Dear clients, readers, and social media followers, I want to share a few thoughts as founder of MLC amidst the recent murder of George Floyd, and the open wound of systemic racism we are being called to act upon, more than ever, in this moment.

Here at MLC, it is our job to listen. I want to promise you that, right now, we’re listening. Our ears are open, our eyes are open, our hearts and minds are open. It is our due diligence as therapists to recognize not only the complexities of the diverse cultures we will come into relationship with as therapists, but also the systemic complexities of racism and how this impacts you, us, and our world.

Our focus here is on relationships. Now, more than ever, we need to know how to have safe conversations with each other about the most vulnerable, painful, and shameful parts of ourselves, our history, and our relationships to each other. The promise here- and what I have learned to be true as I have walked with many, many, many brave clients through their journeys of pain and healing- is that we absolutely have the ability to change the legacy in our homes, our family systems, and therefore, our world. I have experienced this in my own family system as well.

To the Black individuals, couples, and interracial couples: we see you. We stand with you and we will hold space for you. We continue to learn and grow in our competency of what you experience and need from us as mental health and relational professionals. We vow to understand, to acknowledge what we don’t know and what we must work on in our own selves, and to grow forward.

To those who are feeling impacted, who may be feeling shame, fear, anger, disgust, sadness, numbness…we see you and hold space for you. You are not alone and we will walk and take action beside you to a greater future for our next generations.

More than ever we want you know that we’re here for you. We realize these issues can have a profound and powerful effect on your lives and relationships. I stand proudly with my colleagues here at MLC as an all inclusive practice that vows to continue learning, growing, and advocating however we can to help couples and families create relationships that foster peace, justice, love, and acceptance for all.

Liz Higgins, LMFT
Founder of MLC