Darling Mental Health believes in a work life balance for its therapists and practice manager and will therefore be “closed” for two periods of time for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday (11/25-28) and End of Year season (12/24-1/1). All voicemails and emails will be returned in hierarchical fashion during these times, urgent matters will be addressed by the Director directly within 48 hours, and all new inquires for services will be addressed on the next advertised business day (i.e. December 1st & January 2nd). This holiday schedule primarily reflects the time for which the Practice Manager and Director are not readily available and/or are working fully remote.

For any person receiving services at Darling Mental Health whose regularly scheduled appointment(s) fall on a holiday, please directly confirm with your provider about whether or not your appointment is affected, as every person at Darling Mental Health is empowered to manage their individual schedule and time off.
Most providers are working on Tuesday 11/25, Wednesday 11/26, Monday 12/29, Tuesday 12/30, etc.

May your holiday season be filled with kindness, patience, love, and connection!

Darling Mental Health will be hosting a networking event for Local Area Professionals of Sexual Health (LAPOSH) on Friday December 5th starting at 4 PM. Come talk with not just therapists, but also sex educators, advocates, and medical providers who are trans-inclusive in their approaches to great client care!

Our office has filled up with therapists, and we now have two office-share positions open, come meet the team, network with other providers and disciplines!

Things to know:
Refreshments in the waiting room
Crafting activity in the group therapy room
Writing pads & envelops will be available in the conference room
Darling Mental Health is still looking to hire a few value aligned therapists

Darling Mental Health focuses on creating safe spaces for all and has created a schedule of free-to-access support group therapy to help with community needs. Feedback, however, has indicated that coming to such group services in person has barriers and challenges and so we are modifying three of our groups to be virtual services for the time being:

PARENTS of Trans Folks will be conducted online/virtually and maintain its schedule of the First Wednesday of the month with the next group being held on November 5th at 6:30 PM – REGISTER HERE

Spaces for Aces will move to virtual and shift to the Third Tuesday of the month with the next group being held on November 18th at 6:30 PM – REGISTER HERE

Men’s Mental Health will move to virtual and maintain its schedule of the Third Thursday of the month with the next group being held on November 20th at 6:30 PM – REGISTER HERE

Additionally, all Continuing Education events will be held in hybrid fashion, where virtual attendance via Zoom is an option for all participants. Please look at upcoming events HERE

If you have any questions about our scheduling of events, how to register, or what protocols/expectations you can have with engaging with us in a group online environment via Zoom please don’t hesitate to reach out to:

Info@darlingmentalhealth.com

Thank you!!

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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