Unpacking the DEI Shame Game: Inside an Unfiltered Convo Among Artesian Collaborative Therapists
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
What happens when a group of diverse therapists gathers for supervision and pulls back the curtain on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)? At Artesian Collaborative, supervision sessions often transition organically from casual check-ins over lunch prep to deep, unfiltered clinical reflection. Recently, our team unpacked a topic that many individuals and organizations struggle to name: "The DEI Shame Game".
From Defensiveness to Dialogue When faced with guilt or confrontation around identity, human instinct usually kicks into high gear—whether through denial, rumination, defensive tears, or an urgent urge to "over-fix" the issue to avoid rejection. In our discussion, we explored how the current sociopolitical climate has trapped conversations about diversity in a rigid binary. Polarization often forces people into a zero-sum mindset where supporting one group is misinterpreted as opposing another, turning identity conversations into a defensive "us versus them" battleground.
Moving Past Performative Fixes We also wrestled with how DEI initiatives fail when they become purely performative, administrative, or weaponized. When diversity work relies on shaming—reducing individuals to single labels or assigning blame—it shuts down genuine growth and triggers visceral defensiveness. True equity requires stepping away from the "Oppression Olympics" and operating from a "Wise Mind" space. This means cultivating the capacity to hold space for both our privileges and our marginalized identities simultaneously, without letting shame drive us into hostility or self-protection.
Questions for Reflection
How do you typically respond when confronted with feelings of guilt or shame around identity, privilege, or systemic issues?
Where in your workplace or personal dynamics do you notice identity discussions falling into an all-or-nothing binary?
How can you shift your approach from a stance of fighting or defending toward emotional regulation, protection, and genuine curiosity?
Next Steps
Join Our Community Table: We host free, monthly online community events where we gather as a supportive community to talk openly about tough, real-world topics just like this one. RSVP for our September Community Table: The DEI Shame Game
Connect with a Therapist: If this topic brought up personal dynamics, relationship tensions, or past experiences you would like to explore deeper, our diverse team of professional counselors and psychologists is ready to meet you in person or online via telehealth.
Bring Us to Your Workplace: We facilitate therapist-led corporate training workshops, consultation, and coaching services designed to guide teams through organizational tension, equipping leaders to translate mental health sciences into practice so every single employee can thrive.
