Committee Chairs
Karen Roller
PhD, MFT, FAAETS, DNCCM, CT, CFT, CSCR |
Christine Gindi
MFT, MDiv, SEP |
Overview
The Embodied Equity & Relational Inclusion Committee supports USABP’s commitment to fostering meaningful inclusion and equitable access across our community and the broader field of somatic practice.
We focus on how awareness of culture, identity, and power is not only understood—but expressed through how we show up, relate, and respond to one another in real time. By strengthening practitioners’ capacity for self-awareness, regulation, and relational attunement, we support more responsive, effective care and more inclusive professional environments.
Our work extends across clinicians, educators, and organizations—supporting the development of work, learning environments, and systems that reflect shared values and enhance both individual and collective wellbeing. This work reflects USABP’s broader commitment to advancing somatic practice as a pathway toward more responsive care and more connected, sustainable ways of being together.
Our Approach
We understand equity and inclusion as lived, embodied, and relational practices that take shape through moment-to-moment interaction.
• Embodied Equity is the capacity to recognize and respond to differences in power, identity, and lived experience through attuned, regulated, and adaptive behavior—not just stated values.
• Relational Inclusion is the ongoing creation of environments where people can participate, express, and belong through responsive, respectful engagement across difference.
Together, these capacities support practitioners and organizations in working skillfully with difference—strengthening connection, reducing harm, and fostering more inclusive and responsive systems of care.
The Embodied Equity & Relational Inclusion Committee supports USABP’s commitment to fostering meaningful inclusion and equitable access across our community and the broader field of somatic practice.
We focus on how awareness of culture, identity, and power is not only understood—but expressed through how we show up, relate, and respond to one another in real time. By strengthening practitioners’ capacity for self-awareness, regulation, and relational attunement, we support more responsive, effective care and more inclusive professional environments.
Our work extends across clinicians, educators, and organizations—supporting the development of work, learning environments, and systems that reflect shared values and enhance both individual and collective wellbeing. This work reflects USABP’s broader commitment to advancing somatic practice as a pathway toward more responsive care and more connected, sustainable ways of being together.
Our Approach
We understand equity and inclusion as lived, embodied, and relational practices that take shape through moment-to-moment interaction.
• Embodied Equity is the capacity to recognize and respond to differences in power, identity, and lived experience through attuned, regulated, and adaptive behavior—not just stated values.
• Relational Inclusion is the ongoing creation of environments where people can participate, express, and belong through responsive, respectful engagement across difference.
Together, these capacities support practitioners and organizations in working skillfully with difference—strengthening connection, reducing harm, and fostering more inclusive and responsive systems of care.
Mission
To advance equity and inclusion as embodied, relational practices within USABP—integrating ongoing self-awareness, regulation, and awareness of power and difference into responsive action across clinical, educational, and organizational contexts.
The committee supports the development of practitioners’ capacity to engage across difference with attunement and adaptability, and to foster inclusive environments where belonging is actively created through real-time relational practice—including the ability to navigate difference, rupture, and repair.
Through education, dialogue, and experiential learning, the committee works to expand equitable access to participation, leadership, and visibility within USABP. It also supports ongoing reflection and growth across the USABP community and the broader field—including training institutes, clinics, and agencies. By offering guidance, feedback, and practical resources, the committee supports members and organizations in aligning their clinical, educational, and organizational work with shared values—strengthening quality of care and fostering more inclusive professional communities.
Core Commitments
1. Integrating Equity into Education & Programming
We support the integration of equity and inclusion principles across USABP’s educational offerings—both in content and facilitation—encouraging diverse perspectives and inclusive learning environments.
2. Building Practitioner Proficiency
We contribute to experiential learning opportunities that strengthen practitioners’ ability to work with difference, power, and belonging with awareness and responsiveness.
3. Expanding Access & Participation
We support efforts to broaden access to membership, education, leadership, and visibility across the USABP community.
4. Supporting Organizational Growth & Alignment
We partner with leadership to encourage reflection and alignment between USABP’s values and its programs, communications, and initiatives.
5. Fostering Dialogue, Repair & Relational Integrity
We support spaces for meaningful dialogue across difference, including the capacity to engage rupture and repair with care and accountability.
To advance equity and inclusion as embodied, relational practices within USABP—integrating ongoing self-awareness, regulation, and awareness of power and difference into responsive action across clinical, educational, and organizational contexts.
The committee supports the development of practitioners’ capacity to engage across difference with attunement and adaptability, and to foster inclusive environments where belonging is actively created through real-time relational practice—including the ability to navigate difference, rupture, and repair.
Through education, dialogue, and experiential learning, the committee works to expand equitable access to participation, leadership, and visibility within USABP. It also supports ongoing reflection and growth across the USABP community and the broader field—including training institutes, clinics, and agencies. By offering guidance, feedback, and practical resources, the committee supports members and organizations in aligning their clinical, educational, and organizational work with shared values—strengthening quality of care and fostering more inclusive professional communities.
Core Commitments
1. Integrating Equity into Education & Programming
We support the integration of equity and inclusion principles across USABP’s educational offerings—both in content and facilitation—encouraging diverse perspectives and inclusive learning environments.
2. Building Practitioner Proficiency
We contribute to experiential learning opportunities that strengthen practitioners’ ability to work with difference, power, and belonging with awareness and responsiveness.
3. Expanding Access & Participation
We support efforts to broaden access to membership, education, leadership, and visibility across the USABP community.
4. Supporting Organizational Growth & Alignment
We partner with leadership to encourage reflection and alignment between USABP’s values and its programs, communications, and initiatives.
5. Fostering Dialogue, Repair & Relational Integrity
We support spaces for meaningful dialogue across difference, including the capacity to engage rupture and repair with care and accountability.