Diversity-Friendly Therapy
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I resonate well with people of different ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities, as well as with people of different sexual orientations and alternative lifestyles. I am upfront about my own values and any biases I may have, and I invite feedback and dialogue around sensitive issues where my knowledge and experience may be limited.
Despite having a highly clinical approach to this work, I think people experience me as very “human,” inviting of difference and of that which is unique in each of us.
Though I would attribute the greater part of my cultural sensitivity and competency to life experience (how I grew up, where I have lived, relationships I have had, etc.), it is worth mentioning that a significant portion of my graduate work was done at Cal State Hayward, itself a very diverse campus and program, where I was fortunate to study intensively under Derald Wing Sue, who literally wrote the book on Cross Cultural Counseling, and who now is part of a “think tank” on race-relations in the U.S. at Columbia University (his involvement and that program are a spin-off of the advisory committee assembled by President Clinton in the mid-90’s).
I spent six years facilitating groups in diverse and marginalized communities in the Bay Area. Our progress was always grounded in mutual respect, compassion, and interest.
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