Diversity
This page is for everyone.
As with biodiversity, where the rich variety of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms make up our natural world, we all make up the diversity found in areas of gender, sex, relationship, culture, ability, ethnicity, our neural diversity, and more.
Within this, many cultures use a mix of science, instinct and bias to delineate what is ‘typical’. This can be a way to explore the diversity of a society, or to structure systems, and sometimes to exert power or oppress, giving birth to language such as ‘ordered’, ‘disordered’, ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’. The fallout is that what is not typical becomes ‘other’, contributing to systems of privilege and oppression.
We can explore your beliefs about your identity, and the barriers to reaching your goals, both internal and external.
How do you know yourself to be different? What do you understand about your difference, or is this confusing or difficult to explain in binary terms? Maybe this is something you would like to have the space and safety to explore? Importantly, how are you perceived to be different by others? Is this obvious and shown, or hidden from yourself or others?
In our therapeutic relationship, I offer a space where we can gently bring out what might be unsaid, hidden or implied; we will find a language that feels right for you, and explore how you are in relation to your culture or community, to your workplace or your family, or simply when you’re out doing your shop in the supermarket. How does your difference affect your day-to-day effort to live?
I have found that the more we mask or stray from our differences in order to gain positive regard and acceptance from those around us, the wider the gap grows between our true nature and the personas we present. This gap can become open country for anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviours, disrupting the homeostasis of our physiological functioning and our natural ability to be healthy social animals.
If you have a disability or impairment that makes it difficult to access my practice, please contact me so we can find a way forward.