I want to acknowledge the harm committed toward people with historically disempowered identities by the field of psychology and the social sciences over the years.
From pathologizing non-hetero sexualities and transgender identities, to invisibilizing the experience of Black, Indigneous, and People of Color, and continuing to support the systems of power that main-stream the experience of white, straight, cisgender, male-bodied, able-bodied people.
As a queer, non-binary, white, male-bodied, able-bodied, middle-aged person I have an awareness of both my unnearned privilege and the ways in which I am also oppressed and marginalized. With this awareness I have an ongoing commitment to diligently understand my privilege knowing that while I cannot do anything about it, I can do something with it.
This commitment includes self-education and continuing to heal myself through personal therapy so that I can adopt a stance of ‘cultural humility’ when working with individuals and groups. I do my best to ensure people who have disempowered identities are not burdened by having to teach me about their experience.