The Origin

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This nonprofit was borne out of the unrest in the summer of 2020.

 

The pandemic was raging, and I had more clients than ever as an EMDR trauma therapist. 

 

Killings of black men and women by police officers were in the headlines and on social media feeds daily. Black Lives Matter protests were forming across the globe. Fear and anxiety permeated much of society. 

 

People of color have such horrific Trauma; historic, systemic, from cradle to grave.

My heart was telling me to reach out as a trauma therapist. My head knew it was unrealistic. Being one of thousands of White EMDR Therapists, I was only one person, and besides, I would be the image of the direct source of the trauma! It was a dilemma.

 

Then it came to me in a meditation: Teach people to fish - and suddenly I knew: Be the change!

 

I could help teach Mindful EMDR Therapy to people of color. I had to find a way to reach therapists of color. I found a coalition through The Loveland Foundation, who have solidarity partnerships with various Black, LGBTQA+ and POC Therapist coalitions.

 

It was through Loveland that I offered free Mindful EMDR therapy training for up to 30 therapists. The response was overwhelming, with almost 500 therapists wanting to learn Mindful EMDR Therapy.

 

There are now 28 new, fully trained Black EMDR trauma therapists all across the country.

 

BIPOC+ Minds Matter has a goal to finish training the 400+ therapists on the waitlist, becoming a vehicle for change to the systemic racism and White Privilege in American Mental Health Care and facilitate healing for BIPOC and more, far and wide.

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Anadel