you.

Advocacy & Accountability

Being anti-racist and anti-colonial isn’t just a value I hold; it’s an ongoing practice. I know that I carry biases and blind spots from growing up in systems of oppression. That’s why I continuously reflect, learn, and hold myself accountable. When I fall short, I make it a priority to repair harm, not just with words but with action. My work doesn’t stop in the therapy room. Advocacy is central to what I do. Whether it’s supporting community-led movements, dismantling barriers to care, or pushing for systemic change within the field of mental health, I am committed to aligning my actions with my values.

Decolonization is not just a value I hold; it is a guiding principle that influences every aspect of my therapeutic practice. Colonization established systems that destroyed communities, displaced peoples, and erased cultures, leaving legacies of harm that persist to this day. These systems continue to create inequities in health, justice, and education, while also impacting personal identity and community well-being. As a therapist, I see it as my responsibility to name these harms, challenge their continuation, and stand in solidarity with efforts to heal and rebuild what colonization has tried to erase.

Decolonization in my practice starts with unlearning the colonial frameworks that dominate the field of mental health. Western therapeutic models often dismiss or undervalue Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, despite their deep roots in connection, harm reduction, balance, and healing. I actively work to challenge these exclusions by making space for diverse ways of knowing and being. This includes integrating Indigenous teachings, practices, and perspectives into therapeutic work when they are shared with me in ways that are ethical, respectful, and consensual.

Honouring Indigenous sovereignty is central to this process. Indigenous sovereignty is not just about political or legal rights; it’s about the inherent power and authority of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves, their lands, and their traditions. Within therapy, honoring sovereignty means acknowledging historical and ongoing injustices, respecting the autonomy of Indigenous clients, and creating a space where their voices, stories, and identities are uplifted. It also means refraining from appropriating Indigenous practices, instead ensuring that any cultural elements brought into therapy are done so in collaboration and respect for the source communities.

How Decolonization Is Practiced In Therapy

Decolonizing therapy involves a shift in both mindset and practice. I strive to make my therapeutic support adaptable and culturally relevant, ensuring it reflects the identities and lived realities of the clients I work with. Here are some of the ways I actively practice decolonization in therapy:

• Centring cultural traditions: Therapy can be a space for clients to reconnect with their cultural roots and traditions, which colonization has often eroded or suppressed. Whether it’s exploring ancestral practices, leaning into stories passed down through generations, or reconnecting with land-based rituals, I work to honour and support these journeys.

• Challenging western-centric frameworks: Western psychology often emphasizes individualism, diagnosis, and standardized solutions, which may be misaligned with collectivist or relational worldviews. I challenge these frameworks by incorporating approaches that prioritize community, relationships, and the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit, and land.

• Reclaiming identity and voice: Colonization has imposed harmful narratives of oppression and inferiority on many communities. Therapy can be a space for clients to deconstruct those narratives and reclaim their power, identity, and voice. For Indigenous clients, this might mean exploring what sovereignty looks like in their personal lives, from setting boundaries to nurturing self-determination.

• Practicing humility: I approach my work with the understanding that I am always learning. Decolonization requires humility to admit what I don’t know, listen deeply, and follow the lead of the people and communities I serve. My role is not to “fix” but to create a space where healing and empowerment unfold naturally and authentically.

• Building collaborative relationships: Decolonization is not a solitary endeavour. I collaborate with other therapists, community leaders, and Indigenous knowledge keepers to ensure that the support I provide is grounded in respect and informed by diverse perspectives. This also means uplifting and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives and movements within and beyond the field of mental health.

Advocacy & Accountability

The work of decolonization isn’t confined to individual therapy sessions. It requires confronting the broader systems and institutions that perpetuate colonial harm. Advocacy plays a significant role in my practice, whether that’s pushing for systemic change within the mental health field, dismantling barriers to equitable care, or amplifying community-led efforts for justice and sovereignty.

Accountability is equally critical. Decolonization is lifelong work, and I recognize the ways colonization has shaped me and my profession. I’m committed to ongoing reflection, unlearning harmful norms, and repairing harm when it’s caused. It also means being transparent about my limitations and ensuring that Indigenous voices remain at the center of conversations about their healing, rights, and futures.

Moving Toward Collective Liberation

Decolonization is not just about addressing harm; it’s also about imagining and working toward brighter futures rooted in justice, connection, and liberation. Therapy, for me, is one small piece of that larger vision. By honouring Indigenous sovereignty and reclaiming practices that colonization has tried to erase, I hope to contribute to meaningful healing—not just for individuals but for the communities and generations they are connected to.

If we work together, know that this space is one where your history, identity, and experiences are not just welcomed, but celebrated. Decolonization is about more than undoing harm; it’s about reclaiming the fullness of who you are, reconnecting with what grounds you, and envisioning pathways to joy and justice that reflect your most authentic self.

Honouring Indigenous sovereignty is central to this process. Indigenous sovereignty is not just about political or legal rights; it’s about the inherent power and authority of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves, their lands, and their traditions. Within therapy, honouring sovereignty means acknowledging historical and ongoing injustices, respecting the autonomy of Indigenous clients, and creating a space where their voices, stories, and identities are uplifted. It also means refraining from appropriating Indigenous practices, instead ensuring that any cultural elements brought into therapy are done so in collaboration and with respect for the source communities.

Harm reduction is at the heart of my approach as a therapist. To me, it means meeting clients exactly where they are with compassion and without judgment. It’s about recognizing the unique realities of each person’s life and working collaboratively to reduce harm in ways that feel meaningful and practical to them. Whether we’re addressing substance use, sexual health, or behaviors tied to eating disorders, harm reduction centers on safety and dignity. Self-determination is a core value of harm reduction. I aim to create space for clients to reclaim control over their lives, define what healing looks like for them, and move at a pace that honours their needs.

Centring Lived Experience

Harm reduction is at the heart of my approach as a therapist. To me, it means meeting clients exactly where they are with compassion and without judgment. It’s about recognizing the unique realities of each person’s life and working collaboratively to reduce harm in ways that feel meaningful and practical to them. Whether we’re addressing substance use, sexual health, or behaviours tied to eating disorders, harm reduction centers on safety and dignity. Self-determination is a core value of harm reduction. I aim to create space for clients to reclaim control over their lives, define what healing looks like for them, and move at a pace that honours their needs.

As a guiding principle, harm reduction embodies “nothing about us without us”. Rooted in activist movements like the South African disability rights efforts of the 1990s, this principle asserts that decisions affecting a group of people must involve those individuals directly. Their voices, leadership, and lived experiences are vital.

When applied to therapy, this means recognizing that my clients are the true experts on their own lives. It’s my role to listen, collaborate, and offer support—not impose solutions. Harm reduction asks the essential question, “What do you need right now?” and fosters a space where clients can answer that question on their own terms. By centring the wisdom and leadership of those with lived experience, therapy becomes a shared endeavor.

Imagine crafting a treatment plan without including a client’s voice or considering their unique perspective. Not only would this approach be ineffective, but it would also dismiss the client’s agency and expertise in their own life. Instead, I work to create a therapeutic relationship that values collaboration and empowers clients to take ownership of their process.

Harm reduction emphasizes equity, autonomy, and the rejection of top-down solutions. Decisions about care must be co-created with those directly impacted—not dictated to them. This approach disrupts traditional power imbalances, offering clients a seat at the table and a voice in decisions that shape their lives.

Why Empowerment Matters

Harm reduction is about restoring dignity and agency to individuals. It pushes back against systems of oppression that strip people of their power and instead celebrates the essential truth that everyone deserves respect, a voice, and the right to shape their own story.

For me, harm reduction in therapy is about walking alongside my clients, not leading or directing them. It’s about creating space for healing, growth, or whatever change they define as important. These principles remind us that true progress and justice come from authentic partnership. They ask us to build relationships rooted in trust, respect, and the belief that every individual has inherent worth.

Whether I’m working with a client one-on-one or contributing to broader harm reduction efforts, I carry this framework with me. It’s a powerful reminder that healing starts with listening and that meaningful change happens when we uplift the voices of those most affected. This approach leads to therapy that is not only more compassionate but also more equitable, effective, and truly transformational.

For some, structural change may include joining community advocacy initiatives or reconnecting with social movements that align with their lived experiences. For others, it might involve more personal acts, like working to challenge internalized oppression or building supportive connections that honour their identity.re it has previously been silenced. Whether it’s advocating for better treatment in healthcare systems, encouraging boundary-setting with employers, or navigating school systems that dismiss neurodivergent needs, change starts by centring the client’s goals and values.

Transparency plays a crucial role in this process. With my clients, I prioritize honesty about my positionality and the privileges I hold. Whether it’s my racial background, socioeconomic status, ability, or education, I recognize how these factors shape my worldview and influence the therapeutic relationship. By openly acknowledging these dynamics, I aim to foster trust and create a space where clients feel empowered to challenge, question, or share when something doesn’t resonate. This process isn’t easy, but it’s necessary to ensure that the therapeutic space is one of mutual respect and collaboration.

Accountability also means recognizing the broader systems of oppression that impact both my clients and myself. These systems—including the medical-industrial complex, racism, ableism, and economic inequality—often uphold harm and injustice. For example, the healthcare system disproportionately denies adequate care to marginalized communities, while workplace cultures frequently perpetuate ableism and exclusion. To be accountable as a therapist, I must not only work toward justice within the therapeutic relationship but also actively challenge the structures outside it that perpetuate harm.

Accountability in Therapy

Within the therapeutic space, accountability shows up in multiple ways. When I make a mistake or cause harm, I commit to acknowledging it openly and working to repair what has been damaged. This might mean apologizing without defensiveness, seeking clarification on how I can better align with a client’s needs, or revisiting moments of misalignment to collaboratively find ways forward.

For example, if I inadvertently use language that a client finds invalidating or fail to recognize the impact of their lived experience, I aim to approach these moments with humility. I ask, “What could I have done differently here?” and “How can I ensure this space feels respectful and safe moving forward?” This accountability fosters a stronger therapeutic relationship, built not on perfection but on trust and a willingness to grow together.

It also means making my therapeutic practice inclusive and accessible in meaningful ways. This might involve reworking traditional approaches that don’t resonate with certain clients because of cultural differences or systemic barriers. For instance, if a client comes from a background where seeking mental health support carries stigma, accountability might look like tailoring my interventions to honor their experiences and help them access care in ways that feel safe and authentic.

Challenging Systems of Oppression

Accountability extends far beyond the walls of the therapy room. It demands active participation in dismantling the systems that uphold harm, inequity, and marginalization. This might include advocating for policies that increase mental health access for underserved communities, challenging discriminatory workplace cultures, or educating myself on anti-oppressive practices to ensure my work doesn’t unintentionally perpetuate harm.

For example, I recognize that the medical-industrial complex often fails to serve marginalized populations adequately or ethically. This may look like clients being dismissed due to bias, Black and Indigenous communities being over-policed while receiving care, or trans individuals struggling to access affirming health support. Part of being accountable as a therapist involves not only validating these realities in the therapeutic space but also amplifying these issues in advocacy and conversation. Whether that means showing up for community education efforts, lobbying for policy changes, or partnering with organizations that promote equity, I’m committed to being part of the larger fight for justice.

Similarly, in challenging ableism within workplace or academic spaces, accountability might look like advocating for inclusive policies such as flexible scheduling, increased accessibility measures, or fair pay for individuals who are often excluded from these systems. It’s about recognizing that the same systems affecting my clients also operate within my own profession and community, and pushing for meaningful change within those realms too.

Imagining Structural Change with Clients

True accountability involves partnership, especially with clients who are often navigating systems that deny them dignity and agency. Together, we can imagine and create pathways for systemic change, rooted in their expertise about their own experiences. Often this means helping clients find their voice in spaces where it has previously been silenced. Whether it’s advocating for better treatment in healthcare systems, encouraging boundary-setting with employers, or navigating school systems that dismiss neurodivergent needs, change starts by centering the client’s goals and values.

For some, structural change may include joining community advocacy initiatives or reconnecting with social movements that align with their lived experiences. For others, it might involve more personal acts, like working to challenge internalized oppression or building supportive connections that honor their identity.

The Heart of Accountability

At its core, accountability is built on the understanding that my work as a therapist is not just about individual healing but also about contributing to a more equitable and just world. It’s about recognizing the power dynamics at play and intentionally working to disrupt them, both within and beyond the therapeutic context. It’s about listening deeply, learning continuously, and partnering with clients not only to imagine change but to actively build it.

By committing to transparency, humility, and advocacy, I hope to embody the values I promote every day in my work. Accountability is a practice—not a destination—that challenges me to grow, reflect, and stand with my clients in their pursuit of justice and healing. Together, we’re not just confronting harm; we’re reshaping the systems that create it.

Healing is not a solitary act; it thrives in shared spaces of care, love, and mutual connection. True healing is deeply tied to the communities we belong to and the wisdom they hold. As a therapist, I believe in the power of community care as a radically healing practice, deeply informed by the teachings of Indigenous knowledge systems and racial equity movements. These frameworks remind us that healing is cyclical, relational, and intrinsically tied to the land, culture, and shared responsibility.

The Role of BIPOC Wisdom in Community Healing

Traditions teach us that we do not exist in isolation but as part of a sacred web of relationships—with each other, the earth, and our ancestors. Community isn’t just about human connection; it includes our connection to the environment, cultural practices, and the wisdom passed down through generations. These teachings highlight the importance of collective responsibility and the understanding that healing is both an individual and a communal act.

To honour Indigenous and racial teachings in my work as a therapist, I strive to create a space where clients feel connected to their cultural roots, histories, and communities. For Indigenous clients, this might mean incorporating practices like storytelling or land acknowledgments into therapy sessions, if aligned with their traditions. It might also involve recognizing the importance of land-based healing practices, such as spending time in nature or rebuilding ties to ancestral lands.

Integrating BIPOC Teachings into Therapy

To honor Indigenous and racial teachings in my work as a therapist, I strive to create a space where clients feel connected to their cultural roots, histories, and communities. For Indigenous clients, this might mean incorporating practices like storytelling or land acknowledgments into therapy sessions, if aligned with their traditions. It might also involve recognizing the importance of land-based healing practices, such as spending time in nature or rebuilding ties to ancestral lands.

For clients from racially marginalized communities, I ensure that our work together celebrates their identities and the strength found in their cultural traditions. This could look like exploring the healing power of music, art, or movement rooted in their heritage, or discussing community activism that centres their experiences and needs. We may also work to challenge the internalized narratives imposed by systemic racism, helping clients reclaim pride in their identities and rewrite their stories on their terms.

Challenging Hyper-Individualism Across Cultures

Capitalism imposes a harmful narrative of hyper-individualism that runs counter to many Indigenous and racially rooted understandings of collective care. For instance, the idea that success is purely individual ignores cultural frameworks that value the well-being of the community as inseparable from personal thriving.

Together with my clients, I invite reflection on how ancestral ways of being can help disrupt these ingrained patterns. For some, this might mean reconnecting with practices that prioritize mutual support and shared responsibility, such as communal caregiving, resource sharing, or labour equity. For others, it might involve exploring solidarity through racial and cultural collectives, spaces where shared identity offers grounding and strength.

Fostering Community Connections Through Cultural Practices

Community connection often begins with a return to cultural and ancestral wisdom. This might mean encouraging clients to participate in local ceremonies, healing circles, or advocacy groups that center their identities and shared struggles. Therapists can also play a role in bridging clients to community-based organizations, such as Indigenous health centres or cultural resource groups. When clients reconnect with their broader networks, they often find validation and belonging that cannot be replicated in individual settings.

At times, fostering community means working with clients to honour traditions that resist western norms. For some, this might involve reintegrating practices like intergenerational caregiving, the preparation of foods tied to a cultural history, or even the reintroduction of native languages and oral storytelling traditions. Therapy provides a space to not only reflect on these practices but also find ways to translate them into everyday life.

Ensuring Culturally Relevant Accessibility

At its core, building community is about creating connection, honouring wisdom, and fostering collective healing. BIPOC teachings remind us that no one thrives alone and that our strength lies in our interdependence. Whether by celebrating shared rituals, amplifying cultural pride, or standing in solidarity against systemic harm, therapy rooted in community care resonates far beyond any individual session. and resilience of their communities.

For instance, some clients may feel more comfortable exploring healing in nontraditional formats, such as group or family therapy with a cultural focus, or land-based retreats that allow for reflection in a setting connected to their heritage. Others may seek sliding-scale options, interpreters, or accommodations that directly address resource gaps created by systemic inequality. A truly accessible practice honours both the individual and the collective lens of care, recognizing the holistic ways in which people heal.

Community as a Movement for Justice

Integrating Indigenous and racial teachings into therapeutic work not only strengthens individual healing but also contributes to movements for collective justice. Acts of community care align with the teachings of restorative justice, reminding us that true repair and accountability come from within relationships and between communities.

By honoring these frameworks, we move beyond surface-level solutions to create deeper, more lasting change. Therapy becomes a space where clients can grapple with the complexities of their identities while also finding empowerment through collective solidarity. Whether it’s encouraging participation in tribal councils, racial equity coalitions, or cultural festivals, the goal is to celebrate the richness and resilience of their communities.

The Heart of Building Community

At its core, building community is about creating connection, honoring wisdom, and fostering collective healing. BIPOC teachings remind us that no one thrives alone and that our strength lies in our interdependence. Whether by celebrating shared rituals, amplifying cultural pride, or standing in solidarity against systemic harm, therapy rooted in community care resonates far beyond any individual session.

Healing grows stronger when it is grounded in the soil of connection. As a therapist, I strive to hold the space where clients can remember, rediscover, and rebuild community in ways that serve not only their individual well-being but also the communities they hold dear. Together, we create futures rooted in resilience, cultural pride, and the sacred power of collective care.

As an individual therapist, I hold fat liberation as a central value in my practice. This goes beyond body and weight inclusivity; it is a commitment to dismantling fatphobia and advocating for the rights, dignity, and autonomy of fat individuals. Fat liberation challenges the societal norms that dehumanize and marginalize fat bodies, ensuring that clients feel empowered to reclaim their worth and live free from systemic oppression.

Dismantling Fatphobia in Therapy

Fatphobia is deeply embedded in many aspects of society, from healthcare and education to media and personal relationships. I work to actively challenge these pervasive biases by creating a therapeutic space where clients feel safe to share their experiences without fear of judgment.

For example, when a client expresses struggles with self-worth rooted in societal fatphobia, we work together to confront these harmful narratives. We explore how the stigma surrounding fatness is not a reflection of their value or identity but a constructed bias designed to enforce hierarchy and exclusion. Together, we shift the focus away from appeasing societal standards and toward fostering self-respect, autonomy, and liberation.

Honouring Body Autonomy & Reframing Health

A key aspect of fat liberation is respecting each client’s right to body autonomy. This means rejecting harmful, paternalistic messages that equate a person’s worth with their adherence to arbitrary health standards. Instead, I adopt a holistic view of health that prioritizes mental and emotional well-being alongside physical care, without tying any of these to body size or appearance.

For instance, if a client feels pressured to engage in weight loss efforts due to external judgment or discrimination, I invite them to examine what health and well-being truly mean to them. We explore how these may be defined outside of societal expectations, honouring their unique needs and desires rather than defaulting to fatphobic ideals.

Integrating Fat Liberation into Therapeutic Practice

Fat liberation shapes every element of my approach as a therapist. Beyond creating a nonjudgmental space, I actively incorporate practices to reinforce this value during sessions. For example:

1. Language: I use affirming and neutral language about bodies, avoiding terms or assumptions that uphold weight stigma.

2. Structural Choices: My office and materials are designed with fat accessibility in mind, including physical seating options and policies that avoid weight-centric framing of health or well-being.

3. Affirming Practices: For clients interested, we may integrate approaches such as intuitive eating or joyful movement, focusing on reclaiming pleasure and connection to their bodies rather than conforming to external measurements of worth.

Additionally, therapy becomes a safe place for clients to unpack the trauma they may have experienced due to systemic fat oppression, such as workplace discrimination, medical negligence, or social exclusion. Together, we work to process these experiences, build resilience, and empower them to advocate for themselves and their worth.

Beyond Individual Healing: Advocating for Systemic Change

While therapy focuses on individual transformation, I believe it is critical to address the systems that perpetuate fat oppression. Fat liberation is not just about fostering self-acceptance; it is about dismantling the structures that devalue fat people and deny them equal rights.

I incorporate this value into my work as an advocate beyond sessions. This includes participating in conversations around anti-fat bias, amplifying the voices of fat activists, and actively reflecting on how weight-based discrimination can intersect with other forms of oppression, such as racism, classism, and ableism.

I also encourage clients to engage with external resources that center fat liberation, such as books, social movements, or community organizations. These connections can offer solidarity, validation, and empowerment beyond the therapy room, helping clients feel less isolated in their experiences.

Why Fat Liberation Matters

Fat liberation is a justice-driven framework. It is not enough to create a space where clients can feel included; the aim is to challenge and resist the narratives, systems, and power structures that uphold weight-based oppression. Therapy becomes a platform for not only healing but also resistance, advocacy, and empowerment.

At its core, fat liberation reminds us that all bodies are worthy of respect, autonomy, and care. It’s about helping clients uproot the shame imposed by fatphobia and instead grow self-compassion and pride in their personhood. Through this work, clients can reimagine their relationship with their bodies and the world, reclaiming their right to exist freely and authentically. Together, we work toward a future where every person, regardless of their size, is seen, valued, and liberated from the weight of judgment. Therapy grounded in fat liberation not only supports individual healing but also contributes to building a more equitable, inclusive society.