About Us
About Us
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This book started with an idea between three friends in the fall of 2019.
At the time, we were all working as clinical psychologists for communities with limited access to appropriate mental health care. Although we worked in very different settings, we noticed a common theme: Many of our clients and colleagues (and frankly, friends and family members) were uncomfortable talking about things like systemic oppression, power dynamics, and implicit bias, which are often underlying causes of strife. Time and time again, we heard concerns like “I might make them feel worse if I ask about their loss," or “If I say the wrong thing, they will think I’m racist,” and even “I don’t know how they will respond. What if they get mad or yell at me?”
So, we decided to practice getting uncomfortable by putting together a workshop about communication, interpersonal relationships, and multiculturalism. We invited workshop participants to lean in to challenging conversations of every ilk using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a guiding framework. What we found was that all of our participants felt the impact of increased divisiveness and communication difficulties when navigating tough conversations. Many participants shared that it was liberating simply to hear that others struggled with the same fear of saying the wrong thing! Participants echoed our own sentiments that using the ACT model helped them balance vulnerability, purpose, and skill-building.
Since then, we’ve continued to incorporate the principles of ACT into additional workshops, our clinical practices, and our personal lives. We’ve watched our colleagues, clients, and selves grow personally and professionally by showing up more authentically and fostering deeper connections within our relationships. We decided to write this book to provide you with the same opportunity—to offer a chance to build the skills needed to work through discomfort and navigate difficult conversations with greater flexibility and ease.
Meet the Editors
Meet the Editors
MOLLY TUCKER, PhD (she/her), is a clinical psychologist residing in Tucson, Arizona, and licensed in the state of California, where she sees clients virtually. She works in private practice and specializes in serving adult individuals who are seeking clarity about their purpose, innate creativity, life balance, and boundaries.
MONICA GERBER, PhD (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Asian Pacific Clinic of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery in Colorado. She specializes in providing culturally and trauma-informed care to individuals and families with refugee and immigrant experiences.
DANIELLE MOYER, PhD (she/her), is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Oregon Health & Science University within the divisions of psychology and endocrinology. Her work involves clinical service, individual and systemic advocacy, training and education, consultation to medical and mental health providers, and clinical research.
Meet our Collaborators
Meet our Collaborators
STEPHANIE CALDAS, PhD (she/her), is a clinical psychologist and faculty member in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone, and serves as a consultation/liaison psychologist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellvue. In addition to direct clinical work with patients and families, she supervises psychiatry and psychology trainees, teaches undergraduates, and is involved in other programmatic and research projects that aim to improve health equity.
ANNETTE, PhD (she/they), is a clinical psychologist at the Portland Anxiety Clinic in Portland, Oregon. As a sensitive, queer, disabled, Mexican American, first-generation college graduate, Dr. Cantu is dedicated to fostering connection and healing through her work and play. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys gardening, reading, frolicking, and building community with others.
ANNETTE, PhD (she/they), is a clinical psychologist at the Portland Anxiety Clinic in Portland, Oregon. As a sensitive, queer, disabled, Mexican American, first-generation college graduate, Dr. Cantu is dedicated to fostering connection and healing through her work and play. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys gardening, reading, frolicking, and building community with others.
JESS GUERRIERO, MSW, MA (they/them), is a pediatric social worker at a pediatric gender clinic in a large academic medical center. As a queer, nonbinary social worker, they seek to find new ways to inhabit space as a partner in care for youth and their families and break down historical models of mental health gatekeeping. Jess also serves as an adjunct professor, consultant, and field advisor to a wide variety of behavioral and public health learners.
JESS GUERRIERO, MSW, MA (they/them), is a pediatric social worker at a pediatric gender clinic in a large academic medical center. As a queer, nonbinary social worker, they seek to find new ways to inhabit space as a partner in care for youth and their families and break down historical models of mental health gatekeeping. Jess also serves as an adjunct professor, consultant, and field advisor to a wide variety of behavioral and public health learners.
DOMINIQUE WHITE, PhD, LP (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her doctorate degree from Purdue University. She owns Elevate Psychology and Wellness, a private practice in California specializing in mood disorders, trauma-focused care, and psychotic disorders. As a woman of color, Dominique strives to use her expertise in cognitive behavioral therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy, and trauma-informed care
DOMINIQUE WHITE, PhD, LP (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her doctorate degree from Purdue University. She owns Elevate Psychology and Wellness, a private practice in California specializing in mood disorders, trauma-focused care, and psychotic disorders. As a woman of color, Dominique strives to use her expertise in cognitive behavioral therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy, and trauma-informed care
NANCY LEE, MA, LPC, NCC, DipCFT (she/her), is a licensed psychotherapist, counselor educator, and mental health advocate. She works in private practice and higher education. Her research focuses on the role of compassion and cultural humility in counseling and teaching.
NANCY LEE, MA, LPC, NCC, DipCFT (she/her), is a licensed psychotherapist, counselor educator, and mental health advocate. She works in private practice and higher education. Her research focuses on the role of compassion and cultural humility in counseling and teaching.
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Mahmood
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