Clients are the central focus of the therapeutic process. We believe clients should be empowered to take an active role in their healing, with their autonomy and perspectives guiding the work we do together. While therapy should always be client-centered, we also recognize that many people have had experiences where this was not the case, and it is valid to feel hesitant about starting therapy with someone new. We believe that individuals know themselves best. Our role is to provide a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment.

Therapy is a partnership between the therapist and the client, where both actively contribute to the therapeutic process. We view the therapeutic relationship as one built on mutual respect, shared decision-making, and a joint effort toward the client’s wellbeing. Throughout therapy, we engage in ongoing feedback and reflection together. This may include discussing progress, exploring challenges, and adjusting the therapeutic approach as needed to best support each client’s goals.

Recognizing and addressing the historical and cultural impacts of colonization is an important part of our approach to therapy. In our practice, we honor the diverse backgrounds and experiences of clients, respecting their cultural norms. We avoid imposing Western-centric perspectives, such as individualism. The name of our practice is rooted in the belief that community connections are fundamental to individual well-being. Incorporating traditional healing practices and addressing how historical traumas can affect mental health are invaluable parts of the therapeutic process. We aim to cultivate a practice that is inclusive, practices cultural humility, and empowers clients to bring their whole selves into therapy. We model this by bringing our whole selves into the therapeutic relationship to establish authentic connections with clients.

We work diligently to create a safe and inclusive space where clients feel acknowledged and respected for their gender identity. We use affirming language and practices that align with clients’ gender experiences, making space for identity and expression outside of societal norms. We also employ an intersectional lens, recognizing how gender identity intersects with other aspects of identity, such as race, culture, and sexual orientation.

We believe it is essential to address the interconnected aspects of an individual’s well-being. Various elements of a person’s life impact mental health, such as physical, emotional, social, cognitive, spiritual, and environmental factors. We aim to provide comprehensive support that encompasses all aspects of a person to facilitate effective and sustainable progress and healing.

We recognize and celebrate the diversity of neurological experiences and embrace the natural variations of the human brain. We use the term neurodivergent as it was originally coined by Kassianne Asasumasu to describe cognitive functioning that diverges from neuronormative standards. Our approach refrains from viewing neurodivergence solely through a deficit-based lens or as something that inherently needs to be fixed. We acknowledge that societal barriers and prejudices contribute to the challenges faced by neurodivergent folks. We do not uphold neurotypical expectations in the therapy space. For example, you do not have to make eye contact if you do not want to. Stimming, individual strengths and talents, creative thinking and problem solving, and all communication styles are encouraged and celebrated. If you are interested in learning more about neurodiversity-affirming language and terminology, you can learn more here.