Anti-Oppression:

Oppression is the use of power to disempower, marginalize, silence or otherwise subordinate one social group or category, often in order to further empower and/or privilege the oppressor. Practicing anti-oppression work in real terms is not only confronting individual examples of bigotry, or confronting societal examples, it is also confronting ourselves and our own roles of power and oppression in our communities and the bigger picture.

Though you may be a person that would never think to ever say anything racist/sexist/classist etc., by not realizing the power that you hold, and how your actions affect other people you will inevitably fall into sustaining and contributing to a larger system of oppression.

Experiential Interventions:

Experiential therapy is a type of therapy technique where clients use expressive tools or activities to re-enact and recreate situations from past and present relationships. In therapy, clients may use role-playing techniques, music, props, or art to identify what emotions they have that influence their successes, responsibilities, disappointments, and impacts to their self-esteem from painful recent and past emotional experiences. The patient will be able to explore and release their negative emotions and stress and shame associated with situations that may have been blocked or denied. Sometimes, painful feelings stemming from a traumatic or shameful event can linger and influence the patient’s life and behaviors negatively.

Intersectionality:

The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage; a theoretical approach based on such a premise. For additional information about intersectionality, you can watch this TED talk by Kimberle Crenshaw, the woman who coined the term.

Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention to the present. This state is described as observing one’s thoughts and feelings without judging them as good or bad. To live mindfully is to live in the moment and reawaken oneself to the present, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future. To be mindful is to observe and label thoughts, feelings, sensations in the body in an objective manner. Mindfulness can therefore be a tool to avoid self-criticism and judgment while identifying and managing difficult emotions.

Relaxation Techniques:

Relaxation skills address anxiety from the standpoint of the body by reducing muscle tension, slowing down breathing, and calming the mind. Relaxation skills can be structured; examples are breathing techniques, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga. They can also be more intuitive and include finding what feels good in the moment.

Somatic Intervention:

Somatic Intervention is a technique that allows you to sense and interrupt habitual patterns (like anxiety, anger, stress, or fear), discharge the bodily tension and associated memories, and move forward in a calmer and more centered way. By connecting and listening to the messages carried in the body, the use of somatic techniques can help guide clients to choices that support them moving through their lives with more ease and freedom.

Trauma-Informed:

A trauma-informed therapist is aware of the complex impact of trauma on a person’s suffering and how it shapes a person’s efforts to cope. A trauma-informed approach integrates a thorough knowledge of this impact into every aspect of treatment. It also means that any clinician that claims to be trauma-informed makes emotional and psychological safety a priority for the people they serve.