Dear White Therapist
Book Club
White providers have dominated the mental health care industry for too long and we have been complicit in the harm created by the systems that exploit and oppress vulnerable people and communities. If we want to build a better world, we need to learn to be part of the solution not contributors to, or beneficiaries of, the problem. No one is asking us to apologize for being white. This moment begging us to acknowledge our privilege and use it to create sustainable change and equitable access for all in healing spaces and healthcare policy moving forward.
While we originally planned to offer a live workshop called Dear White Therapist for white bodied health care providers, we recognize there are many Black, Indigenous, Queer, Disabled, and therapists of color who are already doing incredible work in this area. Honestly, we would rather you learn from, and financially support, them. We also recognize that many white healthcare providers still need spaces of introduction to this vital work, and a place to connect, learn, engage, and hold each other accountable.
That is why we are introducing the Dear White Therapist book club which will launch in July 2026. The Dear White Therapist book club is open to all white bodied mental health care providers, practitioners, and workers who want to learn how to build a system of care that is inclusive, accessible, competent, compassionate, and effective in meeting as many people’s needs as possible.
We will gather online and in-person (starting in the Central Florida area) every other month to read a book together, discuss what we are learning, develop plans of action, and support each other in this crucial work of decolonization and healing.
We are still working out the details, but here is what you can expect with your registration:
Options to join online or in person six times a calendar year
A gift card to Bookshop.org to purchase a hard copy of the book or a digital copy (If you already have the book we are discussing, use it to purchase another book you are interested in reading!)
A discussion guide crafted by the facilitator
An exclusive introduction video to each book
Community, collaboration, and care
The Dear White Therapist book club will be facilitated by Lindsey Coates Horvatich, a white bodied mental health therapist of Northern European and Cherokee Nation East heritage. Lindsey has been practicing for over 13 years in the Central Florida area and is also a clinical supervisor, a Somatic Trauma therapist, and a true bibliophile. To learn more, follow Lindsey on Instagram @Dear_White_Therapist.
July 2026 - Healing the Oppressed Body by Andrea Gutierrez-Glik
September 2026 - My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem
November 2026 - Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
January 2027 - Between Us: How cultures create emotions by Batja Mesquita
Have you ever wanted to give feedback to white therapists based on your experiences? We want to hear from you so that we may learn how to provide better care. If you would like to submit an offering of a letter, artwork, sound bite, video, or another form of expression, please click the button below to share with us. We will never sell your offering, or share it outside of this confidential learning space. You may share your identity, or remain anonymous. Thank you for trusting us with your thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know that doing things differently can be risky. We also know that building a better world is going to come with certain risk. While we never want to put anyone in an unsafe situation, we do invite you to get uncomfortable in the context of this educational gathering and the topic of whiteness in mental health spaces.
Dear White Therapist will be hosted and facilitated by Lindsey Coates Horvatich, a white bodied woman who has been a mental health provider for over a decade and a clinical supervisor for over five years. Lindsey is passionate about building a healthcare system that creates and sustains equitable access for all who seek care, and she is aware of her own privilege and impact in the field. She has provided answers to some common questions about Dear White Therapist, and is open to connecting if you have more questions or concerns.
Q: Why are you, a white therapist, leading this event?
A: Great question. As a white woman who has been complicit in causing harm with my privilege, I believe we should be learning from Black and Indigenous People of Color when it comes to justice, equity, and access. I also know that too many white people are trying to benefit from these educators and content creators without compensating them or taking real action. We as white people need to do our own work and learning, and we need to stop expecting the people we have harmed to carry the burden of teaching us all of the time. I also know that sometimes, as we are learning we do and say things that may be unintentionally harmful. My hope is that we can learn together in a way that is safe for everyone, and that participants will continue to discuss these topics and grow in their personal and professional spheres of influence.
Q: Are you going to talk for four hours?
A: Hell no! I don’t even want to hear myself talk that much. Each gathering will be broken up into education (me speaking or someone else sharing a testimonial), discussion (break out rooms if the group is large enough), activities, and breaks. I am a somatic therapist, so I may include some gentle, embodied movement as well.
Q: Why don’t you donate 100% of fees?
A: Another great question, and one I have wrestled with a lot. I would love for Salvia to be in a position where we could give away a bunch of money and practice more mutual aid. Right now, I am a chronically ill small business owner who self funds reduced rate service fees, so I individually will not be profiting from this. We as a collective also donate to change making organizations year round to make sure that we are redistributing resources well. All content sources for this material have been/will continue to be credited, compensated and/or supported as well. If registrations exceed expectations, we will use the extra funds to provide services to people who cannot afford them and donate them to organizations supporting vulnerable people in our communities.
Q: Are you just going to tell at us and shame us for being white?
A: No. That would be completely hypocritical of me for so many reasons. No one learns by being shamed, judged, or ridiculed. I am just as complicit in these systems of harm as you are, and the only way we are going to learn better and do better is if we do it together without turning on each other. I will probably share content that makes you feel uncomfortable. I will ask you to engage in this conversation with vulnerability, honesty, and empathy. I will guide us through some practices that hold us accountable and challenge us to do things differently. I will also ask that we practice mutual respect and treat each other with dignity and care.
Q: What if I pay for registration and am unable to attend?
A: We understand that life happens. We are also a very small team and unable to offer refunds for registration fees at this time. If you are unable to attend your selected date, you may apply your paid fee to a different date or offer it as a gift registration to someone in need.
Q: Can my entire organization/practice/group attend?
A: Absolutely! While we will keep group sizes to a number that is manageable for both teaching and discussion, we also want to make as much room at the table as possible. If you would like to attend as part of a group, we still invite you to register as individuals so that we may send information to everyone who is signed up, ensure privacy, and make as much of a financial contribution to our contributors, content providers, and community recipients as possible.
Q: Will CEU’s be provided?
A: No. It is imperative that we do not benefit in a personal way from doing the work that our privilege requires of us.