Eclectic Psychotherapy to Inspire; Breathe Courage, Find Peace.
Embracing and Nurturing Who We Are and Strive to Be.
Eclectic Psychotherapy to Inspire; Breathe Courage, Find Peace.
Embracing and Nurturing Who We Are and Strive to Be.
Eclectic DC's Introduction
Who is Eclectic DC?
Let me introduce myself, I am;
CHRISTIAN GREENE LICSW, PMH-C, WPA
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW; DC, VA, MD, WV, OR, WA, CA)
Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C)
Whistleblower Protection Advocate Certified (WPA)
I identify as an ethicist. I strive to be; a Womanist who advocates and practices intersectional feminist ideals, cultural humility, and anti-racist consciousness through continuous learning, bodily integrity, reproductive justice, sex work is work, and pacifism by utilizing non-violent resistance techniques. I believe children have rights, liberation of Palestinians is essential to liberation for all, whistleblowers are vital in society, I embrace LGBTQ+, Black Lives Matter is factual, and representation matters. I practice mindfulness with the philosophy of ‘margin to center’ action. I embody, advocate, and support activism in action and respect of human rights. Neither ever ends, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. We must remain firmly resolved.
Our Work Together?
Eclectic Psychotherapy to Inspire;
Breathe Courage, Find Peace.
Embracing and nurturing the entirety of who we are and strive to be.
Whether we need to paint, breathe, scream, or whisper we will be there to witness the strength and protect the vulnerability. Speaking even when our voice shakes. We will learn to be gentle with ourselves and vulnerable when amongst safety. We believe in science/ sleep is medicine/ movement is life/ nutrition provides our energy/ social support is vital/ healthy is foundational to happy/ art, music, and humor can heal. Listen, no one has all the answers but there is power in being seen, validation in being heard, and strength in knowing you are not alone. We can do this together, let’s find hope.
We utilize eclectic psychotherapy defined by APA as “any psychotherapy that is based on a combination of theories or approaches or uses concepts and techniques from a number of different sources, including the integrated professional experiences of the therapist. With the more formalized prescriptive eclectic psychotherapy, the clinician attempts to customize psychological treatments and the therapeutic relationship to the specific needs of individual clients. This is done by drawing on effective methods from across theoretical camps and by matching those methods to particular cases on the basis of empirically supported guidelines.”
My Expertise;
Perinatal Mental Health Certified Clinician;
What an amazing time in life? It pokes at every emotion that we own. At times these emotions roll, seemingly without ownership, between rage and reverence. All deeply valid feelings. My philosophy is that becoming a parent, whether your baby is still with us or not, is the steepest learning curve in life. We have the deepest respect and honor for our individualized experiences. We are here to listen and support your journey.
Grief and Loss;
Grief and loss can permeate every ounce of our being. In our career we have found that bereavement is instrumentally tied to one’s views of life and death, even when the loss is not life or death. It comes and goes like the wind, seemingly without personal control of our own vessel. Our philosophy is we must grace ourselves with the ability to feel our feelings in our body, being self-aware of our internal dialogue so we quiet assumptions and find a way to not get stuck. We must honor ourselves and our loss so that our loss honors those we love.
Trauma;
We strive to provide trauma informed care utilizing eclectic psychotherapy and empathy. My career has been dealing with families in crisis (at times familial and at times institutional), finding resolutions, and identifying action plans that respect our need for safety, well-being, and belonging. Our goal working with trauma in our community is to help us self-identify hope. Our philosophy is one must master floating in order to learn to swim, otherwise you risk reaching deep water to only panic risking everything. Learning coping skills, self-safety, and self-care is essential to begin trauma recovery. With these new internal boundaries, we will confront how to embrace comfortable consequences, as we may experience losses of those who cannot honor our safety or well-being.
Free, Free Palestine! When History Calls...
Dear christian,
Amidst so much unjust and avoidable pain and suffering, Michael and I are inspired by the incredible summary of 366+ Success Stories in 2024: Aggregated and Organized in a Special Report by Nonviolence News. We hope you will do 3 things upon finishing this remarkable article:
a) Subscribe to the Nonviolence News weekly reports and become a monthly donor to Nonviolent News
b) Set aside your despair and channel your anger and hope, in order to support nonviolent groups & campaigns, some of which we highlighted to you a few weeks ago, including NVI and all of our many partners.
c) Spend your precious time in 2025 reading the mainstream news less and organizing fmore!
Yours Truly,
Sami Awad and Michael Beer, NVI Co-Directors
From Nonviolence News
Posted on December 21, 2024
In the sweep and bustle of the year’s struggles, it’s sometimes hard to see past the disaster headlines. Yet, remarkable progress was made by nonviolent movements worldwide. In this special report, Nonviolence News has gone into our archives and pulled out the gains, victories, and successful solutions that occurred in 2024. We counted 366+ stories – this article highlights many of them and you’ll find the others in the complete list in our Research Archives.
Let’s start with the big ones. Mass protests erupted many times this year from Argentina to France, Indonesia to Georgia. Some of them rose up against tyrants and autocrats and won. South Koreans, for example, held immense mass protests to prevent the president from implementing martial law and stealing power. Even after they succeeded, over 1 million people returned to the streets to force their politicians to impeach the president. In Bangladesh, students launched demonstrations to end unfair job quotas … and wound up ousting the prime minister, forcing the chief justice to resign, and bringing back exiled Nobel Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunis to lead the new government.
It was a remarkable year for people-powered democracy. Bolivians thwarted a coup attempt. Mexico elected its first female president. Indigenous Guatemalans held a 100-day sit-in to ensure the landslide-winning presidential candidate could take office. Indonesian protesters compelled their parliament to halt an election bill they felt would weaken the chances of opposition candidates. Kenyan protesters got President Ruto to withdraw a finance bill with tax hikes. Senegalese students and poor people kept their elections on track amidst the president’s repeated attempts to delay them.
When we organize, we win.
That major lesson is becoming more obvious with each new study. In 2011, researchers Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan unequivocally proved that nonviolent action works twice as often as violence. This year, several new studies grabbed headlines touting the effectiveness of nonviolent action. The Climate Emergency Fund demonstrated that disruptive actions are having notable impacts and lowering carbon emissions. Another report found that protest movements are 6 to 12 times more cost effective than charities at making change. And you know where the best movement organizers in the world are located? Africa. That continent has hosted more mass movements than any other region in the world and boasts the highest rates of success.
Looking at labor struggles, a study on 2023 worker strikes showed that the uptick in organizing has led to wage increases that haven’t been seen in 35 years. When workers organize, it pays off – literally. Being in a union means you’ll make $1.3 million more over your lifetime than if you’re non-unionized. In 2024, workers showed that strikes, boycotts, and protests are effective. Argentina’s labor unions mobilized 1.5 million workers in a general strike that halted President Melei’s ‘mega-degree’ of austerity measures. The French Farmer Protests used tractor roadblocks around Paris to secure promises of cash, eased regulations, and protection from unfair competition among other demands.
Across the US, strikes and other actions won wage increases for workers at Waffle House, Kroger warehouses, Cornell University, Apple, American Airlines, Boston University, Northern New Mexico College, Boeing, Daimler Truck, US Foods, Washington State University, and General Motors. Strikes also worked for automotive technicians, dockworkers, nurses, and steelworkers. In addition, labor organizing made important gains around remote work, contract tiers, back pay and reinstatement, collective bargaining, labor laws for domestic workers, unionization, the right to disconnect from work-related calls, union-busting, healthcare plans, retaliatory license revocations, workplace safety, and farmworker protections.
Other campaigns for economic justice made gains, too. Massachusetts passed a “Tax The Rich” law in 2022, which not only supplied $1.5 billion for the free school lunch program, it also provided much-needed improvements to their public transportation system and tuition-free education for community college students. Its success prompted 10 other states to try to do the same. Connecticut’s Baby Bonds Program to bridge the racial wealth gap has inspired other states to explore the strategy. Twenty-two states raised their minimum wages this year.
In the United States, debt relief measures – once considered an impossible dream – are growing with Los Angeles abolishing medical debt for 150,000 people, St. Paul, Minnesota, erasing $100 million in medical debt, Arizona abolishing $2 billion, New York City pledging another $2 billion, and a grassroots group in Maine fundraising to eliminate medical debt for 1,500 people.
Swiss retirees campaigned for a pension boost and rejected later retirement ages. South Africa and Iceland both report that their 4-day work week programs were a huge success. Cuban protesters forced food rations from their government during widespread shortages. Mexico’s first female president is de-privatizing oil and gas, electricity and internet companies. And a strategic, determined campaign by US diabetes patients used picketing and protests to get some of the insulin production industry to lower prices on the life-saving drug.
Seeing these stories makes you wonder what our world would be like if these policies were the norm, not the exception. Imagine what your city or town would feel like if medical debt was abolished, babies received investments in their futures, the 4-day work week was standard, and the rich were taxed to make society safer and healthier for everyone.
Keep envisioning this world … and add in these successful programs from 2024. Imagine if you lived in a city where doctors prescribed ‘culture vitamins’, nature, and ‘walking therapy’ for mental health and social connection, acclimatization programs forged deep friendships between locals and new arrivals, the library had no late fees, and city-wide rent reductions took place regularly. Imagine if, in all cities nationwide, Housing First policies ended homelessness, low-income residents got free passes on public transit, teen courts used peer-to-peer strategies to keep youth out of jail, and school lunches came from local farms and cooks. Every city in the nation could have free or affordable electric car shares that make vehicles accessible to everyone, free childcare, and bike give-away programs that equalize pedal power for all. If one community can use these tools, they can be implemented in many more. We could have gender equity in transit drivers, speed cameras, and lower speed limits leading to fewer accidents; anti-overdose vending machines saving lives, and agrihoods providing local food and green spaces. Clean air laws could ban high polluting cars and increase kids walking to school. Community investments could replace over-policing on subways. Unarmed mental health crisis responders could be used instead of police with guns. And empathy programs could not only stop school bullying, they could transform bullies into changemakers.
These kinds of nonviolent solutions reduce harm and save lives through economic and social justice. And when it comes to saving lives, there’s another set of stories worth lifting up, too: the remarkable work of peace teams, violence prevention programs, and unarmed protective accompaniment. These programs are stopping violence in Sudan, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Colombia. Women’s Protection Teams are offering physical safety and gender-based empowerment in Iraq. They’re working to prevent Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women/People and racist murders from claiming more lives in Winnipeg, Canada. They’re stopping political violence during the lead-up to the United States’ elections. They’re also providing protective presences after hate crimes and training targeted Asian communities in how to increase community safety. Violence prevention programs are at work in dozens of cities across the United States, addressing gun violence. The use of large anti-racist demonstrations in the United Kingdom also prevented right-wing attacks on mosques and Muslim community members in the wake of mass shooting.
When it comes to racial justice, the clear super-stars of organizing in 2024 were Indigenous Peoples. Land Back efforts regained a wilderness lodge in Alaska, 31,000 acres in Penobscot territory in Maine, and 1,000 acres of the Onondaga Nation’s ancestral lands in New York. The Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska regained 1,600 acres that was seized illegally 50 years ago. Shasta Indian Nation in California won back 2,800 acres. Year after year, the Prairie Band Potawatomi have bought back land to re-establish their reservation in Illinois. British Columbia formally affirmed Indigenous ownership of 200 islands by the Haida Gwaii. The 5,700-year-old sacred site of Shellmound was returned to the Ohlone through the Sogorea Te’ Community Land Trust. The University of Minnesota returned 3,400 acres to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
On top of all those impressive victories, there’s a growing trend to put national parks and wilderness areas into Indigenous stewardship, either directly or in co-management agreements. Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations will care for Clayquot Sound’s forests. The Chumash Tribe will oversee a 4,500 acre marine sanctuary. The Miccosukee Tribe will costeward the Everglades National Park. The Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation’s marine protected area recently became Canada’s first certified “blue park”. The Yurok Tribe will co-manage the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway.
LGBTQ+ issues have been in the crosshairs of conservative kickback, but some major victories were also achieved this year. Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country with equal marriage laws for same-sex couples. Hong Kong’s top court affirmed same-sex marriage rights, particularly LGBTQ+ housing and inheritance rights. Mexico made trans-femicide a crime. The US reinstated protections for LGBTQ+ persons under Title IX. Washington State now requires LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculums.
While the pro-Palestinian movement has not yet achieved a ceasefire in Gaza, they did achieve an extensive number of strategic objectives in the longer effort to halt the genocide. The International Court of Justice found that BDS – Boycott, Divest, Sanction – is not only legal, it’s obligatory. Boycotts in Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, parts of Turkey, and other regional nations led to a 48.2% drop in profits for US-brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robbins, Costa Coffee, and Krispy Kreme. BDS also forced Pret a Manger to drop plans to open 40 stores in Israel.
Cities, businesses, pension funds, and universities divested from either some or all of Israel companies or weapons makers, including Norway’s sovereign wealth fund and pension fund, APCO Worldwide, Itochu Corporation, MIT, the Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Union Theological Seminary, Sacramento State University, Trinity College, Evergreen College, Portland State University, UC Davis, Hamtramck, MI; Richmond and Hayward, CA; Portland, Maine; and a host of others.
In addition, Germany, Spain, and Belgium Wallonia Region halted weapons shipments to Israel. Canada suspended 30 weapons shipments. Activists in Morocco, Spain, and Gibraltar worked together to halt 300,000 barrels of military-grade fuel from reaching Israel. Bogota, Colombia, blocked coal exports to Israel. The US even withheld a token military shipment (a pittance compared to its massive funds and weapons handouts to Israel). The movement also pushed Australia, Canada, Sweden, and other countries to restore UNRWA funds.
When we look back at 2024, we should remember the gains that were hard-won and significant, even if the final victory has not yet come. The climate movement is confronting this same challenge, winning over and over again, yet losing so much as continued inaction hurtles the planet into collapse. In the face of genocide and ecocide, it is understandable to feel despair and futility. But a closer look at the progress on climate issues should remind us to keep going.
Renewables now power 45% of the European Union’s energy, and it’s contributed to the EU’s record 8.3% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. In the US, 80% of new electricity generation came from solar. The US put $64 million of housing funds into energy efficiency, solar panels, and heat pumps. Solar power at US K-12 schools has quadrupled this decade. Electric vehicles outnumber gas cars in Norway. Tajikistan required all new buildings to install solar panels. One month after the last dam was removed from the Klamath River, salmon were already spawning in traditional egg-laying grounds. An impressive 77% of universities in the United Kingdom have divested (or committed to divest) from fossil fuels.
Thanks to the relentless disruptions of Just Stop Oil, the United Kingdom committed to ending all new fossil fuel permits for exploration and extraction. The UK also blocked a major coal mine and is forcing all mining projects to be weighed against the climate crisis. Norway halted plans for deep-sea mining, as did Hawai’i. Minneapolis, MN, organizers shut down a polluting foundry. Courts blocked three harmful methane gas projects in South Texas. The KXL Pipeline’s cancellation appeal got thrown out of court. Amazon dropped a plan to tap into a gas pipeline to power its data center. Greenpeace activists’ drilling rig occupation halted a gas project in the North Sea. Earthjustice blocked a toxic copper mine in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Area. Portuguese activists halted an ‘ecocidal’ airport. India’s climate movement blocked an Adani coal mine. Tree-sitters saved a stand of old growth forest from logging in Oregon. New England activists closed the region’s last coal plant. A US federal court invalidated Wyoming oil and gas leases for failing to consider climate impacts. California towns are banning new gas stations. Rural Maine communities stopped a mine near their iconic Mt. Katahdin. The Dutch pension fund divested $3 billion from oil and gas. Hawai’i replaced its last coal plant with a battery for solar and wind. The US funded 60 new solar projects to install 1 million new systems for low-income families. The ozone layer is expected to be fully recovered from human-caused damages by 2064.
Each of these wins came about because of relentless, bold, creative nonviolent action that grabbed headlines, halted destructive industries, built solutions, pressured political leaders and decision makers, and persevered despite the odds being stacked against them.
Upon reflection, 2024 was not just a year of disaster and political upheaval. It was also the year that Julian Assange was finally freed. It was the year Net Neutrality was restored. It was the year that corrupt leaders fell from power in South Korea and Bangladesh. When we remember all of these, we also remember the most important thing of all: nonviolent action achieved all this.
What will we use nonviolence to accomplish in 2025?
Note: as impressive as this article is, it’s only a fraction of what was achieved in 2024. You can explore all 366+ stories in our 56-page Research Archive where we’ve sorted them by issue.
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P.S. In 2025, Nonviolence International will provide grants for nonviolence training around the world, build on our huge global tactics database and training archive, provide fiscal sponsorship for amazing palestinian justice and other international projects, host global webinars to build a global nonviolent network and provide training programs in leadership, trauma resilience, and nonviolent action. Thank you for walking with us in the movement for nonviolence.
Abortion Rights are Human Rights
7/11/22;
6/29/22;
HHS Issues Guidance to Protect Patient Privacy in Wake of Supreme Court Decision on Roe
6/28/22;
6/24 Recent devastating news;
Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending right to abortion upheld for decades (NPR)
Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows
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“Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians” ~ Nelson Mandela
A New Year of Hope: Transforming Trauma into Renewal in 2025
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
– Revelation 21:4
As we welcome 2025, we pause to reflect on the past year and set our sights on the year ahead with renewed determination and hope. At Holy Land Trust (HLT), we have journeyed through a year filled with challenges but also remarkable moments of transformation—from trauma to hope. Together, we have faced the realities of ongoing conflict, economic instability, and social hardships, yet we remain steadfast in our mission to bring light and strength to the communities we serve.
This past year, Bethlehem—a city so rich in history and spirit—has endured the impacts of global uncertainty, a struggling tourism industry, and the echoes of war. Meanwhile, Gaza has faced relentless hardships, marked by violence, destruction, and a humanitarian crisis that has deeply affected its families and communities. Despite these unimaginable trials, the resilience of individuals in both regions has shone through.
Through Holy Land Trust’s initiatives, including programs that empower women, support youth, and create safe spaces for emotional release, we have worked to transform pain into a foundation for hope and renewal. In Gaza, we have extended support to children and families affected by ongoing trauma, providing tools for emotional healing and opportunities for growth. These efforts serve as a testament to our commitment to building strength and fostering hope, even in the face of profound challenges.
Looking ahead to 2025, our prayer is for peace, healing, and nourishment for Bethlehem and beyond. We long for an end to the conflicts that have cast a shadow over Gaza and the West Bank and for the revival of tourism, which is vital to the livelihood of so many families in our region. Personally, and as an organization, we carry hope for a brighter future—one where trauma is met with strength, and every challenge becomes an opportunity for transformation.
" As we step into 2025, let us continue to transform trauma into hope, one family at a time."
Elias Deis,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Non-Violence and Restorative Justice Organizations
Whistleblower mental health and resource Organizations
Women's Mental Health and Advocacy Organizations
Human Rights and Reproductive Rights Organizations
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in;
Certified / trained
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