Identity
Our identities shape how we experience the world.
Having healthy relationships to your identities enables you to show up as your most vibrant, authentic self.
Some things to know
Marginalized identities can include: sexual, gender, racial, tribal, and ethnic identities as well as neurodivergence, disabilities, chronic illnesses, body size, and/or being a sex worker
Not everyone who holds a marginalized identity is aware of its impact or sometimes even presence in their life
Due to colonization, enslavement, genocide, and other forms of oppression, people may not have a connection to one or more of their identities, and this is something that deserves to be explored
Finding empowerment in your identity often involves unpacking other layers of oppression, including internalized oppression
There is an interplay between the identities we hold: each identity interacts with and affects the others, creating unique experiences when combined
Working with me
Once I connected with my identities, I learned to live as my authentic self. As a queer non-binary Jewish person of color navigating life with other marginalized identities, I’m committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for individuals from all walks of life.
As a social worker, my lens and training is focused on social justice and supporting folks with marginalized identities. As part of my Master of Social Work degree, I completed a capstone project that involved creating and leading an experiential workshop for other therapists to learn about and navigate working with clients who hold marginalized identities.
I have specialized training in providing care for a variety of marginalized identities. Some of these include neurodiversity and mindfulness, delving into the interplay between neurodiversity and gender expression, and neurodivergent psychedelic work. My training with Psychedelics Today’s Vital program included how to provide support for folks with marginalized identities. I’ve learned to work with trans folks navigating eating disorders from The Affirmative Couch, as well as how to provide support and affirming care to LGBTQ+ Jews. I work with folks who experience chronic pain and illness, having trained with the Jefferson Center for Mental Health to integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into our work together. Read more about these trainings here.
You deserve to see yourself for who you are. I love helping people see themselves through the lens of their community as opposed to the lens of their oppressors. It’s important to be validated in your identity and affirmed for who you really are.
Ways to work with me: Individual, Relationship, Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, Experiential (i.e. Retreats, Workshops, Nature-Based Sessions)
Common goals
Affirming and exploring your identities: determining whether you hold certain identities
Exploring how your identities might be impacting your current relationships and how you experience the world
Celebrating the beautiful aspects of your identities and deepening connection to them
Unpacking the ways in which ancestral and intergenerational trauma have influenced your self-perception and identities
Healing from the trauma of living in a complex world that doesn’t always celebrate your identities
Resources
Before we begin working together, if you’d like to read more, this is where I recommend starting:
Identity: A Journey Back To You by Brian Loveless
Multiple Overlapping Truths: A Mixed-Race Identity Development Workbook by Lola Osunkoya
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, Ph.D.
Rediscovering You: Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation for Established Adults by Christa McCrorie
Gender Identity Journal: Prompts and Practices for Exploration and Self-Discovery by Katie Leikam MBA LCSW