Christina Henderson Counselling

Statement of Diversity

I celebrate and affirm the diverse identities and experiences of my clients. I have a love for all people regardless of ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender, size, physical and cognitive ability, religion/spirituality, and socioeconomic status. Diversity enriches community and I am committed to appreciating and championing the dignity and worth of each person I have the honour of holding space for…

Valuing diversity also means ensuring that I do everything in my power to make you feel seen, safe, and valued in your therapeutic work.
I understand that each person I work with, and myself as a therapist, lives within the wider context of our communities and cultures. Our society has been built on the oppression of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) and upholds intersecting forms of oppression that affect each of us differently. I recognize the traumatic impact of discrimination, oppression, and exploitation in any form it may take, including micro-aggressions, invisibility, increased experiences of violence, challenges to economic stability and mobility, decreased autonomy, as well as internalized oppression and post-traumatic stress. One of my core values is social justice and this means I am committed to working against all systems of oppression.
I strive to create a safe space where those who entrust me with their stories can feel comfortable exploring the importance of their identities and life experiences with regard to diversity and how this relates to their counselling goals. I recognize it is one thing for me to say I am safe and another for you to feel safe. I want to cocreate what safety means for you in a therapeutic setting.  
I also recognize my own limitations, aware that I am a white, heterosexual, able-bodied, middle-class woman. As a result, I am committed to a lifelong journey of learning to foster my own awareness, healing, and growth, knowing my own experiences and bias can impede therapeutic work. I am open to feedback and accountability, knowing I will not always get it right. I am committed to social change and advocacy for my clients.

I acknowledge that my practice is situated on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Semá:th (Sumas) Nation and Màthexwi (Matsqui) Nations. These two Nations are part of the Stó:lō Nation. ‘Unceded’ means that these lands were never legally signed away by the Indigenous peoples who inhabited these lands prior to colonization.

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