Our Position on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Preamble: Oppression is the unjust allocation and use of power. It is the single greatest cause of human and nonhuman suffering and of some of the most perilous environmental problems our planet has ever known.” (Joy, 2019, p, 9)

Our ethical mandate, to do no harm, requires increasing our attention and education around issues of power and oppression. It is not about checking off a box or a requirement. It is about undoing harmful norms and taking responsibility for our own implicit/unconscious bias in an attempt to create a more relational world. Unquestioned power and privilege is a crisis that requires our full attention. We therefore commit to and affirm the following:
  • Developing our understanding of the nature of power dynamics and building the kind of relationships that move beyond oppression.
  • Listening to our students and the greater community who are receiving our services and adjusting our curriculum according to principles of fairness and equity.
  • Incorporating these values and actions in our personal and professional lives.

We welcome ongoing feedback, and we commit to integrating that feedback into our curriculum development on a yearly basis.

Our Commitment/Agreements to Healthy Group Process:

In order to establish a healthy group process, our faculty affirm and commit to the following statements of intent (principles, conditions, values) to guide our process together throughout the year-long residency. In addition, each consultation cohort group will discuss and adopt their own set of group norms that they will agree to follow during the year-long residency.

Statements of Intent

  1. We listen deeply and with respect.
  2. We speak from our own individual experiences.
  3. We challenge ourselves to continue our personal growth.
  4. We offer grace, generosity, and compassion to ourselves and to others.
  5. We participate fully while encouraging others to do the same.
  6. We take risks to share what we think, even if something is not perfectly formed in our mind.
  7. We encourage questions to be asked in the moment, even when something isn’t clear, rather than remaining silent.


Working Assumptions
  1. There are no quick fixes.
  2. Safety is continually co-created. (It is an environment that develops through a process guided by respect, coupled with an awareness of differing levels of perceived power based on personal history and current context.)
  3. Honest dialogue around painful topics will inevitably result in some disagreement or misunderstanding. (Realistic expectations around healthy group dynamics require a commitment to the very human work of rupture and repair.)
  4.  We are mindful of our own triggers and recognize that we need to take care of ourselves accordingly.
  5. It is important that divergent ideas and disagreements with course content be voiced and shared as soon as possible.
  6. Whenever possible, we will address participant comments within the seminar/webinar experience.
  7. When time constraints prohibit full discussion of important issues, we commit to follow-up outside of the classroom setting.

Get in Touch With Us

For more information about the Advanced Psychotherapy program at Loyola University Chicago, please contact us today.
The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy at Loyola University Chicago
1032 W. Sheridan Rd. | ​Chicago, IL 60660
312.915.7034 | ktippett@luc-iap.com