WHO I WORK WITH
“I’m curious about who you work with.”
Subtext:
Are you for ME?
Do I belong here?
Or is this just another time
I’ll feel unseen and misunderstood?
Oh, my friend: I get it.
As marginalized people, feeling seen and understood
is really f*cking important.
We each know the pain of feeling “incomprehensible.”
So, let me say this once and for all:
You belong (here and everywhere).
And everything about you makes perfect sense.
So the real question is…
are we a fit for each other?
Let me try and help with that.
-Meera
“Working with you, I felt seen and so profoundly accepted on my own terms.
…it was so, so helpful to have this experience with someone coming from a similar queer person of color background. I didn't have to explain or translate myself when working with you.”
- R.P. -
Things my people (usually)
have in common
You have one or more marginalized identities (obviously) - they may be visible OR invisible, but they’ve effected how you experience and navigate the world.
You feel…different. Outside the lines, like you never quite fit the “template” of how others expect humans like you to work…even in spaces that are meant for you on paper.
You’re at odds with a lot of the institutions and social structures you’re in, so it’s hard to figure out how to exist in them while staying true to yourself.
You have a sense of humor. It’s deliciously weird. It helps you survive.
You’re “the capable one.” The one who fixes problems, and handles things. The one people come to for solutions, support and help. (You find it tiring, BUT you also kinda think no one handles that shit as well as you)
You’re deeply principled, kind, and good. You REALLY care about doing the right thing. Hypocrisy pisses you off. (You’re quick to worry that you’re “falling short” of these ideals)
You’re someone who seeks meaning, purpose and wonder. You think about your role in this life, and bigger things like spirituality, ancestry or the magic of sunlight through the trees.
You’re service-driven and protective of vulnerable people. You’re drawn to give the things you once needed. You want to contribute to collective liberation, not just get your slice of the pie. (flip-side: you tend to override your own needs, and overextend for others)
You’ve got more than a little fight in you. You might’ve buried it deeeeeep down under some survival strategies, but there’s still a Tiny Defiant Voice that lives inside you.
YOU CAN GET REALLY TANGLED UP IN YOUR OWN HEAD. Damn - it’s exhausting in there!
“I can't tell you how wonderful it is to work with someone who can talk about the experience of being marginalized simultaneously with an incredible sense of humor and with the capacity to just hold space for the very real grief, anger, and other painful emotions that come up when you're fighting to exist in an unjust world.”
- H.B.-
Things that’ll make us
an easy fit (or not)
We’ll be an easy fit if…
You’re self-reflective, and for you, awareness drives change. Once you know something inside yourself, you can’t un-know it. And you don’t want to!
You’re creative, soul-driven and practical. You’re down to explore shit using metaphor or deep inquiry, then ask...ok, so what does this mean for how I’ll lead that call on Tuesday?
You want to know yourself deeply and well (even if you’re nervous about what you’ll find in there!)
You’re good with laughter, cussing, honesty, and calling shit like it is. With compassion underpinning all of it.
You’ve done lots of therapy. You know the origins of your struggles, and tend to the brave work of healing. You’re looking for something a little different here.
You’re curious! About this, yourself, and what could be possible for you.
You’re willing to SLOW DOWN, trust yourself, BE yourself, and allow things to unfold organically (no overriding yourself on my watch)
I’m NOT for you if…
You’re here to “win” or get to the “top of your game”
You want to “hack” things through quick fixes and surface-level mindset change
You want someone to bully you and call it accountability (the fuck?)
You only want to explore intellectually / theoretically without applying anything to your actual life
You’re trying to “fix” yourself (HELLO, YOU ARE NOT BROKEN.)
You’re looking for someone to tell you what to do
You want to figure out how to fit other people’s standards
You want to imitate me (This is not a cult: I want you to be more YOU!)
(….Basically anything where you want me to collude with your inner or outer oppressor)