Social Justice & Mental Health
at Whole Connection
At Whole Connection, we hold a systems perspective and recognize that our clients are directly impacted by systems of oppression and experience social injustice. We strive to make the therapeutic relationship a place where each client can bring all of who they are. Our goal is to provide holistic, culturally responsive care to our clients and to train clinicians who are knowledgeable about issues of social justice and mental health, self-reflective, and engaged in ongoing learning.
We do this by engaging in a year-round DEI training program for all staff. We strive to create awareness of each of our social locations and identities, how to work with them, and their impact in the work with our clients. It is also critical for us to understand how we can support, process, and be with our clients who might have different locations and identities from us.
Our staff diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training program regularly and consistently engages our entire team. We strive to create a space that is welcoming and inclusive, and explores identity and the impact that culture, society, power, and oppression have on each of us and our clients.
Our training program includes two main pillars:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Trainings with Partner Organizations
provide a space for our staff and interns to join with the staff of other mental health practices to learn together about social justice in mental health. We host six trainings per year led by specialists in different areas of DEI to support our team in growing awareness and skills so they may work with clients more effectively and cause less harm.
Monthly “Whole Identity” Groups
for the staff, facilitated by Aziza Belcher Platt, PhD and Latoyia Griffin Piper, LCSW, CGP. These groups offer a space for our team to deepen their understanding of the dynamics of power, privilege, marginalization, systems, and identity in the therapeutic relationship and clinical interventions.