Equity, inclusion, safety and social justice in therapy
Embracing diversity, trauma informed practice and care: my commitments to equity and social justice in therapy and wellbeing
Hello and thanks for being here. I wanted to take a moment to share more about who I am and the values that shape the way I move through the world, and through my work as a counsellor, therapist, nature therapist, somatic therapist and space holder. Many of the people I work with have experienced trauma and marginalisation as a result of systemic oppression and I believe that naming and addressing these realities is an essential part of creating safe, healing spaces.
To make this piece as accessible as possible, the following is a short statement that provides an overview of my principles and commitment to social justice in therapy, along with oppressive practice and trauma informed care. If you’d like to read more about my personal perspective, my approach and expanded reflections on these values please do keep reading.
My value: a short overview
My work as a counsellor, therapist and space holder is grounded in the values of equity, inclusion and safety. I aim to create spaces that are trauma-informed, identity-affirming and inclusive for all.
I believe that therapy should honour the full humanity of each person, including the ways our experiences are shaped by culture, identity and systemic factors.
My practice is guided by ongoing reflection, accountability and a deep respect for both personal and collective healing.
I’m committed to walking this path with humility, curiosity, and care for my clients, for the earth and for the communities we’re part of.
I honour the roots of the spiritual and healing practices I share, approaching them with gratitude and care, never in appropriation, but in deep respect for their origins.
If you’d like to explore these values more deeply, keep reading for a fuller reflection on the principles that guide my work and the commitments I hold as a therapist and space holder.
My values have always strongly underpinned my work and it’s always been important to me to do work that mattered to me. I’ve worked in Local Government, the charity sector and I ran a values led photography business and education company for photographers. From creativity to connection, I’ve always deeply cared about the work that I do.
Why my values matter in my work
My values have always been at the heart of everything I do. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in local government, the charity sector and later ran a values-led photography business that fostered community and inclusion. Creativity and connection have always been central to my work and so has a deep care for justice, fairness and belonging.
As someone who is late-diagnosed AuDHD, I know what it’s like to feel unseen in therapeutic spaces that weren’t designed with neurodivergent or marginalised people in mind. Much of the traditional mental health field has roots in colonial, patriarchal and Western-centric systems that often overlook, or even pathologise, difference. I aim to approach my work in ways that honour ancestral and cultural wisdom traditions without appropriating them. For me, this is part of what it means to decolonise my understanding of therapy, healing and wellbeing.
In short, my work is guided by a strong sense of justice, fairness and a commitment to doing better as I continue to learn. Below are the guiding commitments that shape how I hold space.
My commitments
I commit to ongoing reflection around my own privilege and how I have been racialised as white in a world shaped by colonialism and white supremacy. I continue to learn about my own biases, to invite and welcome feedback and to take accountability when harm occurs.
I commit to honouring the roots of the spiritual and healing practices I share, approaching them with gratitude and care, never in appropriation but in respect for their origins. I do not share practices that I have not been initiated into or trained in, and when I offer practices that originate outside of my own culture, I seek learning and guidance from teachers with direct lineage and permission to teach. I never share closed practices and I remain committed to cultural respect, reciprocity and right relationship in all aspects of my work.
I commit to challenging ableism and “neuronormativity” , the assumption that all brains work the same way. This means recognising and dismantling ideas that marginalise or pathologise disabled and neurodivergent people and advocating for accessibility and inclusion in my spaces.
I commit to offering spaces that affirm all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. I continue to learn about LGBTQ+ experiences with humility and openness, and challenge heteronormative or binary assumptions within myself and my practice.
I commit to deepening my awareness of intersectional aspects of identity that can lead to marginalisation such as fatness, age, health, spirituality, and religion. I will keep learning about how stereotypes, microaggressions, and systemic biases affect lived experience.
I commit to continued professional development, clinical supervision and reflective practice. I seek out diverse voices and perspectives, both within and beyond the therapy world, to expand my understanding and avoid working from a single worldview.
I commit to walking gently on the earth and recognising the interconnectedness of all living beings. My approach honours reciprocity and reverence for the natural world as a foundation for wellbeing.
I commit to listening deeply to the experiences and wisdom of marginalised communities. I am open to learning, repair and growth when I make mistakes.
I commit to holding social justice in therapy and wellbeing as a guiding value both within and beyond my practice. In the therapy room, this looks like creating a space where each client’s voice, autonomy, and experience are centred, regardless of background or belief.
I commit to fostering belonging and community in my work. Healing often happens in connection and I believe in cultivating spaces where people feel seen and supported. I welcome feedback and see accountability as an integral part of growth.
I commit to trauma-informed practice and to deepening my understanding of how trauma affects the body, mind and spirit. I recognise that healing is not one-size-fits-all and I tailor my approach to each person’s needs and nervous system.
A deeply held belief in justice, equity, and liberation.
At the heart of all this is a belief that when we know better, we can do better. My hope is that every person who works with me feels respected, safe, and seen, while also knowing that I am human, and that mistakes are an inevitable part of any authentic relationship. Accountability and repair are central to how I work, so that my clients can be in a relationship with me that centres trust, transparency and mutual growth. In this way, my practice continues to evolve as I learn, listen, and deepen my understanding.
Thank you for taking the time to explore my commitments. I welcome feedback, reflection, and conversation from anyone who wishes to share.I welcome feedback if you’d like to get in touch.
