Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
at Academy of Therapy Wisdom

Academy of Therapy Wisdom offers online courses at the intersection of psychotherapy, spirituality, and social change. Our company launched its first course into the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since our first day in business, our choices have been informed by striving for racial equity, and fueled by the all-too-numerous reminders of how far we have to go.

As a company, we endeavor to elevate the voices of and provide training opportunities to marginalized mental health professionals in the following ways:

1. 1. We deliberately seek out and partner with lead teachers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Our target is a minimum of 35% of our courses led by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ presenters.

1. 1. We seek BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ guest experts to provide course participants a broader perspective, as well as provide them exposure to the mental health community, especially those who are emerging leaders.

1. 1. We offer a variety of anti-bias courses for mental health professionals including courses on gender diversity, anti-racism, and navigating systemic trauma

1. 1. We offer a publicly available, honor-system BIPOC mental health professional discount for all of our full-length courses. (Each year, we have awarded over $100,000 worth of scholarships to students who enroll with this discount.)

Additionally, we take the following measures to align our operations with our values:

1. 1. Our hiring practices are standardized and internally reviewed to minimize bias.

1. 1. We seek to select presenters who have DEI competencies in our contract process.

1. 1. We have chartered and funded an internal DEI committee whose aim is to decolonize company practices, including de-centering privileged identities, regularly educating our workforce on DEI topics, enhancing accessibility for course participants, and reviewing internal and external communications..

1. 1. We seek out vendors who share our values to contract with.

Commitment to Non-discrimination

We affirmatively state that we do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of presenters and vendors, and provision of services.

In addition, we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, students, volunteers, subcontractors, and clients. Our goal is to promote a culture that is characterized by mutual respect and the recognition of the inherent dignity of all individuals.

The Academy of Therapy Wisdom does not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in our internal communications nor in our educational programming, and any such behavior is strictly prohibited. Any person who violates this policy may be subject to review and investigation by the DEI committee and appropriate responsive action, from restorative practices up to and including termination of employment or contract. We understand that promoting equity and inclusivity is a shared responsibility, and we hold the members of the Academy of Therapy Wisdom team to these principles in their interactions with others.

We actively promote equity and inclusivity, and we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for employment and to participate in our programs and activities. We believe that a diverse and inclusive environment enriches us all. We strive to ensure fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all individuals in our community. And we actively cultivate a community where everyone is encouraged to participate fully and authentically.

We cherish diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural background. We recognize that diverse perspectives enhance our ability to foster resilience, creativity, and empathy, which are at the heart of our mission.

This nondiscrimination policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Commitment to Growth

Our DEI commitment is not a static concept; it's a dynamic process that we are constantly working to improve. In this spirit, we are committed to continually increasing the diversity of our staff, presenters, audience, and vendors.

We recognize that achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion requires continuous self-assessment and a willingness to challenge our assumptions. Our DEI committee conducts a periodic self-assessment of the company and produces goals for improvement about once a quarter based on the findings of that self-assessment.

We acknowledge our weaknesses in DEI particularly in the following areas:

• • Our staff and leadership team are predominantly cis, white, and college-educated.

• • Too few of our core staff are of color.

• • We are still figuring out how to hold space during a webinar if there is a micro-aggression

In the spirit of continuous learning that characterizes our field, we pledge to keep listening, growing, and evolving in our understanding and application of DEI principles. If you have any feedback that would help us grow as an organization, please send it to support@therapywisdom.com. We are grateful for your reflections.