𝕀𝕥'𝕤 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟚! Or is it?

𝕀𝕥'𝕤 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟚! Or is it? 🤔

When we were in Niagara, a group a music therapy business women got together for breakfast. We're all successful in our own right and we were enjoying the opportunity to network and connect in community and shared experience with one another.

As we lined up to dip up our food at the buffet, an unsolicited comment by a man was made that rattled many in our group:

"𝕎𝕙𝕠 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟 𝕣𝕦𝕟 𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕒 𝕞𝕒𝕟."

A comment to which there were many turned up noses and responses such as:

"𝕀𝕥'𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝟚𝟙𝕤𝕥 ℂ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕪!"

"𝕎𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕕!"

"𝕄𝕪 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕕!"

A boldly unsolicited comment likely met with unexpected responses. A reminder that we don't know everyone's story! Upon reflection on this event and current events in the news, all we could do was think about how we still have so far to go and grow as a society. A lot of the directions we wish to see embraced in society are reflected within the therapy setting.

Respect for HUMANITY.

Allowing AUTONOMY.

Having COMPASSION.

When a therapist honours a persons 𝕙𝕦𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪, they are acknowledging a persons right to basic human needs, equity, and respect. It acknowledges that individual's right to feel, be heard, and seen in a light that rebukes discrimination.

When a therapist promotes an environment of empowerment and 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪, it is one where the therapist honours a person's right to self-govern, indicate preferences, have moral independence and be involved in decisions that affect them!

When a therapist sets a tone of 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟, they are recognizing that another person's story might be different from their own and is just as deserving of being heard and validated.

We should see these principles reflected not only within the therapy setting, but also within society! Let's move forward with humanity, autonomy, and compassion. ❤