Found Inspiration – Audre Lorde

Found Inspiration is a series inspired by a prompt at the start of our meetings where we invite therapists to share an unconventional not explicitly therapy-related influence on their clinical practice. We’ve found that when your experiences aren’t reflected in academic settings and literature, and when you expand your understanding of mental health care beyond a medical model to one of healing, meaning-making and connection, you have to build your own canon.

Audre Lorde, the self-described “Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet”, was, among other things, a fierce advocate for challenging norms, self-exploration and the importance of embracing one’s unique identity within a larger context. Her message of radical self-acceptance resonates deeply with us, and we find her teachings into the very fabric of our practice.

🌟 Lorde’s iconic statement, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare,” serves as the cornerstone of our approach. We believe that every step towards self-acceptance and self-care is a form of resistance, especially in a world that is antagonistic to our marginalized identities and communities.

🌈 At MCM Collaborative, we draw inspiration from Audre Lorde’s powerful commitment to intersectionality, recognizing that each individual’s experiences and identities shape their mental health journey. We invite clients to bring their full selves into the therapy space, embracing the full spectrum of who they are.

Most recently, therapist Jordan was inspired by Lorde’s writings in “The Erotic as Power” and designed a therapeutic group for Black femmes called “Accessing the Erotic” starting this fall. There are still a few spots left. Click the link in the bio to find out more.