Learning and Reconciliation Committee Process

Learning and Reconciliation Principles

In support of SFCP’s organizational aspiration to foster a vital, inclusive, and diverse community, a culture of self-reflection, and a shared sense of belonging, we are proposing a process for reflecting on and learning from the impacts of individual and collective unconscious racism and repairing the harms done by racial enactments. We recognize that each of us can and does do harm in these ways and that we all struggle to manage the intense emotions these missteps bring up. Developing the capacity to tolerate these feelings and make reparation is ongoing work which helps us to more frequently prevent these lapses in awareness and reduce their harmful impacts. We believe the work of recognizing and challenging our internalized white supremacy and racism is consistent with psychoanalytic values of curiosity, relational care, and responsibility for one’s own emotions and behaviors. As we undertake movement towards diversity and inclusion, we acknowledge the painful impact of our unconscious dynamics, our difficulty understanding these on our own, and the ubiquity of racial enactments.

The outlined process for Learning and Reconciliation (L&R) is entirely voluntary and designed to take into account the situational specificity of the racial enactment as it occurred and be a dynamic and responsive structure to address racial injury¹ in a non-adjudicatory, non-punitive, and non-judgmental way. If any participant does not wish to take advantage of this voluntary process, they remain free to use other processes within SFCP’s structure (e.g. program Deans, Ethics & Impairment Committee, Ombudsperson, etc). This Learning and Reconciliation process is designed to support our learning as individuals, as a community, and as an organization. This process aims to help us move from an unconstructive ‘shame and blame’ model of addressing racial injuries, into a dialogic process that centers insight, relational repair, and community and organizational change.

Our hope is that this process will help us–as individuals, as a community, and as an organization–to develop the capacity to skillfully repair when we inadvertently harm each other due to racism, white supremacy, and other internalized biases. In undertaking this important work we can promote the kind of lively, collegial community we seek to be—a diverse, inclusive, and equitable Center for forward-thinking psychoanalysis.

¹Racial Injury: Racial injury refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and White Supremacy, as experienced by a person with a racially-targeted identity.

The Learning and Reconciliation (L&R) Process

If you’ve experienced or witnessed an interaction that may have involved a racial enactment—something said or done that reflected or reproduced racial dynamics in a problematic or painful way—the L&R Committee is here to offer support. This process is open to anyone who may have been affected by, contributed to, or is unsure about their role in a racial enactment. Whether you’re feeling hurt, confused, responsible, or simply want to better understand what happened, we’re available to talk with you, help you reflect, and, if appropriate, support a process of learning, dialogue, and repair.

The goal of the L&R process is to attend to the relational impacts of racial enactments, including those shaped by racism and the legacy of White supremacy, in a way that fosters mutual understanding, accountability, and healing within our community.

What happens if I reach out to the Committee, and how do I do that?
You can contact the L&R Co-Chairs, Ari Bachrach and/or Cindy May, to request a confidential conversation. In that conversation, we’ll listen to your experience, help clarify your concerns, and work together to determine next steps. If it feels helpful, you may choose to participate in a voluntary, structured process of dialogue with others involved.

If you choose to proceed, a small subcommittee (four L&R members, selected with clinical conflicts in mind) will reach out to others involved to hear their perspectives and explore their openness to a dialogue process. If everyone is willing to participate, we will facilitate one or more conversations to support reflection, accountability, and relationship repair. We approach this work with care, humility, and a commitment to collaboration and transparency.

Who else might be involved?
Because racial enactments often reflect broader systemic dynamics, the process may surface opportunities for institutional learning and change. If that’s the case, SFCP leaders may be invited into the process, and the L&R Committee may make recommendations for structural accountability or remediation. While protecting the privacy of those directly involved, we also hope that lessons from these processes can benefit the wider community.

What about clinical conflicts?
If either of the Co-Chairs is not a good fit due to clinical conflicts, we’ll ensure you’re connected with another appropriate member of the L&R Committee. We take clinical boundaries seriously and will uphold them throughout the process.

Learning and Reconciliation Committee: Alexander Acosta, Ari Bachrach (co-chair), Cindy May (co-chair), Clara Kwun, Jennie Merovick, John DiMartini, June Lin-Arlow, Mayumi Pierce, and David Luna (consultant)

Contact: Ari Bachrach (ari.bachrach@gmail.com) or Cindy May (cindymaypsyd@gmail.com)