ISSUES, QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS

We are listening.

We heard you on underrepresented voices, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities. We began our response by adding a new section to our website with Diversity and Anti-Oppression Resources and add to it as new and helpful resources are discovered. Most importantly, we are working hard to address your questions on the topics at the Town Hall. We will continue to add questions and answers in the future.

We are planning.

We began new initiatives and established new advisory boards to better inform the organization. We had a Board election and have a new chair and a new director. We finalized a new Code of Ethics and established an independent Ethics Committee. And we have begun a significant update of our SE curriculum with the guidance and leadership of our Curriculum Committee. We had our financials independently audited and released a report in late 2020.  We also plan to work with Dr. Peter Levine on a “mini-history” project that delves into the origins of SE and his development of it. Please review our timeline below for a status update on the many things underway.

We are acting.

Because we don't intend to lose the moment.

Moving Ahead and Forward.

Updates to SE Community on Organizational Process and Decisions

Town Hall Meetings: Ongoing

Town Halls are generally held bimonthly to provide updates and to continue conversations with the Community. Our Community Conversations webpage will be updated on a regular basis. In addition, our SE Today newsletter and other special communications support this effort. Watch the replay of the latest Town Hall here.

BIPOC Scholarship Fund

Established July 1, 2020

The SEI Board of Directors authorized the allocation of $25,000 from the organization’s operating budget into a special BIPOC Scholarship Fund. Additional fundraising efforts will seek an additional $25,000 commitment from members of the SE Community and other sources, to be additionally matched by SEI, for a starting fund of $75,000.

Grow the Size and Diversity of the SE Board of Directors

Completed July 2020 and Ongoing

The SEI Board of Directors held elections to elect new directors. Sabia Wade and Sergio Ocampo were approved as new directors with three-year terms starting July 1, 2020. Sabia had to resign her position in March 2021 and was replaced by Carmen Casado. Additional Board members are elected annually. There are now seven (7) members on the SEI Board of Directors. Read about the Board.  

Expand Faculty Track and Assistant Participation

Conversations Under Way

The SEI Board of Directors, Global Faculty, and Staff are involved in conversations to create and issue clearer process, guidelines, and requirements for individuals who wish to apply for consideration onto Faculty Track in North America and in countries abroad not overseen by EASE (Europe) or ABT (Brazil). We wish to expand opportunities for BIPOC and other underrepresented populations to serve as Faculty and on our Assistant training teams.

Review and Upgrade SE Curriculum

Started August 2020

The SEI Board of Directors has commissioned the start of a sustained SE Curriculum review and modernization project. This will be an inclusive, collaborative effort overseen by the organization’s Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum will be updated to include additional content to address other forms of trauma not currently addressed in the curriculum’s training manuals, as well as new advancements and developments in the world of Somatic Experiencing.

Establish New Code of Ethics, Grievance Procedure and Ethics Committee

Completed April 2021

The SEI Board of Directors approved a new organizational Code of Ethics and Grievance Procedure to be supported by an independent Ethics Committee. The Code of Ethics and Grievance Procedure documents can be found here. 

Create New Committees and Workgroups to Support Inclusive, Collaborative Governance

Started September 2020

The SEI Board of Directors issued a Call for Applications in August 2020 to seek participation from interested members of the SE Community in new committees and work groups to create a greater organizational discussion and feedback loop to support the Board’s ongoing work and implementation of a new strategic plan, approved in early 2020. The committees and workgroups established are:

Annual Conference Committee

Assistant Workgroup

Culture Committee

Curriculum Committee

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

Evaluations Workgroup

Finance Committee

Governance Committee

Research Committee

Scholarship Committee

Read about the members of the committees and work groups here. 

Issue 2020 Organizational Report

Completed December 2020

You can find the Report, including our 2020 financials, here. 

Report to Community on Personal Sessions in SE Trainings

Started October 2020

A position paper is being developed by the organization’s Personal Sessions Workgroup to address the current concerns and issues surrounding the use of and participation in personal sessions at SE trainings by SE assistants. The Personal Sessions Workgroup was formed in late 2019 to review complaints from the SE community about the potential liability/risks associated with the delivery of personal sessions by assistants at SE trainings. The workgroup has called on outside general and specialized mental health legal counsel for advice and guidance on current and future platforms for personal sessions.

Commitment to Ongoing Training by Board, Faculty, and Staff on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Ongoing

The SEI Board, Faculty and Staff sought greater training and education – individually and collectively – on issues focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We began with participation in a variety of diversity and anti-racism trainings. Board, Faculty, Staff, Assistants, and Coordinators have been provided with opportunities and the resources to support individual and group training efforts.