DEI consultation and trainings
These days the business market demands that companies, both big and small, offer services that consider and incorporate DEI and social justice into their business model. Working to improve diversity and accessibility has the benefit of making staff, customers/clients, and colleagues feel more included, safe, and valued. But that is easier said than done, even for well meaning business owners.
It can be hard to know how to adapt your business to be inclusive to a range of clients/customers: including people who are transgender and/or nonbinary, LGBTQIA+, disabled, BIPOC, neurodivergent (ADHD/Autism), larger-bodied/plus-size, polyamorous/ENM, or those with other marginalized identities.
Staff trainings and tailored workshops on DEI topics are not the only ways to improve accessibility and inclusivity of marginalized clients/customers. Additionally, I offer the review, evaluation and feedback on hiring practices, intake/registration or other paperwork, and company structure. I can help your business improve within any or all of those domains, and work with you to create custom trainings and provide you personal feedback.
Not only will I provide compassionate and practical guidance on ways to improve your current systems and structure, but can provide trainings so you and/or your staff learn and understand why these changes would be meaningful.
I know how much you want those with marginalized identities to feel welcome at your business, and want to help you improve your customer and/or employee experience. I work with small businesses, large corporations, dental, medical, or therapy practices, physical or occupational therapists, counseling centers, and more. Explore my options down below and contact me to get started!
services offered:
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This includes providing detailed review of paperwork and procedures to assess where your business currently stands around DEI and social justice. As part of the review I can review and provide recommendations regarding intake processes, hiring process, evaluations, website, and social media presence, etc. The goal is to provide compassionate yet meaningful feedback on ways your business can increase sensitivity and inclusivity of customers/clients or staff with marginalized identities.
Depending on your business location I can offer in person observation ("a fly on the wall") to better understand the current client/customer or employee experience. The feedback from my observation would be incorporated into your overall feedback,
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Based on my PhD training and research, I have extensive knowledge and experience on survey creation and data collection. How does this fit into paperwork review you may ask? Every intake form, questionnaire, or registration form is a way to gather data from the customer/client. When we gather data there are different ways we can structure questions that will shape the kind of information we get.
Paperwork is one place that businesses can demonstrate either an interest in, or a lack thereof, being inclusive to marginalized clients/customers. Therefore, I have found that reviewing business paperwork such as intake forms, questionnaires, assessments, or evaluations, can provide opportunities for valuable feedback on ways to improve. Depending on your current paperwork this may involve smaller changes and tweaks, or recommendations for a full overhaul.
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Frequently as part of organizational consultation I will recommend specific trainings or workshops that may best support areas of improvement for your business. Trainings offer a personalized and human-centered approach to discussing diversity, accessibility, inclusion and cultural differences.
I often run trainings for organizations about being more inclusive to their : LGBTQIA+, transgender or nonbinary, larger-bodied, neurodiverse (esp. ADHD and Autism) and/or disabled clients/customers or staff.
Trainings and presentations can be tailored based on the goals and needs of your organization, whether to a small group, department heads, senior leadership, all staff, or HR.
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Making change is a process that takes time. I have found it helpful to offer follow-up consultations so we can assess how things have been going, answer questions, or determine if any additional trainings or review are required. These follow up consultations often occur on a quarterly basis but can be adjusted based on your needs.
sample content for presentations, trainings, and speaking engagements:
LGBTQIA+
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Plurisexuality is an umbrella term referring to sexual orientations involving interest in two or more genders. This commonly includes bisexual, pansexual, queer (sometimes), and others. Learn about the unique stigma and challenges facing plursiexual people and how to support them.
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There exists a long history of LGBTQIA+ folks in the military and the variable support they've received . Learn about the history of LGBTQ+ military policy, cultural considerations when working with LGBTQ+ veterans, and ways to provide affirming services.
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Depending on your field, learn how what common challenges face TGNC folks, cultural considerations, and ways to be more affirming. These talks focus specifically on experiences of folks who are gender diverse and takes an intersectional approach.
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While body image can be a struggle facing anyone, there are high rates of body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders in TGNC populations. Learn ways this can present and how to assess and monitor body image. Includes discussion of the role of fatphobia and weight stigma on transgender and/or nonbinary people.
Neurodivergence
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An introduction to neurodivergence, including ADHD, Autism, and more. Learn what neurodivergent means, what disorders it encompasses, and how it may present in your setting.
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Depending on your line of work, we can focus on specific ways to be inclusive, accommodate, and support neurodivergent staff, customers, and/or clients. Expect practice guidance and tailored recommendations to be affirming.
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There are a range of diagnoses that impact executive functioning and can present in a range of ways. Learn what executive functioning is and how to be inclusive and accommodating to those with EF challenges. This can also be tailored to those who have EF difficulties themselves.
Disability
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When people hear the word disabled they often have a narrow image come to mind. In reality, disability is complex and nuanced and often focuses on limited "presentations". Learn more about what disability means, different definitions of disability, and how to center the voices of disabled people.
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While the Americans with Disabilities act was signed into law in 1990, it represented only the beginning of disability inclusion and access. Let's discuss ways your business or organization can be accommodating and affirming to disabled staff, customers, and/or clients.
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Ableism often has massive negative impacts on the wellbeing of disabled people. Learn about the research on disability and mental health and how to provide more supportive and inclusive services.
Fat Phobia
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Clients in fat or larger bodies face significant differences in the quality and support of services provided. Learn about the common experiences of fat people and how to be a friendly and safe space for them to turn to for support.
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In an era of body positivity, it's important to understand the social and societal stigmas underlying its necessity. We will talk about what weight stigma, sizeism, fatphobia, and diet culture are and the impact they have.
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Gender affirming medical care is often a part of treatment for many transgender and/or nonbinary [TGNC] people. However, there are significant barriers to accessing gender affirming care. BMI limits often preclude TGNC people from surgeries and procedures, while fatphobia can also impact body satisfaction and rates of eating disorders in TGNC populations.
General
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When beginning the conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is important to focus on why it matters. This can include focus on what the impact of marginalization, stigma, and inaccessibility on mental health and wellbeing.
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This sample presentation has more of a self-reflective focus: to explore, consider, and reflect on our own identities and where we hold privilege and where we experience marginalization. Discussions also include conscious and unconscious biases.
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Depending on your field, you may have an intake as a required process. Intake paperwork can feel tedious and at times like a formality, but intakes offer the chance to gather invaluable information. Learn how to use intakes to build rapport, demonstrate inclusion, and better understand the client/customer/etc. experience.
a selection of past speaking engagements
Gill, D.M. (2024, September). Weight stigma and fatphobia: The role of the mental health care team. Presented to psychology staff at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City.
Gill, D. M. (2023, June). Rainbow veterans: Cultural considerations with LGBTQ+ veteran clients. Presented to the psychology staff at the Boston VA Hospital, Massachusettes.
Gill, D. M. (2021, August). SGM in the USM: Cultural and cultural considerations with LGBTQ+ veterans of the United States Military. Presented to the psychology staff at the San Francisco VA Hospital, California.
Gill, D. M. (2021, April). Fat is not a bad word: Dismantling fatphobia and becoming a fat-friendly clinician. Presented to the Counseling and Psychological Services [CAPS] at Mills College, Oakland, California.
Gill, D. M. (2020, August). Rainbow veterans: Cultural considerations with LGBTQ+ veteran clients. Presented to the Evidence-Based Psychotherapy program at the San Francisco VA Hospital, California.
Gill, D. M. (2020, January). Plurisexuality: Identity, stressors, and resilience. Presented to the LGBTQ+ Psychology Course at Notre Dame de Namur University, California.
Gill, D. M. (2019, August). Cultural considerations with LGBTQ+ clients in case management. Workshop presented to LifeMoves case managers, California.
Gill, D. M., & Dorsey, J. (2019, May). Cultural considerations with LGBTQ+ clients in therapy. Presented to the Behavioral Health Services department at LifeMoves, California.
If you are in crisis, please call 1-800-273-8255 [National Suicide Prevention Lifeline] or 1-877-565-8860 [Trans Lifeline]
or can text “OSTEM” to 1-3-3-662-8209 [LGBTQ+ Crisis Text Line] or “HELLO” to 741741 [Crisis Text Line].