The Anti-Oppression Therapist
6-Week Program for white therapists who are ready to do less Harm in Marginalized Communities
Register Before January 26, 2023
Live Coaching Begins February 2, 2023
You became a therapist because you wanted to help others, but you’ve come to realize that you might not be helping your Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (QTBIPOC) clients and colleagues. You might actually be hurting them.
You’ve started thinking about white fragility but you’re stuck in the feelings of shame and despondency about your part in the systems of oppression. You don’t know what to do, except you know you don’t want to get it wrong. You’re watching the news and something needs to be done now, but you don’t know what.
Or, maybe you’re someone who identifies as a feminist or progressive. Your therapy practice is running along smoothly, but you realize that all of your clients are white, your colleagues all look like you, and no one you know is talking in any depth about what to do about racism and other oppressions in the therapy room.
You’re a busy therapist/entrepreneur/caregiver/human who doesn’t have long hours to spend floundering for answers – and you know your QTBIPOC colleagues and clients don’t have that time either.
I know what you deeply wish for…
What you really want is to bring all of your confusion, stuckness, and uncertainty somewhere that will help you sort it out – without causing further harm to QTBIPOC communities.
You know white supremacy culture harms our clients and you know you want to be part of the solution. But nowhere in your world is anyone having this conversation.
You know that once you’re unstuck, your therapy work will grow and deepen.
You know you can have a meaningful part in dismantling white supremacy culture.
You know you want to do heartful work with QTBIPOC clients.
Imagine if you didn’t have to go it alone – or question if you’re “doing it right”.
I created The Anti-Oppression Therapist Program as a guide for white therapists to do their own anti-oppression work in a non-judgmental community, without causing further harm to QTBIPOC colleagues and clients.
White supremacy culture and all the things that come with it aren’t your fault, but it is your responsibility to change it.
Hey, it’s Dena here.
If we haven’t met yet, you might be wondering why I’m the right guide for you on this journey.
Personally, I identify as a queer, Muslim, non-binary, Arab American, over-thinker who lives on the stolen, unceeded lands of the Tohono O’odham (Tucson, AZ).
Professionally, I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a thriving private practice specializing in therapy for marginalized folx, a clinical supervisor, and a PhD student in Depth Psychology with an emphasis on Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies (yes, it’s quite a mouthful!).
In all my worlds, I’m on a mission to dismantle white supremacy and to create a revolution of anti-oppression therapists who change the definition of what it means to do “culturally competent” therapy.
Dena has engaged me in thoughtful (and hard) conversations about power dynamics, equity, and social justice, all with gentleness and love. I never doubt Dena’s intentions as a leader or her skills as an anti-oppression consultant. If you’re a white therapist who’s been meaning to begin your anti-oppression journey, don’t wait any longer. You won’t find a better teacher than Dena.
Here’s where The Anti-Oppression Therapist Program fits in.
During our 6 weeks together, you’ll work with me and an amazing small group of therapists who are committed to creating a kind community where we can face some hard truths with courage – and raise the bar for our profession.
By the end of our time together, you will…
Know what to do with your shame/fragility and who/how to talk about them without causing further harm
Grow/Run your private practice in a way that feels truly aligned with anti-oppresive work and your personal values
Understand your privileged identity on a deeper level – and how that influences your experience in the world
Understand the ways white therapists can be harmful to QTBIPOC clients and colleagues
I hear you saying: “OK, Dena, I’m curious. But what does the program actually entail??”
I’m so glad you asked! Here’s what I have planned for us:
30-Min Onboarding Call with Dena
A non-judgmental small community of therapists (8 max)
Weekly 90 minute Group Coaching Sessions
30 minutes of teaching by Dena and 60 minutes to process what we’re experiencing and learning.
15-Min of Voxer contact with me each week
Voxer is a super slick app that lets us send voice and text messages so you can ask questions when you’re up thinking about this stuff in the middle of the night.
Weekly digestable reading or viewing or listening assignments
These readings or videos will help you go deeper into our topics each week. You will be encouraged to write, paint, make audio or visual recordings, draw, or somehow express your reactions to the assignment.
Community collaboration
BONUS:
Self-Audit Tools for a Liberatory Private Practice
Homework Action-Assignments
“But … Anti-oppression work feels so overwhelming, the problems are so big – I’m afraid of opening this box and becoming more stuck/shamed/hopeless/despondent.”
I hear you. It is so common for therapists examining their role in white supremacy culture to feel shame, hopelessness, overwhelm, apathy….I also get that you might have been stuck in this shame cycle for a while.
When we feel so much, we’re so tempted to run away or hide under the covers or under our desks at work (totally NOT a personal example!).
This program is designed to help you get unstuck and make meaningful change in ways that feel emotionally manageable.
The components of becoming an anti-oppression therapist aren’t rocket science: they’re exactly what we tell clients All. The. Time. Here’s my formula:
Personal Reflection: Know yourself, your history, your beliefs and biases
Find Your People: Build community of people you trust to hold you and to hold you accountable
Get Uncomfortable: Have the real and hard conversations
Shine a Light on Shame: Bring the shame out of the darkness where it grows and festers
Get Unstuck: Take action…
Can you imagine the power of clinicians across the country doing this work?
Not in isolated silos, but in communication and solidarity with each other?
What would it feel like for you to be a part of that?
This program will be your first step.
Because I’m a bit of an over-thinker, here’s the basic outline of the 6 modules we’ll cover.
In these 6 weeks, we are going to touch on every part of your world as a therapist. Here’s the journey I’m going to take you on:
Week #1 - Our System is Broken: A Brief History of Psychotherapy
- Take a critical stance about our field
- Figure out our place in the system
Week #2 - Facing Your Fragility: Identify Your Personal Bias
- Take a soul-searching step into discovering you
- Discover your hidden biases that impact client care
Week #3 - Beyond Trauma Informed Care: Understanding Your Client’s Experience
- Question how white therapy hurts QTBIPOC clients
Week #4 - Transforming the Way You Do Therapy
- Build an anti-oppressive paradigm for your therapy practice
Week #5 - Is My Private Practice Oppressive?
- Identify anti-oppressive practices
Week #6 - Caring for Yourself while Caring for the World
- Radical self-care as motivation for continued growth
We can change the world by becoming better therapists. Becoming better therapists requires doing the things that are uncomfortable.
We tell clients things like this all the time. Isn’t it time for us to listen to our own advice?
This is the program to help you do just that.
If you’re still wondering if this is the right choice, let’s talk! Click the button below to book a 15-minute discovery call with me to see if The Anti-Oppression Therapist is right for you.
Payment Options
Single Payment
$1200
Pay in full and save $300
Payment Plan
6 Payments of $210
Spread your payments out over the 6 weeks of the program
[I want to be more than culturally competent but I have a few questions …]
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this start?
February 2, 2023, will be the first coaching call. When you register, you’ll get a more detailed guide on what to expect and how to prepare for the group coaching calls.
When are coaching calls?
This 6-week program will meet on Thursdays from 9-10:30am PST
Why should I spend money on this?
That’s a really good question. You could do a less expensive self-study program or you could read some of the many (excellent!) books out there about oppression and work to put it all into the context of your therapy practice. Or you could let me do that work for you. You will be able to focus on the important things for you: coping with the big, hard feelings that come up for many white therapists around these issues, making changes to your ways of thinking that make you a better therapist for QTBIPOC clients, and practicing your anti-oppressive values. Plus, you’ll get both the benefit the group process and access to individual support when you need it.
Why should I do this now?
It’s possible that this isn’t the time for you to do this program. That’s OK! But my guess is that if you’ve read this far you’re really thinking that this is something you might benefit from. This is the right time for this program if you’re curious, stuck, frustrated, hopeful, or thoughtful about anti-oppression work; you have 90 minutes for a coaching call and two hours or so during the week to do the take-home exercises; and you.
I’m super busy, what’s the time commitment for this program?
Some of that will depend on you, of course. Each student will make choices about what to read or watch, how much to practice, and how long they’re engaged in the between-session activities. Coaching sessions will be most useful if you can arrive having read the article or watched the documentary and put some critical thinking into it. I’d plan on about 2 hours/week for activities, in addition to the 90 minute coaching sessions.
Are you gonna call me out?
Engaging with these issues is scary – that’s why so many people put it off. No one wants to be publicly shamed, period, especially for things that they didn’t create or intentionally do. I approach this work from a non-judgmental and non-punitive stance. That means compassion, grace, and constructive direction when it’s needed. We’ll strive to create a space within the group that values respect and kindness. BUT there are times you might feel put on the spot, ashamed or “called out” because of white guilt or fragility. This program will help you put words to those feelings and learn to face them directly.
There are a lot of programs, how do I know this is the right one?
This is the right program for you if you’re ready to jump into real, practical ways of changing, or you’re tired of the online self-study courses where you never actually meet the person running the program.
How do I join?
You can apply by scheduling a short Zoom call with me. We’ll talk a little more about the program and see if we’re a good fit for each other. After that, I’ll send you a registration link, and an email with all the details.
Apply Now
I’m a therapist/therapy student/therapy supervisor and I’m interested in joining Dena Omar Consulting’s Anti-Oppression Therapist Trainings. I’m ready to start a journey into unpacking my learned beliefs about race/racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, and other forms of oppression.
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Find Me Here
Dena M. Omar, LCSW
10501 E. Seven Generations Way, Ste 121
Tucson, AZ 85747