Beyond Cultural Competence

Mass Shootings

How Anti-Gay Propaganda Leads to Real-World Violence

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on September 23, 2026

Propaganda, disinformation, and conspiracies are not compartmentalized from real life—as evidenced by the robust research linking anti-LGBTQ media rhetoric to offline hate crimes.

Propaganda, disinformation, and conspiracies are not compartmentalized from real life—as evidenced by the robust research linking anti-LGBTQ media rhetoric to offline hate crimes.

Religion

15 Signs Your Church Functions Like a Cult

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 17, 2026

Learn how to spot the strict separatism, censorship, anti-intellectualism, autocratic control, and co-dependency that fundamentalist religious cults mandate.

Learn how to spot the strict separatism, censorship, anti-intellectualism, autocratic control, and co-dependency that fundamentalist religious cults mandate.

Sex

Archiving Black Feminist Sex Therapist Dr. June Dobbs Butts

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on February 25, 2026

June Dobbs Butts debunked today's sexual stigmas, stereotypes, and biases back in the 1960s, openly critiquing sexual silence, sex negativity, reproductive sexism, and rape culture.

June Dobbs Butts debunked today's sexual stigmas, stereotypes, and biases back in the 1960s, openly critiquing sexual silence, sex negativity, reproductive sexism, and rape culture.

Moral Injury

Is Moral Injury Behind the Rise in Suicides Among Israeli Soldiers?

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on October 13, 2025

Suicides among Israeli soldiers have hit a 13-year high. Moral injury—the scarred conscience ensuing from ethical dilemmas where no choice feels right—may be a central catalyst.

Suicides among Israeli soldiers have hit a 13-year high. Moral injury—the scarred conscience ensuing from ethical dilemmas where no choice feels right—may be a central catalyst.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

How Structural Ableism Is Worsening the Crisis in Gaza

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on August 28, 2025

There is a disability crisis in Gaza, particularly among children. But their suffering too often goes overlooked.

There is a disability crisis in Gaza, particularly among children. But their suffering too often goes overlooked.

Narcissism

How and Why Narcissists Weaponize New Partners Against Exes

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on July 14, 2025

Learn why many narcissists exploit the attachment and protectiveness of romantic partners in order to protect their grandiose self-concept and self-serving conflict narratives.

Learn why many narcissists exploit the attachment and protectiveness of romantic partners in order to protect their grandiose self-concept and self-serving conflict narratives.

Narcissism

How Narcissists May Groom Bystanders to Abandon Scapegoats

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 12, 2025

Narcissists often attempt to remain blameless by using exile and isolation as tools of suppression, and by recruiting an echo chamber of enablers seeking to prove their loyalty.

Narcissists often attempt to remain blameless by using exile and isolation as tools of suppression, and by recruiting an echo chamber of enablers seeking to prove their loyalty.

Bullying

4 Unconscious Patterns of Adult Bullies

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on April 26, 2025

Bullies are often unaware of their own habits of instigation, provocation, and projection, leading to conflicts where they create drama and play victim at the same time.

Bullies are often unaware of their own habits of instigation, provocation, and projection, leading to conflicts where they create drama and play victim at the same time.

Bias

How to Help Therapy Clients Adapt to an HIV+ Diagnosis

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on December 2, 2024

Serophobia, or discrimination against those living with HIV, is a structural, social, and internalized prejudice that can impact mental health and self-worth.

Serophobia, or discrimination against those living with HIV, is a structural, social, and internalized prejudice that can impact mental health and self-worth.

Punishment

8 Preventable Pitfalls of Restorative Justice Processes

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on October 10, 2024

What if accountability wasn't framed as a spiteful threat of banishment and ridicule, but instead a pathway back to relationality for people who actually want to change?

What if accountability wasn't framed as a spiteful threat of banishment and ridicule, but instead a pathway back to relationality for people who actually want to change?

Sexual Orientation

10 Myths About the "Gay Agenda"

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on August 29, 2024

Just 7% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ and only .6% as transgender. Yet the disproportionate amount of anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda might convince you otherwise. Here's the truth.

Just 7% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ and only .6% as transgender. Yet the disproportionate amount of anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda might convince you otherwise. Here's the truth.

Law and Crime

The Falsification of Police Murders as Suicides Is Troubling

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on July 29, 2024

The grief that many survivors of suicide loss feel is doubly traumatic when it involves police brutality and police perjury. Here's what suicide awareness advocates need to know.

The grief that many survivors of suicide loss feel is doubly traumatic when it involves police brutality and police perjury. Here's what suicide awareness advocates need to know.

Bullying

How to Check a Bully's Contempt, Mockery, and One-Upmanship

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 3, 2024

The childishness and social competitiveness of bullies might overwhelm you. Yet the power and control tactics they use are predictable, which means you can prepare before engaging.

The childishness and social competitiveness of bullies might overwhelm you. Yet the power and control tactics they use are predictable, which means you can prepare before engaging.

Race and Ethnicity

How Black Men Became Invisible Sexual Harassment Survivors

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on May 2, 2024

Black male survivors are often rendered invisible by dominant cultural frames that associate them with sexual compulsion, deviance, and predation.

Black male survivors are often rendered invisible by dominant cultural frames that associate them with sexual compulsion, deviance, and predation.

Depression

Existential Lessons of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Depression

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on January 17, 2024

Personal Perspective: Mental health advocates must be more honest and intentional about how we invoke Dr. Martin Luther King’s history of depression to combat stigma.

Personal Perspective: Mental health advocates must be more honest and intentional about how we invoke Dr. Martin Luther King’s history of depression to combat stigma.

Workplace Dynamics

5 Ways Toxic Leaders Retaliate via "Proper Channels"

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on November 8, 2023

Learn why the mildest forms of whistleblowing––following the "proper" protocols and chains of command––is sometimes the worst option.

Learn why the mildest forms of whistleblowing––following the "proper" protocols and chains of command––is sometimes the worst option.

Stress

Can the Stress of Biased Policing Cause Physical Disability?

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on August 3, 2023

Internalized structural trauma could cause an acute level of psychosomatic stress.

Internalized structural trauma could cause an acute level of psychosomatic stress.

Emotional Abuse

Male Survivors of Abuse by Women Can Heal Without Misogyny

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on July 5, 2023

Bias can prevent us from comprehending men as victims and women as perpetrators.

Bias can prevent us from comprehending men as victims and women as perpetrators.

Workplace Dynamics

Workplace Bullies Target Self-Directed Coworkers Most

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on June 28, 2023

Ever felt penalized for forging your own career path, even if you were successful? This could be why.

Ever felt penalized for forging your own career path, even if you were successful? This could be why.

Gender

The Feminist Taboo of Unveiling Maternal Abuse

Araya Baker, M.Phil.Ed. on May 14, 2023

Does discussing your mother’s abuse or emotional manipulation make you feel guilty—almost like it’s a cultural taboo?

Does discussing your mother’s abuse or emotional manipulation make you feel guilty—almost like it’s a cultural taboo?