Positionality Statement
As a psychotherapist, and supervisor, I acknowledge that who I am; a white cisgender woman, second generation Canadian of Eastern European and Irish/French Canadian descent. I am the mother of three multiracial adult children. Who I am and where I came from shapes my understanding of the world and my relationships.
My intention for our time together is to learn more about one another so that we can support our competence in our clinical work, knowing it is informed not just by our knowledge and skills, but also by our histories, experiences, and understanding.
Positionality
Positionality refers to where one is located in relation to their various social identities (gender, race, class, ethnicity, ability, geographical location, etc.) ; the combination of these identities and their intersections shape how we understand and engage with the world, including our knowledge, perspectives, and teaching practices. Recognizing one's positionality allows parties of different power relationships to work together to achieve the same goal. It allows people of different power dynamics to reflect on how their actions influence and impact other parties. While both parties may not be able to fully understand one another's experience, recognition of positionality and having uncomfortable or difficult conversations on power and privilege can open pathways to fostering mutual respect and cultrurally appropriate strategies to tackle social injustice.
Cultural Awareness
It is an ethical mandate to be aware of, have knowledge of, and be considerate of, individual diversity, and cultural differences in our work and understand the way in which it impacts human behavior. Clinical supervision provides an "optimal space" to learn about intersectionality, explore how socio-cultural lens impacts our clients and our work, and gain important and necessary skills for effective clinical practice.