Recently, the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) have caught the attention of international news for performing ceremonial hakas in Parliament. To no surprise, many news outlets have focused on the spectacle of these ‘intimidating’ hakas and not the reason why they were necessary. New Zealand’s current conservative government has already cut funding to programs intended for Māori benefit– including health, emergency housing, and literacy services– and is now intending to ‘reinterpret’ the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi; a founding treaty between the Māori and New Zealand government, which will lead to further racial divisions and unraveling of necessary protections for Māori people. Intent to redefine this treaty, as well as Parliament’s response to the hakas (Māori representatives being suspended from Parliament), are a microcosm of continued settler-colonialism and anti-Indigenous rhetoric, legislation, and violence that continues to happen globally.

The Māori people are fighting to protect their sovereignty enshrined in the 1840 treaty, maintain their borders and custody of their lands, and rights to practice their culture and expression without limitation or sanction from a Western view of disgust. Judgment of non-European Colonial cultural expression is a common form of suppression and is readily accepted by many when under the guise of “professionalism” or “decorum” which works to utilize bureaucracy and protocol to legally entrap and limit free expression, thought, and discourse on nuanced topics. For this reason, we support the use of the Haka as a means of pre-emptive disruption and non-violent protest to a government’s attempt to disenfranchise a people.

At a time when the United States executive leadership has dismissed the value of recognizing Indigenous People on this day and has reverted to honoring the genocidal legacy of Christopher Colombus (who was stripped of his titles and governorship for his crimes in 1500 by the Spanish government) we choose to echo calls to action from the voices of Indigenous leaders to uphold treaties, return land, close health gaps, address the high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous woman (MMIW), and all other efforts to center the voices of the oppressed in giving direction for a future that is prosperous for all, not just those who are aligned with colonization.  

Darling Mental Health, specifically, is located on Massachusett land and support the following area specific organizations and projects:

• Native American Indian Center of Boston
• United American Indians of New England
• Sassafrass Earth Education 
• Wopanaak Language Reclamation Project 
• Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness
• No Loose Braids  

Today (and every day) we:

• Honor the history, resilience, knowledge, and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples who teach us how to lead with care and reciprocity. 
• Envision a world where all Indigenous peoples are safe and free to live on their land in the form of their cultural/religious choosing including peoples under specific oppression in: Aotearoa / New Zealand, Sudan, Palestine, & Tibet
  • Additionally, we recognize Indigenous cultural oppression continues systemically in the general territories of: North & South America, Polynesia / Oceania, Australia, Asia, & Africa
• Acknowledge that decolonization is an ongoing process that requires action and commitment to listening to the voices of Indigenous knowledge producers.

Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This
Rebecca Minor, LICSW

Review written by Taylor Harmon, MA, CSE

In a time of alarming and rising anti-transgender legislation, rhetoric, and violence, Rebecca Minor’s book is a thoughtful and comprehensive introduction to challenging cisnormativity, and understanding and supporting folks who identify on the gender diverse spectrum. While this book is marketed towards parents of trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer kids, it is a valuable resource for any person wishing to expand their understanding of trans issues, as well as challenging their assumptions, biases, and misconceptions.

Minor takes care to separate her chapters into common-held arguments and talking points against trans identities and communities- Aren’t they too young to know? Is trans identity anti-feminist? What if they’re wrong and they change their mind?- and addresses each of these topics using evidence from the scientific world, the natural world, and testimonies from trans folks and their loved ones. This structure allows readers to navigate addressing specific questions or concerns with ease, and are provided a recap of each chapter at its conclusion for increased accessibility and comprehension.

The book also includes self-assessments and thought exercises for cisgender readers to participate in; emphasizing the importance of cisgender people exploring their relationship to gender as well. One of my personal favorites, The Gender Identity Challenge, emphasizes the importance of cisgender people exploring their relationship to gender by challenging folks to explain their gender and how they know they are that gender without referencing body parts or using gendered terms/language. This exercise in introspection reveals the ways in which external forces largely contribute to our gender identity, whether you are transgender or cisgender, and the ways it impacts us on a deeply personal level.

Perhaps what is most refreshing about Minor’s book is the judgement free approach to the work she prompts her readers to do. In a world where conversations between those with differing viewpoints tends to create further divide– especially when it comes to the transgender and genderqueer community– Minor acknowledges the discomfort that may arise and provides practical tools for facilitating difficult conversations while also affirming that simply picking up her book is an indication that a reader wants to understand another perspective and is open to doing the work that it takes. Whether you are a parent or loved one of a trans person, hoping to find answers to questions you have been afraid to ask, or simply brush up on up-to-date terminology and research, this book offers something for everyone.

Today marks the Autumnal Equinox for which the Northern Hemisphere astronomically shifts from the Summer days with more sunlight than darkness to the Winter season where darkness dominates the clock: Fall has come!

Typically, we like to advocate for taking each Equinox as a celestial reminder to find balance and work to reflect on the solar shift that may or may not affect your personal mood and help prepare our minds for the upcoming season. As we march into the holiday season this year we are however finding ourselves overwhelmed with political rhetoric and propaganda that has become harder and harder to decisively address as any impulse to take a stand on any topic feels that it comes with not only social risk but federal danger. How does one find a balance?

It is the opinion of the owner of Darling Mental Health, that therapy is a political act in and of itself, and that if we are to shy away from providing language of how we ethically address and perceive political topics we are denying our clients and community a voice of compassion that is sorely needed. To that end the owner has drafted a new page on politics with essays of what this practice’s ethical standards and lenses are on topics that are sensitive and becoming increasingly controversial. We want all clients who seek us out to know that we are a place for all, and while we prioritize the voice of the vulnerable and marginalized, we respect discourse and diversity of thought with certain limits to things like hate speech and exploitation.

Political Speech & Ideals

If you review our political speech page and position statements with any questions or desire to see more information, more thoughts, or resources/information that informs our opinions we will take in all feedback and consider making edits to this page as a further demonstration of our desire to help cultivate discourse and mutual understanding of how everyone in and out of the therapy realm can help cultivate a safe and inclusive space for all that ethically respects diversity in thoughts and beliefs.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Darling, Owner
Jeremy@darlingmentalhealth.com

What screams Fall like a book club? Our next book club meeting will be held on Friday, September 26 at 4:30pm at 255 Park Ave.

If you were unable to make it to our first meeting, you are still welcome to join us! Come prepared to discuss Chapters 2 & 3. Feel free to bring snacks and refreshments for yourself or others, we always have a selection of tea in our waiting room!

Any questions may be directed to info@darlingmentalhealth.com. We hope to see you there!

Worcester’s Pride celebration, complete with a march and festival, was shortened due to sudden weather. Luckily, with quick communication and collective agreement to the shifting winds we saw nearly 200 vendors break down and clear out in time that only a dozen or so were still out as the rains began and the tornado warning proved to be a legitimate concern to get off the streets from the hours of 4 to 6 PM on Saturday. As a result, we fear that some people who wanted to connect with us did not get the opportunity.

We would therefore like to provide some basic updates about what Darling Mental Health is offering at this time!

For clients seeking outpatient mental health services: we are still taking new clients, are continuing to onboard new therapists with our newest one taking on a full caseload in October, and are happy to coordinate any inquires for services via our main phoneline: (508)356-4084

We are also providing free support groups on a monthly schedule with a slight modification to our next PARENTS (of trans people) support group being held this upcoming Wednesday 9/10 at 6:30 PM instead of the normally scheduled first Wednesday of the month. Our other topics include ENM/Polyamory support, Spaces for Aces, and Men’s Mental Health. Please check out our Support Group page for general information and links to register for the next group you (or your clients) may wish to attend!

For therapists and those seeking space for continuing education about sexual health, advocacy, and therapy we have released our Fall Curriculum and encourage you to take a look at our Continuing Education page with highlighted events towards the end of September with a morning and afternoon session on Saturday 9/27:

Reproducing Knowledge: Protecting reproductive rights and sex education in times of political uncertainty
&
Safety in Solidarity: Practical tools for supporting sex workers

Additionally, the Director will be providing his hallmark course that is a 5.5 hour comprehensive presentation to equip therapists with guidance and information to be ethical spaces for gender-affirming therapy on Saturday 10/18 entitled:
The Gender Affirming Therapist: Ethics, discernment, medical interventions, & managing expectations

For anyone who didn’t get a chance to see us at Pride please take a gander at some of the team as we got ready for the Pride Worcester march:

Remember at Darling Mental Health we are SERVING:
Holistic Healing
Gender Affirmation
Sexual Liberation
& Tea!

Darling Mental Health hopes that everyone has been able to take advantage of the Summer season and beach weather that is restorative for so many. As we close out on the month of August the Autumn festival season begins here in New England with some events happening this upcoming weekend. We came across a list of these festivals and wish to share them with everyone and encourage you to take whatever time you can to celebrate this time of cultivation, community engagement, and fellowship with warm beverages and treats!

Massachusetts Festival List
(separated by week)

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8/29-9/1 – Spencer Fair

8/29-9/1 – Three County Fair in Northhampton

8/30 – Craft Food & Beer Fest in Stow Center

8/30-9/1 – Johnny Appleseed Fair at the Red Apple Farm in Phillipston

8/31 – Charlton Old Home Day

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9/2-9/7 – Brimfield Antique Week / Brimfield Flea Market

9/4-9/7 – Franklin County Fair in Greenfield

9/5-9/7 – Sterling Fair

9/6 – Worcester Pride Festival at the Worcester Commons

9/6-9/7 – Harvest Craft Fair at the Brookfield Orchards

9/7 – Family Literacy Festival at the Worcester Commons

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9/12-9/13 – Holy Trinity Greek Festival in Fitchburg

9/13 – Saugus Founders Day

9/13-9/14 – Wachusett BBQ Fest in Princeton

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9/20 – What the Fluff? Festival in Somerville

9/20 – Johnny Appleseed Arts & Culture Festival in Leominster

9/20 – Southbridge Autumn Fest

9/20 – Leicester Harvest Festival

9/20 – Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary Fall Festival in Charlton

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9/27 – Lenox Apple Squeeze

9/27 – Franklin Harvest Festival

9/27-9/28 – North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival in Orange

9/27-9/28 – Wachusett Oktoberfest in Princeton

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10/3-10/4 – Harpoon Octoberfest in Boston

10/3-10/13 – Topsfield Fair

10/4 – Douglas Oktoberfest

10/4 – Dudley Grange Annual Apple Festival

10/4 – Maynard Fest

10/5 – North Adams Fall Foliage Parade

10/5 – Pet Rock Fest in Hudson

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10/11-10/12 – Berkshire Botanical Gardens Harvest Festival in Stockbridge

10/12 – Apple County Fair in Brookfield

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10/18-10/19 – Wachusett Apple Fest Weekend! in Princeton

10/18 – Westfield Pumpkin Fest

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10/25-10/26 – Wachusett Apple Fest Weekend!! in Princeton

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Darling Mental Health hopes that all of our subscribers, supporters, clients, and community colleagues are having an enjoyable Summer, have been able to take some time for self, and are gearing towards an exciting Pride Season here in Worcester. Pride Worcester will be facilitating a community march, festival, and celebration on Saturday September 6th and we look forward to seeing you all at the event this year with our new and expanded group of therapists that are now part of the Darling Mental Health practice!

Meanwhile, we have some reminders of events happening in August, if any of are interest to you please follow the links or reach out directly with any questions!

Later this week, on Friday 8/8, we will be hosting our first in-person CEU event for therapists and related professionals entitled “Supporting Worcester’s Queer Community” which will include resources and frameworks every therapist should know about working with queer folks as well as an interactive discussion about what Worcester’s status as a trans “Sanctuary City” actually means and what the impact/feedback has been from the community. We still have a few spots open!
For more details and to register please click here.

Then, on Saturday 8/16, we are hosting a full day in-person CEU event entitled “Ethical and Kinky Sex Therapy” which will provide overviews for therapists new to sex therapy as well as an in-depth discussion about how to ethically address issues revolving around CNC and kinks that shame often suppresses. Equipping therapists with language and preparing them to be able to compassionately meet any person regarding their specific sexual health needs is a passion of ours and we want all therapists to feel able to have those discussions, even if the discussion is a boundary of what you do and don’t have space to hold for the client.
For more details and to register for that event please click here.

On Friday 8/22, we will be hosting our first book club meeting, reviewing the introduction, Chapters 1, & 2 of “Decolonizing Therapy” by Jennifer Mullan. This free and open service to therapists and advocates of ethical therapy and anti-racism will be about how we center the language and experience of the client and their heritage over that of colonized structures of oppression. It will be a great opportunity for providers to find like-minded folks, and those who are new to decolonizing their practice, to find support in how we work to ethically speak truth to power in de-stigmatizing non-white identities, cultures, and needs in order to authentically center the voice and needs of the most vulnerable and oppressed.

Our support groups are now operating on a regular bi-weekly schedule for which you can self-register for a group at least one day in advance by clicking here. Support groups are free to attend, but we do appreciate a $20 donation if you are not a regular client of DMH to support this service financially by emailing our manager after attendance.
All support groups start at 6:30 PM:
P.A.R.E.N.T.S. – for parents of trans kids and adults seeking support, education, connection, and guidance on adjustments to having a gender diverse / transitioning child – Wednesdays
ENM/Poly Support – for those in the ethical non-monogamy and polyamory community who are seeking space to connect with others and discuss matters related to communication, trust, relational structure, and other elements that look different than when living a monogamous lifestyle – Thursdays
Men’s Mental Health – support for men (trans-inclusive) to connect and discuss matters related to living life and coping with different messages of what it means to be a man in our modern world (monthly) – Thursdays

To stay up to date and apprised of the resources, languages, and focuses of Darling Mental Health, as well as to watch out for new therapist announcements please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you all at Pride Worcester‘s festivities on Saturday September 6th starting at 2 PM!

Yesterday marked a small victory for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex folks in the United States. As of this moment, a passport with a sex designation that aligns with one’s gender identity or with an “X” sex designation must be made available to anyone applying to:

– Obtain a new passport

– Change the sex designation or update their name on their current passport

– Replace a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, or

– Renew their passport within one year of its expiration.

This includes folks who were previously sent a passport with a sex designation that lists their sex assigned at birth under the Trump administration’s policy. 

After Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office back in January of 2025, which required trans and nonbinary people to put their assigned sex at birth on their passport, and within 48 hours the State Department paused the processing of some passport applications submitted by transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people and returned others with a newly-issued passport marked with their sex assigned at birth. 

According to the ACLU, in February 2025, Orr v. Trump was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and Covington and Burling LLP, on behalf of seven people who have not been able to obtain passports that match who they are because of the State Department’s new Passport Policy or are likely to be impacted by the new policy upon their next renewal. The complaint was filed in the federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts, with a federal judge ruling yesterday to temporarily block the executive order. 

Jesse Rossman, Legal Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said:

“This decision acknowledges the immediate and profound negative impact that the Trump administration’s passport policy has on the ability of people across the country to travel for work, school, and family. The Trump administration’s passport policy attacks the foundations of the right to privacy and the freedom for all people to live their lives safely and with dignity. We will continue to fight to stop this unlawful policy once and for all.”

ACLU Article

As June unfolds and the world recognizes space for queer folks to be prideful of our existence we come to a moment in the U.S. that is fraught with tension and anxiety. Protesting is again linked with the celebration of gay Pride as our very existence as queer people is becoming endangered if we stand in solidarity with all queer folks, trans and non-binary alike. Darling Mental Health chooses to take a stand and support the efforts of queer liberation, the use of peer-reviewed research and scientific understanding of gender and sexuality, and working to decolonize our lensing for authentic mental wellness, health, and healing.

This weekend also marks the celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, an organization that specifically was ratified to fight against the tyranny and oppression that the King of England perpetuated during Colonial times. We now find ourselves watching that celebration with a President who has fashioned himself as a King at different times throughout his public speaking and for this reason over a thousand protests are being organized for “No Kings” in the US and of special significance, the city known for rallying the call for revolution by spilling tea is holding its gay pride on the same day.

Tomorrow, Boston’s Pride for the People will be a joint gay pride celebration and No Kings protest, further cementing Boston and Massachusetts history as a paradigm for seeking justice, freedom, and liberation through revolution and rejection of tyrannical oppression. We hope that the weekend shows a country united against a rising tide of racist ideology and bigotry demanding compliance to a worldview that is limited by natalist propaganda and white supremacist belief in manifest destiny over reciprocal integration of Indigenous and diverse people throughout our land.

May you and your loved ones have a safe, happy, and festive Pride month!