Transition to Private Practice
Donation protected
Dear Fellow Community Members,
As a native black Vermonter (Burlingtonian) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), I am writing to:
- request support in obtaining the finances necessary to assist my transition to private practice
- support the development of a mental health care infrastructure in our community to meet the needs of people of color
What is Solidarity Healing?
From the cradle to the grave, people of color in Vermont experience all forms of racism, in every facet of life. A mental health care infrastructure that meets our needs is essential. The goal of Solidarity Healing is to BE an infrastructure in our community to serve people of color (and other marginalized populations) in a racially informed, culturally competent, and empowering manner. For more information, please visit www.solidarityhealing.com .
Access to Culturally Competent Mental Health Care
As a black Vermonter, LCMHC, and community racial justice leader, the development of this practice is extremely important to our collective community. Mental health is a human consideration, and, currently, people of color have extremely limited access to clinicians of color. At present, I am the only black LCMHC in Chittenden county (and one of potentially two in Vermont). Thus, the community need for Solidarity Healing is tremendous. Establishing the funding necessary to support my transition to independent practice to meet this community need IS racial justice work and a step toward increasing equity and equality for people of color in our community.
Research on Culturally Competent Care
Research shows that people of color are more likely to engage in and maintain engagement in therapy with clinicians of color. The dynamics of shared racial and cultural experience permits a safer therapeutic relationship. The safety of the relationship allows for:
- the opportunity for enhanced understanding, more accurate (less severe) assessment and diagnosis, more racially/culturally responsive treatment planning, and improved therapeutic outcomes
- the dynamics of shared racial and cultural experience can be a very empowering experience for clients of color, as the therapeutic relationship provides the opportunity for validation, information sharing (education), and personal empowerment in a manner only this dynamic can
- the above dynamics increase self-esteem, positive racial identity, and healthy cognition to assist with reducing the impact of overt and covert experiences of racism on mental health and other co-occurring issues and improves overall health, well-being, and functioning
Systemic Racism in Vermont
- Voices for Vermont Kids recently reported, "Growing inequality outside of schools is mirrored in educational outcomes for kids across the state. Children from low-income families, students with disabilities, and students of color score worse on standardized tests, are more likely to be suspended or expelled, are less likely to graduate on time, and are less likely to reach college or career-readiness, go to college, and graduate from college" (Equity In Vermont Education System Requires Multi-Level Approach, May 16, 2016, retrieved from http://www.voicesforvtkids.org/educationreport2016/ ).
- "Racial Disparities in Policing? An Assessment of 2009-10 Traffic Stop Data in Chittenden County, Vermont" by Stephanie Seguino and Nancy Brooks evidences statistically significant racial disparities in policing. Recent reports reflecting data collected for the past five years indicate said racial disparities in policing (as evidenced by traffic stop data and searches) have actually worsened (Stephanie Seguino and Jack McDevitt).
- blacks comprise 1.2% of the state's population and 10.7% of the state's prisons
- Racism is not limited to eduational and law enforcement institutions, it transcends and impacts all institutions because it is deeply rooted in humanity/American culture (consciously and unconsciously) as the result of our history. Thus, workplaces, advertising, movies, television, and numerous other cultural institutions send negative messages about and to people of color that can deeply impact mental health.
- The experience of oppression, discrimination, and race related stress is a reality for people of color in Vermont, whether white people know, understand, and/or accept this or not. The stories of said realities are endless. Just this morning, I read the following on Facebook, and, with approval from the poster, include it here: "I am Palestinian but raised as Sicilian, so my skin is dark, and I meet about 50 microaggressions per/day, here in VT. I am sure it's double for people with darker skin than mine. I left my career because after leaving a five year, extremely abusive relationship with a white man, I no longer had the strength to endure all the microaggressions in the workplace, including unrelenting sexual harassment by a white man, for which I could get no support and which my white colleagues thought was funny. It exacerbated my compound PTSD to such an extent that it literally rendered me unemployable. I have become very reclusive, as a result. I rarely go out in public anymore, unless I'm with my activist community or am visiting friends and family [out of state]. My daughter and her boyfriend, who is black, won't even visit Vermont, because of the way they are treated here.
My Motivation and My Inspiration
To be the change we desperately need in our community and work in a capacity that meets the mental health care needs of people of color (and other marginalized populations) and impact a greater good for our holistic community. We (you and I) have an opportunity to RISE UP, stand in solidarity, and impact positive change. Let's do this!
What can you do to help?
- Individuals, agencies, businesses, and institutions that support racial equity and equality have the opportunity to *show* this support in the form of a donation to assist me, Vicki Garrison, with transition to private practice and the establishment of Solidarity Healing, a racially and culturally informed and competent mental health care practice to serve and meet the diverse needs of the community.
- Personally reach out to family, friends, and colleagues and ask them to do the same (support this mission in the form of a donation).
- Share this page continually on social media and in other forums as you deem helpful.
Timeline
Solidarity Healing opens August 1st and needs ongoing donations to sustain this launching.
Please Share This Fundraising Campaign
Thank you for your time, attention, and contribution to this important fundraising campaign. Please share widely.
I look forward to continuing to serve our community and in a capacity that does a greater good.
With deep gratitude,
Vicki Garrison, MS, LCMHC
As a native black Vermonter (Burlingtonian) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), I am writing to:
- request support in obtaining the finances necessary to assist my transition to private practice
- support the development of a mental health care infrastructure in our community to meet the needs of people of color
What is Solidarity Healing?
From the cradle to the grave, people of color in Vermont experience all forms of racism, in every facet of life. A mental health care infrastructure that meets our needs is essential. The goal of Solidarity Healing is to BE an infrastructure in our community to serve people of color (and other marginalized populations) in a racially informed, culturally competent, and empowering manner. For more information, please visit www.solidarityhealing.com .
Access to Culturally Competent Mental Health Care
As a black Vermonter, LCMHC, and community racial justice leader, the development of this practice is extremely important to our collective community. Mental health is a human consideration, and, currently, people of color have extremely limited access to clinicians of color. At present, I am the only black LCMHC in Chittenden county (and one of potentially two in Vermont). Thus, the community need for Solidarity Healing is tremendous. Establishing the funding necessary to support my transition to independent practice to meet this community need IS racial justice work and a step toward increasing equity and equality for people of color in our community.
Research on Culturally Competent Care
Research shows that people of color are more likely to engage in and maintain engagement in therapy with clinicians of color. The dynamics of shared racial and cultural experience permits a safer therapeutic relationship. The safety of the relationship allows for:
- the opportunity for enhanced understanding, more accurate (less severe) assessment and diagnosis, more racially/culturally responsive treatment planning, and improved therapeutic outcomes
- the dynamics of shared racial and cultural experience can be a very empowering experience for clients of color, as the therapeutic relationship provides the opportunity for validation, information sharing (education), and personal empowerment in a manner only this dynamic can
- the above dynamics increase self-esteem, positive racial identity, and healthy cognition to assist with reducing the impact of overt and covert experiences of racism on mental health and other co-occurring issues and improves overall health, well-being, and functioning
Systemic Racism in Vermont
- Voices for Vermont Kids recently reported, "Growing inequality outside of schools is mirrored in educational outcomes for kids across the state. Children from low-income families, students with disabilities, and students of color score worse on standardized tests, are more likely to be suspended or expelled, are less likely to graduate on time, and are less likely to reach college or career-readiness, go to college, and graduate from college" (Equity In Vermont Education System Requires Multi-Level Approach, May 16, 2016, retrieved from http://www.voicesforvtkids.org/educationreport2016/ ).
- "Racial Disparities in Policing? An Assessment of 2009-10 Traffic Stop Data in Chittenden County, Vermont" by Stephanie Seguino and Nancy Brooks evidences statistically significant racial disparities in policing. Recent reports reflecting data collected for the past five years indicate said racial disparities in policing (as evidenced by traffic stop data and searches) have actually worsened (Stephanie Seguino and Jack McDevitt).
- blacks comprise 1.2% of the state's population and 10.7% of the state's prisons
- Racism is not limited to eduational and law enforcement institutions, it transcends and impacts all institutions because it is deeply rooted in humanity/American culture (consciously and unconsciously) as the result of our history. Thus, workplaces, advertising, movies, television, and numerous other cultural institutions send negative messages about and to people of color that can deeply impact mental health.
- The experience of oppression, discrimination, and race related stress is a reality for people of color in Vermont, whether white people know, understand, and/or accept this or not. The stories of said realities are endless. Just this morning, I read the following on Facebook, and, with approval from the poster, include it here: "I am Palestinian but raised as Sicilian, so my skin is dark, and I meet about 50 microaggressions per/day, here in VT. I am sure it's double for people with darker skin than mine. I left my career because after leaving a five year, extremely abusive relationship with a white man, I no longer had the strength to endure all the microaggressions in the workplace, including unrelenting sexual harassment by a white man, for which I could get no support and which my white colleagues thought was funny. It exacerbated my compound PTSD to such an extent that it literally rendered me unemployable. I have become very reclusive, as a result. I rarely go out in public anymore, unless I'm with my activist community or am visiting friends and family [out of state]. My daughter and her boyfriend, who is black, won't even visit Vermont, because of the way they are treated here.
My Motivation and My Inspiration
To be the change we desperately need in our community and work in a capacity that meets the mental health care needs of people of color (and other marginalized populations) and impact a greater good for our holistic community. We (you and I) have an opportunity to RISE UP, stand in solidarity, and impact positive change. Let's do this!
What can you do to help?
- Individuals, agencies, businesses, and institutions that support racial equity and equality have the opportunity to *show* this support in the form of a donation to assist me, Vicki Garrison, with transition to private practice and the establishment of Solidarity Healing, a racially and culturally informed and competent mental health care practice to serve and meet the diverse needs of the community.
- Personally reach out to family, friends, and colleagues and ask them to do the same (support this mission in the form of a donation).
- Share this page continually on social media and in other forums as you deem helpful.
Timeline
Solidarity Healing opens August 1st and needs ongoing donations to sustain this launching.
Please Share This Fundraising Campaign
Thank you for your time, attention, and contribution to this important fundraising campaign. Please share widely.
I look forward to continuing to serve our community and in a capacity that does a greater good.
With deep gratitude,
Vicki Garrison, MS, LCMHC
Organizer
Vicki Garrison
Organizer
Essex, VT
