It probably goes without saying that therapy is meant to be a process during which you feel seen, respected and safe.

But how is that safe therapeutic space created and maintained? Some would say that one way for counsellors to practice ethically and treat all clients equally is to keep politics out of the therapy room. However, I strongly believe that counsellor “neutrality” doesn’t guarantee safety, especially for clients who hold marginalised identities. If I were to assume a neutral stance, I would be overlooking the very real dynamics of power and social context that shape many people’s experiences of distress. This is why I believe it’s important to be explicit about my values and commitments.

Psychotherapy has not always been a neutral or benevolent force. Historically, it has been used to uphold systems of social control: perpetuating racism and sexism, reinforcing brutal asylum practices, and enacting so-called “conversion therapy” on LGBTQ+ people. These harms didn’t happen in a vacuum; they reflect the wider society we live in, which still treats some people as having lives that matter and are worthy of protecting, while others are marginalised or scapegoated. Structural violence and oppression are real, and many people’s experiences of trauma are directly related to their identities and social contexts.

What this means to my practice

• I will not pathologise you if you challenge or deviate from societal expectations. It is not my role as a therapist - or as a fellow human being - to enforce conformity.
• I will not attribute your struggles solely to your own individual thoughts and behaviours. There are always external factors influencing distress, such as poverty, inequality and discrimination, and it can be important and helpful to name these.
• I will actively attend to power in our therapy relationship. I understand that the issue of power is complex, and that by nature there is an imbalance of power between counsellor and client. I will always honour your autonomy and remain open to feedback about how you are experiencing counselling, so that you feel heard, respected and safe.

Identity and oppression

• I recognise the reality of systemic racism and racialised trauma. I am committed to the work of becoming anti-racist. To me, this means firstly acknowledging the difficult truth that whiteness can operate within me and through me in oppressive ways. I try not to turn away from this discomfort, and I am engaged in a lifelong process of learning (and unlearning) through reading, listening, discussing and reflecting.
• I am affirming of all LGBTQIA+ identities. From my own experience, I know that it can sometimes be difficult to feel affirming of your own gender or sexual identity. I offer a supportive space where you are free to explore any mixed or complicated feelings about your gender or sexuality, without judgement or pressure to fit rigid categories.

What you can expect from our work together

My aim is to offer an emotionally safe therapeutic space that recognises the realities of oppression and honours the complexity of your lived experience. This is the position I bring to my work, and I want you to know it from the outset. My hope is that this clarity helps you decide whether I might be the right therapist for you. If something that matters to you isn’t mentioned here, please feel free to check it out with me.