The Chicago Therapy Collective
Mission
Chicago Therapy Collective facilitates personal and social healing, growth and transformation for our collective mental health and wellbeing.
About
Chicago Therapy Collective (CTC) was born from the experiences of queer therapists and their intimate awareness that the struggles of queer folks, especially transgender/gender non-conforming (T/GNC) folks and TQPOC (Trans and Queer People of Color), are a result of systemic, intersecting injustices that need to be addressed outside of therapy and within the community.
Chicago Therapy Collective’s membership is comprised of a network of community organizers, therapists, artists, educators, business leaders and more striving to address these injustices. Expanding the boundaries of therapeutic action, members embrace collective responsibility and direct action in advancing personal, interpersonal, and social change for our mutual healing, growth, and transformation.
The health and well-being of Chicago’s most vulnerable communities requires cross-community ally-ship and coordinated action. The collective strives to be neighborhood focused and partnership oriented to ensure effective and sustainable change. At the neighborhood level, we work to curate highly individualized opportunities for:
(1) neighbors and businesses to deepen their awareness, understanding, and investment in T/GNC people, especially QTPOC, already in their lives;
(2) for allies to center, celebrate, and compensate T/GNC people at the local level; and
(3) for communities, businesses, and individuals to move toward increased engagement and capacity for inclusivity through improved knowledge, empathy, and practical skills–to everyone’s benefit!
About Trans-Inclusive Chicago!
Our priority for 2019 is our hallmark Trans-Inclusive Chicago! Campaign, which challenges and supports Chicago neighborhoods to improve their T/GNC inclusivity and allyship. We believe communities are their strongest when everyone is welcome and at home, starting with the most marginalized. View our campaign overview sheet HERE.
Trans-Inclusive Chicago! Includes five primary initiatives: #HireTransNOW, Get Trained, Trans Art Is, the Trans Experience Survey, and the Pilot Trans-Inclusive Andersonville! Campaign. All initiatives are supported, led, and challenged by a Community Advisory Board to ensure Trans-Inclusive Chicago is a campaign made for and by the T/GNC community members it is intended to celebrate and support.