Edge of the Couch Own Who You Are and What You Need - Interview with Theresa Thomas
Mar 30, 2022
Theresa Thomas, a registered clinical counsellor and founder of InPower Counselling, shares her journey and insights in this engaging conversation. She discusses her experience as a Black student facing anti-Blackness in graduate school. Theresa emphasizes the importance of owning one's identity in therapy and addresses the biases against survivors of violence. She also dives into the culture of burnout in the nonprofit sector, highlighting her recovery process and the creation of accessible therapeutic tools for her clients.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Training That Re-Traumatized A Black Student
- Theresa describes being the only Black student in a class that repeatedly objectified Black lived experience and made her physically ill each week.
- She refused to return, negotiated alternatives, and spent weeks rebuilding trust with the program staff.
The Harm Of Not Naming Racism
- Theresa says Canada often avoids naming racism, which makes problems louder for those affected rather than safer.
- She argues that refusing to label racism doesn't stop it and creates additional harm for racialized students.
State Your Identity To Improve Fit
- Theresa recommends therapists own and share their lived identities so clients can opt out when there's a poor fit.
- She says declaring who you are improves attunement and invites honest rejection rather than hidden mismatch.