Psychoanalysis has a long history of harm amongst marginalized identities.

It is exists within in a worldview of structuralized racism and sexism, but curiously operates, as if, it does not. These dynamics can come alive in a psychoanalysis and cause irreparable harm to a patient. A patient may be aware that something is not working in the treatment, but not know what. A psychoanalyst may also be aware that something is not working. However, they may be limited in the scope of their thinking by only seeing a dynamic in terms of transference/countertransference.

A psychoanalyst may not even consider unconscious forces of racism/ sexism at play, because they do not see themselves as having problems in these areas. And, they may have a hard time tolerating that it is outside their scope of knowledge –and a separate body of expertise. Not self appointed. Or they may feel too shameful or judged in acknowledging this and seeking help in this area. Or that they themselves may need an analysis in this area. Too often, psychoanalyst state that the patient is unanalyzable, because they ‘can’t reflect’. So, the patient becomes unfit for analysis, and is blamed. It’s the other way around. The psychoanalyst IS NOT FIT to do analysis, and can’t reflect. They are the problem. This is malpractice.

This is also a problem of academia. Academics will often choose token minorities to teach in these areas to lull themselves into imagining they are attending to multiculturalism. And that, they are not racist or sexist. Or more often, faculty with NO bodies of knowledge in these areas, will self appoint themselves expert status to teach diversity. This is problematic as this process self selects for the very people who have the biggest problems in these areas. This serves to further INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SEXISM, and this is why academia reeks with white privilege.

I use forensic psychiatric methods and critical theory to examine the REALITY of the analysis, so that the analysand can get the help they need, move forward with their life, and seek a different treatment OR help the analyst be brave enough to look at unconscious aspects of themselves and see how they might be causing harm to their patients. Or help with malpractice cases around harm in the treatment. Or seek a bridge between the pair, if repair can be achieved between them.

Over time, I hope to undo the long and painful legacy of psychoanalysis has in causing harm amongst marginalized identities, by opening a spark of change so that this treatment modality can begin to be useful for marginalized identities. Reparation is real. I hope to cause a healing on both sides, and strive for a world, where this no longer exists. One consultation at a time.

You have the right to become who you want to be and feel safe in the process of doing it.

I am rooting for you.