My Ethical Standard of Care:
Integrity and Accountability
Act justly · Love mercy · Walk humbly
Integrity, Accountability, and the Courage to Witness Without Replicating Harm
Story Work is a sacred invitation that integrates psychology and theology. To accompany someone into the deepest parts of their story is an honor I do not take lightly; It requires more than being trauma-informed and having a certification. Sustained commitment to safety, containment, acknowledging power, and dismantling harmful and hierarchical power dynamics is part of the process. I hold my practice to a standard that prioritizes the whole human being.
Photo: Unsplash Meiying Ng @meiying
I move at the rate of your consent.
Trauma often involves the loss of agency, the experience of being moved, managed, or overridden without choice. Repeating patterns of harm hinders healing, which is why relational agency and power-with are central components in the space we hold together. Although discomfort is inevitable in this process, you remain the expert on your own life and story. We go where you are ready to go, and no further. Your "not yet" is as honored as your "yes."
Photo: Unsplash Bernardo Lorena Ponte@pontebernardo
I will not open what I cannot hold with you.
One of the real risks in story and trauma work is being invited into vulnerable territory without adequate care for what comes next. I don’t place insight above safety; I’m committed to creating a space rooted in curiosity, compassion, and kindness. I pay attention to what surfaces within you to ensure you’re supported and resourced as we move through it together.
Containment is central in how I show up. It creates the safety needed for everything else to unfold. In our time together, I come alongside you as you explore your story and the emotions that arise. My approach doesn’t bypass discomfort; it honors it as a necessary part of healing. At the same time, you won’t be left raw or alone in that process. Instead, I guide you through somatic and grounding practices so you can stay connected to your body and leave our sessions feeling steady, present, and able to continue your reflection with awareness and care.
My commitment is to hold a steady, attuned space for your story. If at any point your needs extend beyond what I can ethically offer as a practitioner and coach, I will walk with you in connecting to care that can fully support you.
Photo: Unsplash Donna Brown @ellekay16
I name harm honestly, recognizing its impact without downplaying it.
I name the reality of harm for what it is. Psychological abuse, coercive control, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse, and racial harm are not experiences to soften. They are to be named with honesty and care. I will not minimize what you have experienced. Clarity is a form of kindness and care.
Photo: Unsplash Johann Siemens @emben
I am committed to accountability.
I don’t believe this unfolding should be done in isolation, mine or yours. I am actively seeking supervision from a BIPOC practitioner trained in The Allender Center methodology. The women I serve are whole people with whole lives. This practice is accountable to professional integrity, their lived experience, and the community and cultural context that has shaped their story.
I also engage in ongoing counseling, and I am continually pursuing the next layer of my own healing and spiritual formation. I will not invite you somewhere I am not willing to go myself.
Photo: Unsplash Rafael Rodrigues @rrodriguesim
I offer care that respects and values your whole story. I take a culturally sensitive approach, being mindful of your unique journey and background. I take collective harm seriously because your experiences matter. I am here to support you with compassion and understanding. As a black woman, I’ve lived through the reality of naming racial harm and the heavy toll of the silencing that follows. I understand what micro-aggressions and tokenism do to your story and your dignity. In this space, your cultural identity is not a footnote or a disclaimer; It is an integral part of who you are and how your story is held here.
I name ethnic, racial, and collective harm when present and remain mindful not to replicate harm within the space we hold together. You do not need to translate your experience or make it more palatable for someone else's comfort. You get to show up as your full self. All of you is welcome here.
Culturally Responsive Care
Photo: Unsplash Jennifer Grube @onoama
I understand how damaging it can be when spiritual language is used to avoid real pain, pressure people to conform, or quiet their important questions. Your feelings of anger, grief, and uncertainty, as well as your need for boundaries, are all valid parts of your journey toward healing. I want you to know that I stand firmly against any form of spiritual bypassing. Your inherent worth and goodness are recognized here, and I honor the unique story that you bring.
Spiritual integrity
Photo: Unsplash Jonas Eriksson @jonaseriksson