A word to prospective minority clients
You are most welcome here! I use she/her pronouns and, if you work with me, I will want to know a little bit about how other providers have been helpful—or not—in your experiences thus far. I also want to know your questions for this consultation so I can be as helpful to you as possible. I recognize there are drawbacks to considering working with a white, cis-gendered woman. I work on my awareness of privilege, bias, and how to be a useful ally. Ultimately, your experiences and background matter to me.
My Approach
It has been my experience that some clients of color or some LGBTQIA+ clients are concerned about the consult as a so-called “evaluation." This would concern me, too! Some people have justifiable concerns about the inequity they experience compared to others who have no trouble conceiving; I get that. This consultation is not an evaluation. I am here to support you in your family-building journey, to discuss important details and implications to conceiving a child through the use of a donor, and to provide resources that may be helpful in that regard.
I live and work with a focus on justice; it's an ethic and principle I hold closely, personally and professionally. One way I implement justice is by intentionally and sensitively assisting people whose skin color, body, and gender expression are marginalized by the community-at-large. Working closely with and for people from minority groups is important to me. I have elected to attend conferences and trainings regarding the values of diversity, equity and inclusion (including the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's 2024 conference) within mental health and continue to engage in various groups to learn about the history of people from races, ethnicities, and orientations different from my own. This is a safe, welcoming space to discuss your family-building journey and I hope you experience me as an ally in the process.
You have a choice when choosing a mental health professional for a third-party reproduction consultation. I'm glad you are considering me! While I don't run a massive enterprise staffed with various therapists, I run my small practice with an aim at best-practice standards, a personal touch with an individualized approach, and genuine caring for those with whom I work.
(And all the content you read here is created by me, not stock content, and not AI!)
The consultation session itself will take place via a secure telehealth platform. This format saves travel time and fits more conveniently within one's daily schedule, all while providing privacy and confidentiality.
