My approach
community organizing + leadership development + psychodynamic insight in service of building collective power
I bring together two worlds that are often kept separate: community organizing and psychodynamic practice. Leadership development is at the core of both.
In organizing, this means supporting a person to gain the skills, analysis, self-knowledge, confidence, and emotional intelligence to build power with others and act on their values and interests. In psychodynamic therapy, the focus is on helping people find meaning, deepen their relationships, and develop greater insight about themselves.
Organizing teaches how to build power; psychodynamic practice helps explain what helps or hinders people in doing that together. Together, these approaches help us understand the internal and relational dynamics that shape how we lead, make decisions, navigate conflict, and build relationships in public life—and, ultimately, how effectively we build power.
I bring experience, tools, and insights from my training in both fields to support people in becoming more effective leaders, building stronger organizations, and making political change.
1. This work is practical
I help people think through:
leadership and management challenges
decision-making and strategy
organizational effectiveness
conflict and team dynamics
how to scale organizing infrastructure
rooting political action in values and self-interest
2. This work goes deeper
I also pay attention to:
unconscious dynamics
avoidance
burnout
relational patterns
how our experiences impact who we are, what’s important to us, and what gets in our way
3. The goal is collective power
The goal is not simply personal growth. It is helping individuals, teams, and organizations build greater capacity to act effectively, lead sustainably, and build political power.
For more about my approach & orientation, explore my writing section.
Check out my appearance on the Unravelling podcast, about the intersection of organizing and therapy
