Regarding The Racial Uprising in the Twin Cities and USA

**This was composed from wording by a few different therapists in the Twin Cities. I would like to give them credit, however, I don't know how to find who wrote what. 

To All My Clients: 

At this time, all sessions WILL continue as planned via telehealth. I want to support each and every one of you during this time.

Am I shocked? No. Am I outraged? Yes. I am mourning the murder of George Floyd.

What has happened in the Twin Cities and the rest of the country represents more than 400 years of oppression. We hear that the system is broken. It’s not broken, it was built like this. Thus, you hear, “dismantle the police” and “abolish the police.” The work is to organize communities to reimagine our future.

***IMPORTANT*** This time of overwhelm triggers long held trauma patterns in our nervous systems. Some of us will feel the desire to flee to safety, others to fight and defend ourselves/neighbors, others to freeze and shut down. You may be moving back and forth between these responses day to day or moment to moment. This is a time for gentleness for yourself and self reflection. In particular, I am reflecting on the personal and political impact of my whiteness on myself, neighbors and city. Rather than dissociate from my legacy of embodied violence to BIPOC (BIPOC: Black Indigenous People of Color) folks, I am trying to hold it tenderly and dream of transformation.

My heart is with you, I am safe (while living in the neighborhood Mr. Floyd was murdered), I am taking time to recognize my whiteness and recognize my fear in the face of fire, destruction and state sanctioned aggression. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me via call/text 612.889.7517 if you would like to check in. 

Please ask for what you need. I have an awesome group of social workers who can help me locate resources. 
If you need a more immediate time to check in - please ask. 
If you need to cancel because it’s all just too much - please ask. 
If you need educational resources - please ask.
If you need resources for safety - please ask. 
If you need food because your local store isn’t open - please ask. 
You get the point - please ask for what you need. Make your needs known. 

I stand with you and we stand together for justice. 

Again, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via call/text 612.889.7517 if you would like to check in.