Beyond Cultural Competence

Punishment

8 Preventable Pitfalls of Restorative Justice Processes

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on October 10, 2024

What if accountability wasn't framed as a spiteful threat of banishment and ridicule, but instead a pathway back to relationality for people who actually want to change?

What if accountability wasn't framed as a spiteful threat of banishment and ridicule, but instead a pathway back to relationality for people who actually want to change?

Sexual Orientation

10 Myths About the "Gay Agenda"

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on August 29, 2024

Just 7% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ and only .6% as transgender. Yet the disproportionate amount of anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda might convince you otherwise. Here's the truth.

Just 7% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ and only .6% as transgender. Yet the disproportionate amount of anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda might convince you otherwise. Here's the truth.

Law and Crime

The Falsification of Police Murders as Suicides Is Troubling

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on July 29, 2024

The grief that many survivors of suicide loss feel is doubly traumatic when it involves police brutality and police perjury. Here's what suicide awareness advocates need to know.

The grief that many survivors of suicide loss feel is doubly traumatic when it involves police brutality and police perjury. Here's what suicide awareness advocates need to know.

Bullying

How to Check a Bully's Contempt, Mockery, and One-Upmanship

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 3, 2024

The childishness and social competitiveness of bullies might overwhelm you. Yet the power and control tactics they use are predictable, which means you can prepare before engaging.

The childishness and social competitiveness of bullies might overwhelm you. Yet the power and control tactics they use are predictable, which means you can prepare before engaging.

Race and Ethnicity

How Black Men Became Invisible Sexual Harassment Survivors

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on May 2, 2024

Black male survivors are often rendered invisible by dominant cultural frames that associate them with sexual compulsion, deviance, and predation.

Black male survivors are often rendered invisible by dominant cultural frames that associate them with sexual compulsion, deviance, and predation.

Depression

Existential Lessons of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Depression

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on January 17, 2024

Personal Perspective: Mental health advocates must be more honest and intentional about how we invoke Dr. Martin Luther King’s history of depression to combat stigma.

Personal Perspective: Mental health advocates must be more honest and intentional about how we invoke Dr. Martin Luther King’s history of depression to combat stigma.

Workplace Dynamics

5 Ways Toxic Leaders Retaliate via "Proper Channels"

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on November 8, 2023

Learn why the mildest forms of whistleblowing––following the "proper" protocols and chains of command––is sometimes the worst option.

Learn why the mildest forms of whistleblowing––following the "proper" protocols and chains of command––is sometimes the worst option.

Stress

Can the Stress of Biased Policing Cause Physical Disability?

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on August 3, 2023

Internalized structural trauma could cause an acute level of psychosomatic stress.

Internalized structural trauma could cause an acute level of psychosomatic stress.

Emotional Abuse

Male Survivors of Abuse by Women Can Heal Without Misogyny

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on July 5, 2023

Bias can prevent us from comprehending men as victims and women as perpetrators.

Bias can prevent us from comprehending men as victims and women as perpetrators.

Workplace Dynamics

Workplace Bullies Target Self-Directed Coworkers Most

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 28, 2023

Ever felt penalized for forging your own career path, even if you were successful? This could be why.

Ever felt penalized for forging your own career path, even if you were successful? This could be why.

Gender

The Feminist Taboo of Unveiling Maternal Abuse

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on May 14, 2023

Does discussing your mother’s abuse or emotional manipulation make you feel guilty—almost like it’s a cultural taboo?

Does discussing your mother’s abuse or emotional manipulation make you feel guilty—almost like it’s a cultural taboo?

Gender

5 Unconscious Biases to Unlearn about Non-Binary People

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on April 21, 2023

Not sure how to affirm someone in your life who is gender non-conforming? These tips are a good start.

Not sure how to affirm someone in your life who is gender non-conforming? These tips are a good start.

Emotional Abuse

5 Emotionally Abusive Ways People Use the Silent Treatment

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on April 18, 2023

Have you endured the silent treatment and struggled to articulate your distress?

Have you endured the silent treatment and struggled to articulate your distress?

Narcissism

How Narcissists Retaliate via Procedural and Legal Abuse

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on April 2, 2023

5 ways narcissists may weaponize institutional punitive policies and protocols for retaliatory legal and malicious procedural abuse.

5 ways narcissists may weaponize institutional punitive policies and protocols for retaliatory legal and malicious procedural abuse.

Trauma

The Spiritual Abuse and Harm Screener and Its Revelations

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on February 14, 2023

Clinicians and survivors of spiritual abuse can use an assessment survey to understand their experience.

Clinicians and survivors of spiritual abuse can use an assessment survey to understand their experience.

Narcissism

Why Narcissists Make Truthful Reconciliation Impossible

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on January 8, 2023

Unable to put your finger on why seemingly-resolvable conflicts with narcissists feel unresolvable? Understanding their assumptions about forgiveness may help.

Unable to put your finger on why seemingly-resolvable conflicts with narcissists feel unresolvable? Understanding their assumptions about forgiveness may help.

President Donald Trump

Why Extremists and Hate Groups Often Play the Victim

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on January 5, 2023

A sense of collective victimhood characterizes many members of extremist groups, especially those who endorse far-right ideologies.

A sense of collective victimhood characterizes many members of extremist groups, especially those who endorse far-right ideologies.

Narcissism

How Healthy Self-Esteem and Clinical Narcissism Differ

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 20, 2022

Learning the features of narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic abuse can prevent conflating high self-esteem with clinical narcissism, which is linked to sociopathy.

Learning the features of narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic abuse can prevent conflating high self-esteem with clinical narcissism, which is linked to sociopathy.

Spirituality

How Healthy Spirituality and Religious Fundamentalism Differ

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 12, 2022

Political psychologists classify religious fundamentalism as a political religion. Why don't we talk about it as such?

Political psychologists classify religious fundamentalism as a political religion. Why don't we talk about it as such?

Parenting

Parenting LGBTQ+ Kids Can Accelerate Adult Development

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on August 27, 2021

Raising LGBTQ+ kids can require more maturity and lead parents to deeper personal growth.

Raising LGBTQ+ kids can require more maturity and lead parents to deeper personal growth.