Last September to October 2022, I participated in the Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice facilitated by the Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI). MHI is a grantmaking and advocacy organization for innovative mental health initiatives, with an emphasis on making mental health services more accessible to marginalized people and communities. You can read more about what they do and the other resources that they offer here.

I hoped to become a better ally and a better practitioner in the Philippines when I applied to be part of this workshop. 

The Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice was an intensive 6-day workshop where I met a lot of wonderful practitioners from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Kenya, most especially since we are part of the first international batch. :) It has expanded my knowledge and training, widened my insights about culture, gender, and sexuality, and has affirmed what I think I have already been doing for my clients, counselees, and other service users.