Practicing Inclusivity
Attunement, empathy, compassion, support, validation, and love are just a few words that describe the work that is interwoven into the fabric of Fulshear. The world we live in could benefit from implementing some of these terms in a way that helps the world progress and dismantles inequality.
Currently, the world is in a heightened state of chaos and distress due to COVID-19 and the protests and rallies that are happening around the nation in hopes of bringing intentional awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter movement was established in 2013 with the intention of protesting brutality against African American people. Riots and protests are the language of the unheard. This perspective has many parallels to the work that is done at Fulshear through the Integrated Attachment Model. Individuals will do what is necessary to get their needs met. We all desire belonging, acceptance, and the ability to be congruent and transparent with our emotions. We need this to feel secure and safe in this world, despite our differences.
Fulshear has a lot of diversity, but recently, we have been intentional in practicing inclusivity. Inclusivity, according to Oxford Dictionary is the practice or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of minority groups. Inclusivity must be practiced and be intentional.
On June 19th, 2020, Fulshear celebrated its first annual Juneteenth Celebration as the kickstart to practicing inclusivity. In 1865, on June 19th the last African American that was enslaved in Texas was released from bondage after General Gordon Granger made his way to Galveston, Texas to demand that Texas release those they were keeping in captivity two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed that released slaves. Texas had the minimal presence of Union soldiers and therefore, they were unable to enforce what the Emancipation Proclamation declared. 1865 represents a small step forward in the fight for basic human rights that continues in 2020.
Every day as a Clinician, my goal is to see those before me as human, appreciate their differences, and assist them in finding their personal power to advocate for their needs and live a life that brings them meaning. The Black Lives Matter Movement, the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, improved systems for those with disabilities, and ending the stigma around mental health are all about groups of individuals fighting to be seen as human and be seen as equals as opposed to being viewed or treated as inferior. As you read this blog, I challenge you to think about the last time you or organizations you belong to practiced inclusivity. I also challenge you to identify the deepest needs of groups you may or may not agree with; the fate of the world depends on our ability to find the best intention and deepest need of those around us.
Curby Rogers, LPC
Clinical Director, Redwood Community Fulshear Treatment to Transition